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 * What Would You Pack? * TheFirst40Miles.com/pack * WWYP coming to YouTube in 2019 * Why packing for a trip is so much fun… 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 SUMMIT Gear Review: Epic Wipes  Structure * Bamboo-based wipes * 100% biodegradable * Moistened mainly with water + eucalyptus essential oil Utility * “Shower on the go” 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.