In the first of a five part sub-series, host Eric Wech talks previews and covers what to expect in the southernmost section of the Pacific Crest Trail. From Arakis-like water carries to rogue mountain bikers, let's look at what's waiting out there in the sand.

Only 2 and a half weeks to day 1! Eric is putting together the next run of episodes, and spends a minute explaining the plan for the new schedule.

And since t his YMG, spends a minute or three rambling about random thoughts. Give 'er a rip!

Welcome back to your favorite hiking cast! We're less than 4 weeks from day 1 and this week Eric is joined by the brilliant and talented Wade Thoren, LaC, LMT, a professional with decades of knowledge in working with the body, movement, and all things physio. We cover a lot of ground in the longest episode to date, including some basic misconceptions about the source of pain, the particulars of Eastern medical philosophy, and some movements and stretches that hikers might find useful in their travels. Enjoy! Also, I apologize in advance for the audio level mismatch. We're learning over here lol.

In an era of GPS-enabled smartphones and apps that can find your water for you, it's easy to forget a truth as simple as it is ancient: getting lost can be part of the fun.

Technical issues have postponed the planned episode for this week, so join host Eric Wech as we pop open a bottle of cheap red wine and chat about this and that in an intimate episode whose topics meander from hiker origin story to a touch of good old bottle philosophy.

Enjoy!

A lot goes into preparing for a journey of this size...and in this episode, Eric breaks down the costs associated with a through hike.

Welcome to the first ever video episode! Eric goes on a deep dive, covering all the gear in his pack and weighing everything. Enjoy!

In this episode, Eric starts to unpack things...Ha! Get it? Cuz it's a backpacking trip and...ah heck nevermind.

We discuss some gear basics in the first of two parts, going over some criteria for selecting your big four (pack, shelter, sleep setup, hydration) and Eric talks about the stuff he is using for this trek.

LInks:

Atom packs

Durston xmid pro2 shelter

https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-pro-2-tent-ultralight-thruhiking?srsltid=AfmBOooyfcbzghgzTbMsqWJ6nCsoEZHhCPMjnKrFLK1qSEoa7dCQaYum

Nemo sleeping pads

https://www.nemoequipment.com/collections/sleeping-pads

UGQ bandit quilts

https://ugqoutdoor.com/product/bandit-top-quilt/

Sawyer filters

http://sawyer.com/category/water-filtration

Welcome back to YMG for an episode dedicated to every hikers favorite subject...trail food!

We cover some nutrition basics, some trail food staples, and why some people choose to backpack with an emotional support watermelon.