Welcome to episode 139 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're on site at Heather Lake in Washington State with Rudy from the Cascade

Hiker Podcast. We'll talk about Trail Service and Pulaskis. Then we'll review a lightweight container that can hold your precious habanero flakes or a week's

worth of ibuprofen.

For the backpack hack of the week, a quick flick of your foot may prevent a trail full of mudbogs.

And we'll wrap up the show with a little trail wisdom from a nature writer of the 20th century.

All this, and that's about it.

Today on the first 40 miles.

Hey, we're out on the trail today. We took a trip up to my parents house

and then decided to go up into my old stomping grounds

in the North Cascades.

So we took a trip up to Heather Lake of all places and we're sitting on a rock up here just enjoying the beautiful scenery around Heather Lake. Today it's a beautiful summer day blue skies perfect weather it's been

amazing so if you hear a little background noise like that airplane that I hear

now or the frogs or the creek.

That's because we're just sitting on the rock here at Heather Lake.

Anyway, we're not alone.

It's not just the two of us.

...