Welcome to episode 172 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, once you've got survival in the woods figured out, maybe you're ready to take it

to the next level. We've got the top five secondary survival essentials to round out your outdoor experience.

Then we'll review a stove and pot combo that will help you cook up your latest trail cuisine experiment.

And if you're not feeling like any culinary experimentation

we'll share a food hack that's under a buck and requires no dishwashing.

All this and that's about There's no dishwashing.

All this, and that's about it.

Today on the first 40 miles.

Last week we talked about the five seas of survival. It's a little device that

bushwhackers used to help them remember what the basics of survival are. They need

something that will act as a cover. They need something that can cut. They

need a cup or some kind of, you know, way to hold liquid. They need cordage or something to tie things up with and then the last one can you remember?

Oh what was it? It must not be so essential.

Combustion. Combustion. Or some way of heating things. Right. And those five seas ensure that you'll be warm, dry, protected. It's just the basics of survival. But doing that top five list got me thinking about

what's the next level? What's the secondary tier of the five C's? you were to pick five more what would those be and

how would they enhance your outdoor experience and kind of take it beyond

survival you know survival actually is a pretty bleak state of being. Josh and I spent the last couple weeks in survival mode recovering from the flu.

Having and recovering from the flu, yeah.

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