Welcome to episode 171 of the first 40 miles.

If you're new to backpacking or appear 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 Josh Legler and this is the first 40 miles.

Today on the first 40 miles we're most of the way through winter and we've survived.

Yay!

And for today's top five list we'll share some survival essentials known to the bushwhackers as the Five C's.

Then we'll share one of the best subscription boxes

we found that will help you hone your survival skills

into a craft.

Next, a backpack hack that will prepare you for surviving laundry day.

All this? And that's about it.

Today, on the first 40 miles.

So I feel like this winter hasn't really been about survival like last winter was.

Last winter was a lot of ice, a lot of snow and a lot of sub-freezing days, which is not typical for the northwest.

And it started in October and lasted all the way through May.

Yeah, but this winter has been so generous, so mild, so kind.

Well, the rest of North America has been plunged into horrible freezing

temperatures and storms. I mean, even Atlanta, you know, down in the teens.

And here we are with highs in the mid-50s.

Yeah, it's just been a very different experience depending where you live this winter.

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