111: Zero Days

Show Notes: Episode 111 Today on the First 40 Miles, hiking and backpacking go together like Lewis and Clark, but is it ok have a day in the wilderness where you don’t hike at all?  Absolutely!  We’ll give you a few ideas for what else you can do.  For today’s SUMMIT Gear Review, a pack that is incredibly adaptable.  Next, our Backpack Hack of the Week is a soul-filling pot of beans that can only be made on a zero day. Opening * “Zero Day” * The concept of a zero day was new to Heather, even after her first few backpacking trips. * A zero day is a day in which you don’t move camp. * Nero Day: Nearly a zero day. Top 5 Types of Activities for your Zero Day Active Recreation * Swimming, exploring, hiking without your big pack, peak bagging, etc. * Getting to know the lay of the land, creating that cognitive map Passive Recreation * Rest, wandering, soaking, hammocking, recovery, elevating feet, soaking your feet in a creek, rock skipping Housekeeping * This is probably more likely to happen on longer trips—not weekenders * Laundry, repair, knife sharpening, injury management, cleaning out pack, re-sorting gear Personal Enrichment * Journaling, painting, goal setting, reading, podcasts, writing, sketching, talking, mind puzzles, sudoku Campside projects * Long cooking projects, pioneering, birdwatching, fire tending, whittling SUMMIT Gear Review: Gregory ZULU 55 Structure * Designers went to work, they had two things in mind suspension comfort and adaptability (cinch straps, loops everywhere, ways to tighten of loosen outside pouch, toggles) * Compared to other Gregory packs, this one really is much more streamlined and compact. It’s not as wide as a Gregory packs have been in the past—but definitely just as fully featured. * Body: 210-denier nylon; lining: 200-denier embossed polyester * Suspended Mesh Back Panel that can be expanded—and it even has a little drainage hole for if you decide to stash your rain gear there * Enhanced lumbar foam layering increases load-bearing comfort * Ventilated mesh back panel for superior ventilation Utility * Compartments: Massive brain (Top lid), not really removable, 2 water bottle holders, hang toggles inside that hold the hydration sleeve/daypack, large mesh pouch—and behind it there is a zippered pouch to hold the removable rain cover. * Comes with a waterproof pack cover * Removable water bladder sleeve which doubles as a summit pack * The Gregory ZULU 55 has 3 access points: through the top (where it’s cinched closed and covered with a lid or “brain”, through the bottom—which is typically where people store their sleeping bag, and then through a u-shaped zippered opening behind the stash pocket on the back—this is typically where people stash rain gear) * The zippered stash area is interesting—and it’s expandable and has a latch so that gear is more secure. * All over there are toggles, loops, cinch straps—so if you can’t fit all your gear inside—there are ample places to strap it to the outside. * The torso length is fixed, not adjustable Mass * Pack (without rain cover and hydration sleeve) weighs 3 lbs. 11 ounces * Rain cover weighs 4.5 ounces * Hydration sleeve/removable day pack weighs 4.5 ounces * All total, the pack weighs 4 lbs. 4 ounces * Right on target for advertised weight–impressive Maintenance * Wash when needed in a bathtub tub with unscented detergent * We had good luck reviving an old Gregory Deva last year. We used a clean toilet plunger * Dry completely in the garage or outside in the shade