Welcome to episode 140 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 for everyone else it's summer vacation, but not for you.

We've enrolled you in summer school.

Welcome to the College of Blister Knowledge.

We're glad you popped in.

We're going to do all we can today to prevent this

universal trail trial. Then on the summit gear review a water filter that

performs equally well in nearly dry creek beds or in rushing glacial runoff.

And one of our first 40-milers will share a wild trip that he took with some friends.

All this, and that's about it. Today on the first

40 miles. Okay class let's get started. Yes, welcome to the College of Blister Knowledge.

I'll be your instructor today.

Get out your pen, get out some paper, we're going to take some notes here, talk about

blisters.

Wow, that sounds exciting.

Blisters! Oh my goodness. I remember the first blister that I got when I started preparing for my first backpacking trip and it freaked me out. I went on a couple

shakedown hikes before my first backpacking trip and on the first shakedown

hike I just wore my tennis shoes, ones that I'd been used to,

...