065: Hopelessly in Love

Show Notes: Episode 065 Today on The First 40 Miles, if you’re hopelessly in love with someone, we have a few ideas you can stow away in your pack or use for Valentine’s Day. Then, on the SUMMIT Gear Review, a mini blanket that is the perfect size for an outdoor romantic picnic for two. Next, on the Backpack Hack of the Week, we’ll share a relationship saver for the one who refuses to stop to ask for directions. And we’ll wrap up the show with a little trail wisdom from a husband and wife team who loved to be outdoors and write books about it! Book Announcement!  40 Backpacking Hacks: Tried and True Tricks of the Trail Opening * Valentine’s Day + Anniversary * Romantic gifts for backpackers? * “You don’t stink” * Love notes on the trail * Tree carving, not so cool anymore * You’re welcome to write your name with a stick in the dirt…although not as romantic… Top 5 Romantic Backpacking Gifts Every area has a trail, waterfall or destination with a romantic sounding name * Skip Lake Foulweather or Battle Ax Loop Hike * Niagara Falls * Bridal Veil Falls * Enchanted Valley * Paradise Point Loop Hike * Placid Lake * Or put in an application for a remote area that requires permits Create a playlist to listen to while driving to your next trip * Josh did that four our Redwoods trip * Most trips require a several hour drive Sweet treat on a backpacking trip * Carry it in for them and surprise them! * Dove chocolate or kisses (great for shoulder season backpacking, so it won’t melt) * Dark chocolate less likely to melt in warmer temps Framed shot of the two of you with some pretty scenery in the background * Good off-the-trail gift * Favorite shot use as episode image for this episode Candlelight dinner (so easy to do on a trip) * Bring a couple candles or a UCO Micro Candle Lantern * Fancy paper napkins that you can burn later so you don’t have to carry them out * Paper doilies from Dollar store: cheap, lightweight, fancy and ridiculous * Dollar store even has those fancy plastic fluted glasses that are ultra lightweight, and the bottom pops off so they’re pretty compact. Just take a few Nuun Tablets for a semi-fizzy drink that also has electrolytes! SUMMIT Gear Review™: Matador Mini Pocket Blanket Structure * Hyprlite Ripstop Nylon * This isn’t your classic ripstop--it has tiny squares less than a square millimeter * Attached storage pouch has a carry loop so you can attach onto back of your pack Utility * Water repellent (not water-proof) * Puncture resistant * So it’s the perfect things to lay out on damp grass, beach sand or dirt, so you can sit and relax Mass * Weighs 1.1 ounces (33 grams) * 28 x 44 inches * Perfect size for two people to sit and have a romantic picnic lunch or a lovely candlelight dinner * Extremely compact when stored * It fit perfectly into 1/3 cup measuring cup Maintenance * The stuff sack is attached, really easy to fold up, you just follow the red stitched lines * You can stuff it, too, but it is so much prettier when it’s folded—besides you have those nice stitched lines Investment * $19.95 Trial * When you’re pulling it out of the tiny pouch, you feel sort of like a magician pulling out the endless scarf! * Super convenient, water resistant, durable * Josh’s experiment with testing for water-proofness * There’s a beefier version of the Matador Mini Pocket Blanket, which is weighted in the corners so the blanket won’t fly away, and weighs 3.7 ounces and is the size of a deck of cards when folded up. * Think of it as a non-crinkly, super compactable tarp, that doesn’t feel like a tarp! Backpack Hack of the Week™: Double Checking Reverse Polarity * If you’re using a compass to navigate, and it has gone awry, you’ll start to get off course quickly.