Welcome to episode 119 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,

and 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're not made of titanium. Well some people are, but most of us experience injury that can

sideline us from even getting out on the trail. We'll share some ideas that

will turn that recovery time into valuable trail prep.

Then on the summit gear review,

Katadine rocks the water filtration scene with a collapsible

ultra-light dead simple filter. For today's backpack, Dead Simple Filter.

For today's backpack hack of the week,

you'll learn how to get your knife sharp enough to split a hair or a log.

All this, and that's about it. Today on the first 40 miles. Well back in November 2016, I started getting some twinges in my lower back, which of course I ignored, and just powered through it.

But the next day I got up and the pain was so intense that I started feeling nauseous and when I stood up I went to the floor and didn't move until the nausea went away.

It was a really scary experience

because I'd never had pain so strong

that I've experienced nausea before. So I babied my back for a while and I laid flat on my back and my bed with

heating pad underneath it and I read a lot of websites on how to deal with lower back pain and what you should do, what you shouldn't do.

And one of the things I learned is that you can't just wish away lower back pain or just power through it like I tried to do, you really have to treat it seriously. In fact, a lot of pain is your body's way of talking to you. And if someone had something important to say to you like your husband, wife, mom, if they were talking to you you wouldn't just walk away.

Oh, wouldn't you?

Oh, no, you wouldn't.

...