Welcome to episode 47 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 I'm Josh Legler.

And this is the first 40 miles.

Today on the first 40 miles, Wild, The Bear episode.

What do a diminutive military leader and a thousand pound grizzly bear have in common?

Today's top five list may have the answer.

Then in today's Summit Gear Review, a simple knot along with bulletproof fabric that can protect your food.

On today's backpack hack of the week, if you've seen Bear Scout with Bells in it, then we have the zero-gram solution for you.

And we'll wrap up the show with a little trail wisdom from our good friend on the trail, Craig Childs.

All this, and that's about it, today on the first 40 miles.

Last month we spent a week in Bear Country

where there were warning signs posted all over

about black bears.

We even saw evidence on the trail of bears. We saw lots of fresh and dried

bearscat and down by the river we even saw a partially eaten salmon which was being consumed by vultures but I kind of had it in my mind

that that was probably a salmon that was half consumed by a bear and then the

vultures got the rest of it. Yeah who knows but it's the kind of thing that a bear would have loved.

Definitely. I was thinking as we were starting our

backpacking trip heading down towards Redwood Creek, I think we saw Bearskat every

...