Green Garden 011: Beware the Raccoons | The First 40 Miles: Hiking and Backpacking Podcast – GWC Mag gwcmagDecember 29, 2023046 views Podcast: Download (Duration: 26:44 — 27.3MB) In this episode, we’ll talk about common fears on the trail and how to deal with them. Then we’ll share some high calorie trail snacks from a specialty food store that has been nicknamed “The Backpackers 7-Eleven.” The SUMMIT™ Gear Review will review a trail luxury that will keep you pumped up (without caffeine!). Next, the Backpack Hack of the Week™ will show you a sweet and simple way to add fuel to your internal furnace. Opening Common fears: wild animals, hypothermia, injury, etc Know how to deal with fears (knowledge is power) Don’t let fear ruin your trip Be prepared Top 5 Trader Joe’s Snacks for Your Next BP Adventure Roasted Plantain Chips 140 calories/oz Ingredients: plantains, sunflower oil, salt Product of Peru Coconut Strips 146 calories /oz Ingredients: coconut, cane sugar, sulfur dioxide Product of Thailand Coconut Cashews 160 calories/oz Appear to be cashews that have been coated in coconut powder Product of Thailand Vegetable Root Chips 160 calories/oz Fascinating ingredient list: sweet potato, taro, batata, parsnip, beet juice, oil and salt Packaging claims that” these chips will transform any occasion” (and by that they mean backpacking trip) “into a gourmet snacking experience” Bulky packaging, unlike the other foods we got Candied Pecan 190 calories/oz Ingredients: pecan, sugar, canola oil, salt Structure Plastic Color LCD Display Comes with ear buds Utility Comes with a 4GB card (but can also be purchased with an 8GB) Lasts 25 hours on a charge Charges with a micro-usb connector cable 42 inch ear buds that block out nearly all sound—they can double as ear plugs for nighttime Clips to clothes or to a pack strap Mass 4 ounces/40 grams 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches x 1/2 inch Maintenance Keep charged Keep dry in a plastic bag Investment $40 Purchased a cheap “no-brand” mp3at a big box store for $20 and it kept playing all my songs from the beginning from the list each time. Trial Play by artist, album, random Listened with one bud in so that I could be aware on trail Only used on stretches when I needed extra energy…otherwise I was engaged with the people around me and aware of my surroundings Great way to get pumped up and energized on long stretches Backpack Hack of the Week™: DIY Mint Hot Chocolate Mix 1/4 cup NIDO (160 cal) 6 individual Andes Mints (230 cal) 1 cup of hot water 390 calories To make the Mint Hot Chocolate on the trail, heat up a cup of water, add NIDO and 6 Andes Choc mints. Stir until smooth. Purchase the Andes Mints that come individually wrapped in foil/plastic (often sold in small bags at the dollar store) Individually wrapped mints and will be less likely to make a huge mess if they get warm Andes Mints have the most calories per ounce compared with other mint chocolates like Junior Mints or York Peppermint Patties Andes Mints are 158 calories/ounce Trail Wisdom “To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter… to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.” -John Burroughs Share the post “011: Beware the Raccoons”