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Show Notes: Episode 118

Today on the First 40 Miles, we’ll talk about a rare but real plague of the trail—the baditude.  And we’ll offer some easy solutions for how to combat it.  Then on the SUMMIT Gear Review, a piece of gear to go with your down jacket, down sleeping bag or down booties.  Next, on the Backpack Hack of the Week we’ll show you how turn your plastic spoon into a weapon—no, just kidding.  We’ll just show you how to extend the handle so you can eat your freeze dried food without getting your hands dirty.

Opening

• How to change a bad attitude…or “baditude”
• What do you do when you have a baditude?
• What typically causes it?
• Can anything turn it around?
• Is there purpose?
• Just let someone feel their baditude…give them space

Top 5 Trail Mood Elevators

Setting and meeting a goal

• Distance goal
• Time goal
• Some people hike to camp, others camp to hike. Knowing which one you are can help with your goal setting.  Arriving in camp might be a huge mood booster—or packing up at 6am to hike thru the sunrise might be a huge mood booster for you.
• Crawling into your sleeping bag after a day of strong hiking is meeting your goal—and can be a huge mood booster, so much that the endorphins might make it hard to sleep!

Small victories

• This is that same feeling that you get when you successfully parallel park
• Those little things can really be big things…so be sure to watch for them and celebrate your small victories!

Getting into a rhythm

• Sometimes false starts and frequent stops can start to add to your baditude
• But once you get into a rhythm and go for long periods without stopping, it can get the endorphins going!
• Endorphins
• From Wikipedia “Endorphins (contracted from “endogenous morphine”) are endogenous opioidneuropeptides in humans and other animals. They are produced by the central nervous system and the pituitary gland. The term implies a pharmacological activity (analogous to the activity of the corticosteroid category of biochemicals) as opposed to a specific chemical formulation. It consists of two parts: endo- and -orphin; these are short forms of the words endogenous and morphine, intended to mean “a morphine-like substance originating from within the body.” The principal function of endorphins is to inhibit the transmission of pain signals; they may also produce a feeling of euphoria very similar to that produced by other opioids.”

Music

• On our Mt. Jefferson backpacking trip we ended up carrying our 8 year old’s pack…trading off every mile or so.
• Music helped make that challenging time easier
• Music doesn’t have to just come in the form of mp3 files. It can be your own voice, singing.

Food

• All food is good, but chocolate and citrus are especially mood boosting!
• Tang is something we love when we’re backpacking…but not so much when we’re at home
• Another great way to get citrus: True Lemon or True Lime powder…They also have True Orange and True Grapefruit!
• Tajin Seasoning (chili, salt and lime)

SUMMIT Gear Review: Skhoop Mina Mid Down Skirt

Structure

• 2-way YKK side zipper on the right side
• 1-way YKK zipper on the lower left side
• Shell: 100% polyester, lining 100% polyester
• 80/20 down/feather, 500 fill power
• A little longer in the back by about 3-4 inches—which provides a little more warmth and wind protection.

Utility

• Wind and water repellent
• Two good sized pockets that can easily hold your cell or hand warmers or snacks
• Waistline belt loops, which, since this is a fitted skirt, are practically either utility loops for holding a carabiner, or for hanging to dry—not for sporting a belt…
• Plus it has an elastic waistline in the back
• XS-XXL

Mass

• Weighs 11.4 ounces (331 grams)
• 390 g (size M)

Maintenance

• Treat it like a down sleeping bag—wash conservatively
• Dry thoroughly and gently
• Make sure the down hasn’t clumped during the drying process

Investment

• $169

Trial

• Great for sleeping, provides warmth
• Skirt for women doubles as a changing shield
• Allows movement. It’s a slim fitting skirt, but the zippers can zip up, one all the way to the top, and the other halfway.  It makes hiking really comfortable.
• This skirt falls about 6 inches below my knees
• The only thing I think it’s pricey for 500 fill power. I’d love to see a higher fill power.  It’s designed for winter wear, so upping the fill power to provide extra warmth would be a great next step for Skhoop.
• Fabric is durable…not like UL sleeping bag material
• Warmth, Coverage, an extra layer, and is a multi-use piece of gear.

Backpack Hack of the Week™: On-The-Fly Spoon Handle Extender

• If you want a longer spoon, but are stuck with a short spoon, you can lengthen it on the trail using a stick and a hair tie or rubber bands. This can be a permanent solution or a temporary fix.
• Simply wrap the rubber band several times around the handle of the spoon until it’s tight. Then slide the stick (or chopstick, tent stake, or pencil) under the rubber band.  Then lengthen the rubber band out a little so it’s not all bunched up.  This will provide a little more stability for your spoon handle extender.

Trail Wisdom

“We do not go to the green woods and crystal waters to rough it, we go to smooth it. We get it rough enough at home, in towns and cities.” – George Washington Sears