Green Garden 198: Rewired Backpacking Brain | The First 40 Miles: Hiking and Backpacking Podcast – GWC Mag gwcmagOctober 7, 2023036 views Podcast: Download (Duration: 27:28 — 26.1MB) Show Notes: Episode 198 Today on the First 40 Miles, wilderness backpacking has the power to rewire your brain—and we’ll share the top 5 ways it’s changed us. Then, an epic way to stay clean while backpacking. Next a listener shares her one pound solution for oil painting on the trail. And we’ll wrap up with a little trail wisdom from our good friend on the trail, John Muir. Opening Top 5 Ways that Backpacking Has Changed our Lives and Rewired our Brains How I confront challenges Backpacking helped me break things up into smaller chunks—hike, day by day, one step at a time. How I leave the house I always have water and food and insulation. It’s my three essentials gleaned from the ten essentials. How I pack for everything Whether it’s a road trip or we’re moving—which we are… Backpacking has changed the way we pack Comparmentalize Easy access Prioritize what we bring How I create For Heather: This has affected how I approach recipes, and what tools I allow to take up space in my kitchen Is it truly essential? What’s its purpose? Do my tools have dual purpose? How I create other art. Artist have a way of collecting tools, media, paper Even with watercolor, I love having a pallet with me, but then I discovered that any water soluble ink pen plus an aquabrush can be used as monochrome watercolor ink. That’s two tools. Simplified watercolor. How we dress More wool, less cotton Clothes we can move in Structure Bamboo-based wipes 100% biodegradable Moistened mainly with water + eucalyptus essential oil Utility Mass They come in two sizes: Large + Extra Large Maintenance Is biodegradable, but can be used over and over Hand wash to reuse Investment Single package with one wipe, about $2.50 (but can be reused) Also come in packs of 10 Trial Durable, reusable, soft, absorbent Smell great—naturally Convenient to use Store in glove compartment or dry out and use like a towel Backpack Hack of the Week™: UL Oil Painting Kit From a listener About one pound (which is UL for oil painting!) Trail Wisdom Wherever we go in the mountains we find more than we seek.—John Muir If you’re looking for fun backpacking books and merch, check out thefirst40miles.com/shop. Share the post “198: Rewired Backpacking Brain”