033: Show America Some Love

Today on The First 40 Miles, the Top 5 ways to show your love for America’s public lands. Then on the SUMMIT Gear Review we’ll show you how to sleep in pure comfort on a pad the size of a Nalgene bottle. Then ditch the toothpaste and try this simple DIY option for a clean mouth. Then we’ll leave you with a little trail wisdom from a brilliant German theoretical physicist.

Show Notes: Episode 033

Opening

  • This week’s backpacking trip!
  • Our Challenge: Finding a backpacking adventure within 30 minutes of our house
  • Nestucca River area of Oregon
  • Flying by the seat of our pants again…with stories to tell in future episodes!

Top 5 Ways to Show Your Love for America’s Public Lands

Go to Volunteer.gov

  • America’s Natural and Cultural Resources Volunteer Portal
  • You can find volunteer opportunities in your state

Use the Land!

  • Get out and use the land
  • Use it or lose it!

Be a Good Steward

  • Follow the rules of the trail
  • Pick up after yourself
  • Leave it better than you found it
  • Read trail signs to find out about do’s and don’t’s

Teach and Inspire the Next Generation

  • Check out Episode 029, SHORT + SWEET: The Children + Backpacking episode
  • Volunteering with Boy Scouts of America or another youth serving organization

Learn about the Different Public Lands Near You

  • BLM, National Parks, National Forests, National Recreation Areas, National Wildlife Area, Wilderness, etc.
  • Tribal Lands
  • State Parks
  • Private Lands are also an option for day use (Weyerhauser, tree farms)

SUMMIT Gear Review™: Klymit Static V2 Sleeping Pad

 Structure

  • 30D Polyester Top/75D Polyester Bottom
  • Called the V-shape chambers limit air movement and heat loss
  • Springy Green (looks like the color from new growth on Douglas Fir)

Utility

  • R-Value 1.3, which makes it perfect for summer
  • Compresses down really well and really quickly
  • Chambers evenly distribute the air for great comfort
  • Static V pad can be inflated with just 10 – 15 breaths
  • Easy-to-use push valve allows for super quick deflation…
  • Tons easier to deflate than the Thermarest self-inflating pads

Mass

  • 4 x 8 inches (size of a Nalgene water bottle) when packed in its stuff sack
  • 33 ounces
  • When it’s inflated: 72″ x 23″ x 2.5″
  • Won’t be knocking people off the trail with your huge closed cell foam pad strapped to the back of your pack

Maintenance

  • Repair kit included
  • Always the risk of puncture with open cell pads—bring repair kit

Investment

  • About $60

Trial

  • Really did inflate with 15 breaths!
  • Easy to deflate
  • Very comfortable
  • Low R-Value means this is a summer pad
  • A piece of gear for women who get bruised hips from closed cell foam pads. Klymit has an Insulated version called the Insulated Klymit V, 25 ounces (just 9 ounces more), 4.4 R Value, $90

Backpack Hack of the Week™: DIY Tooth Powder

  • Baking Soda…and mix with a few drops of essential oil. Put in a teeny screw top lidded plastic jar.
  • Definitely for the brave hearted! I love it!
  • To use: Just wet your toothbrush, dip it in and brush away!
  • FYI, essential oils are strongly scented, so pack your tooth powder with your food so animals won’t try to chew through your pack to get it.
  • You can also just leave the baking soda unscented

Trail Wisdom

“Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we are trying to solve.”

-Max Planck