Welcome to episode 2008 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, I've heard people say,

I'd love to go backpacking like I did when I was younger, but I just can't carry the load anymore.

Are there backpacking days truly over?

Then what do you do when a trailmate is injured, sick or fatigued, and can't carry the load?

For the summit gear review, we have something that will change the way you think of transporting your gear,

and we'll teach you how Native people's transported goods

using just a few sticks.

All this, and that's about it. Today on the first 40 miles. Whenever people find out

that I'm the host of a backpacking podcast or that our family just went on a

a backpacking trip usually they give one of two responses the first one is

wow carrying everything on your back, I could never do that.

Or I could do that kind of thing when I was young, but not anymore.

And either statement acknowledges that carrying 30 pounds or more of gear on your back is challenging.

This morning you asked me, what if we had always been carrying gear some other way dragging it on sticks or on wheels or whatever and someone came along to you and said guess what I'm going to invent something where you put it all on your back? Would you go for that? And actually I said,

...