40 Backpacking Hacks, Volume 3

A fun collection of wilderness backpacking tips from the host of the popular podcast, The First 40 Miles

 

40 Backpacking Hacks: Tried and True Tricks of the Trail, Volume 3

 

A few years ago, I had zero plans to write any backpacking books. And for good reason. I had never been backpacking. I had no trail experience, no gear, and no clue.


All of that changed when my husband, Josh, decided to get back into backpacking. He and some friends planned to hike the Timberline Trail around Oregon’s Mount Hood. I watched as Josh researched gear, scoured trail reports, and prepped food. I must have caught the backpacking bug, because just a week before the trip, I was packing to go along, too.


And I learned something important on that trip (actually, about a billion important things, but I’ll boil it down): backpacking is better with friends.


We learn from each other. We support each other. We encourage each other. We share new ways of doing things.


Fast forward a few years from that first exciting backpacking trip. I’m now connected with thousands of trail friends through my hiking and backpacking podcast, The First 40 Miles. Each week we broadcast to a worldwide audience of backpackers.


We learn from each other. We support each other. We encourage each other. We share new ways of doing things.


So, think of these backpacking hacks as little conversations with your backpacking buddies. One friend knows know to hack your photos to look just like Ansel Adams shots (#82). Another buddy has this weird food that he brings on trips called “bulgur” (#85 and #100). Another friend wants to tell you how he got his new tent with sweet, exclusive features (#102).


Backpacking is always better—way better—with friends.


Why is the first hack in this book “#81?” In case you missed it, this is my third book of backpacking hacks. Check out volumes 1 and 2 for hacks #1–80.


Tags: backpacking for beginners, wilderness backpacking, hiking, camping, hacks, food, recipes, tips, gear.