Welcome to episode 114 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, we have work to do. Winter is summer prep for bagpackers. Then we'll share the top five

extras that you'll want to consider next time you pack. For the Summit Gear Review, a day pack that packs down to the size of a baked potato.

Next, a backpack hack of the week that will fill up those dark winter days with a flood of

backpacking memories and we'll wrap up the show with a little trail wisdom

from someone who knew how to hike light.

All this, and that's about it.

Today on the first 40 miles.

It seems like we make it out on a backpacking trip, maybe about every two months or so.

I mean looking back October, August, June, March, April, January,

so that's five trips last year.

But it gets harder when the days get darker and shorter and colder.

And a lot of the higher elevation trails are closed or covered with snow.

So, yeah, kind of closes off some of our options for where to get out to when we want to go

backpacking in the winter.

Right.

You know, I mean wintertime is just a hard time to really get out there on those trips and I feel like it's been about

...