Welcome to episode 42 of the first 40 miles.

If you're new to backpacking or if you're hopelessly in love with someone who wants you to love

backpacking, then this podcast is for you. We'll talk about the essentials, how to lighten your load, and how to make the most of your time on the trail. I'm your host Heather Legler.

And I'm Josh Legler. And this is the first 40 miles.

Today on the first 40 miles,

Spark, The Fire episode.

Fire has met its match.

Learn five ways to light a fire that you may not have heard of before.

Then, on the Summit Gear Review, my obsession with stoves is fueled with a piece of gear that

not only burns sticks but burns smoke as well. On the backpack hack of the

week learned how to make a cotton ball into a char puff

that can be the slow burning nucleus

for the perfect fire.

Then we'll leave you with a little trail wisdom

from a man of few words, six words to be exact. All this and that's

about it today on the first 40 miles.

So what is it about fire that is so magical, that so...

you just pulls you in and you can't stop watching the fire. It's just so alive.

It is alive. Or at least it feels like it. You can sit there by a campfire and just stare into the flames all night. I might get bored of a TV show or a movie, but for some reason the fire is just almost hypnotizing.

That's exactly the word. I think the ability to control fire is one of those uniquely human traits.

There's something to that too.

Like, a fire happens naturally sometimes,

...