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Home »2016 »January

Month: January 2016

Pack Shakedowns

Posted onJanuary 29, 2016November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags22 Comments

A “pack shakedown” is popular be it online or in person. But the best way to shake down a pack is to go out and use it. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagspack shakedown

Trail Groove Issue 26 – The Winter issue

Posted onJanuary 28, 2016November 8, 2016AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Trail Groove Issue 26. One with a winter focus, including an article I wrote about winter backpacking. Read More …

CategoriesPressTagsbackpacking, food, hiking, Trail Groove, winter

Quick Tip: Sun shield for winter camping

Posted onJanuary 27, 2016October 9, 2018AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

A simple trick for sleeping warmer at night. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, Quick TipsTagsbudget gear, camping, quick tip, winter

Backpacking Light: Faces

Posted onJanuary 26, 2016June 29, 2017AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

An interview with me from the Backpacking Light’s “Faces” series. Read More …

CategoriesPressTagsbackpacking light, interview

Mt Evans Wilderness Winter Overnighter

Posted onJanuary 25, 2016July 9, 2018AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Not quite the overnight backpack I wanted (snow a bit melted out, rocky even up high), but still a wonderful night to be out. Very warm and beautiful days! Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsbackpacking, Colorado, mt evans wilderness, winter

Quick Tip: Green soda bottle for alcohol fuel

Posted onJanuary 21, 2016July 14, 2019AuthorPaul Mags9 Comments

A simple, effective and safe way to carry denatured alcohol. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagsalcohol stove, camp stoves, quick tip

Presentation gremlins : How to avoid them

Posted onJanuary 20, 2016December 29, 2016AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Volunteering to give an outdoor based presentation? Great! Here’s how to be prepared and avoid the gremlins that seem to crop up. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagselectronics, presentations, technology, volunteer

Puffies 101

Posted onJanuary 19, 2016April 25, 2025AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

A general overlook at puffy jackets. Which type is best for three-season use, general winter use or more extreme environments. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsclothing, coats, down, jackets, parkas, puffy winter

Giving back

Posted onJanuary 18, 2016December 29, 2016AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

More and more work is done by volunteer groups for protecting our wild lands. These groups need our help. Here’s some ways you can give this help. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsactivism, giving back, stewardship, trail work, volunteer, Wildness

Gear Review: C9 (Target) running pants

Posted onJanuary 15, 2016April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

Some effective pants for ski touring when constantly on the move and above 10 or so in temperature. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear review, winter

TBT Gear: Dachstein boiled wool mittens

Posted onJanuary 14, 2016February 4, 2021AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

A closer look at the venerable Dachstein boiled wool mittens. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, gear review, gloves, TBT Gear, winter

Quick Tip: Blue foam for changing winter boots

Posted onJanuary 13, 2016November 10, 2021AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Another great use for the humble scraps of blue foam Read More …

CategoriesGear, Quick TipsTagsblue foam, quick tip, winter

Backcountry ski rigs

Posted onJanuary 12, 2016April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

The gear I use for various forms of backcountry skiing. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsskiing, the quiver, winter

Just a quiet January weekend

Posted onJanuary 11, 2016July 9, 2018AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A little skiing. A little hiking. Some winter time outside. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsColorado

TBT Gear: Windbreaker anorak

Posted onJanuary 7, 2016April 25, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Another TBT item. The simple anorak windbreaker works very well for winter. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsanorak, budget gear, clothing, gear review, rain gear, TBT Gear, windbreaker, winter

Quick Tip: Lithium batteries for cold weather

Posted onJanuary 5, 2016January 31, 2017AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

In the cold weather, bring some lithium batteries. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagscamping, quick tip, winter

S24O – Lost Lake

Posted onJanuary 4, 2016January 4, 2016AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Another quick backpack to bring in the New Year. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsbackpacking, S240, winter

Virtual tip jar

A Quick Guide to Moab

The Squak – A readily available, $60, active-focused grid fleece hoodie from a Utah-based company. Read the review.

Women’s | Men’s | Children’s   

The Squak Camp Dress 

One of Joan’s favorites!

The Squak Alpha Fleece 

                                                                    

– 15% off coupon = PMAGS-SQUAK                                                                                                      

  • REI: Shop Deal of the Day at REI Garage!
  • REI: Outlet 50% off deals
  • REI: Official Coupons and Rebates page
  • REI: Used Gear Store

PMags Instagram

@ramblinghemlock and I went to some local(ish) mountains to avoid the fires and smoke in our usual places.
A hike to our local mountains did not go quite as planned. With an AQI of 176 in Moab due to the fires in our corner of the world, we sought refuge in the mountains.
"Effective today, June 30, 2026 at 12:00 PM, all Forest Service lands, roads, and trails within the Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest (San Juan County, Utah) are temporarily closed due to the Babylon Fire. "
"So far this year, 35,247 fires have burned more than 2.9 million acres nationwide. " -National Interagency Fire Center
The CDT forms the backbone of the continent. The Long Trail makes a classic East Coast walk. Brett Tucker's routes require some advanced skills. My DIY routes don't even have schwag.
A couple of days at the edge of the San Juans. Storms moving in had us trading backpacks for a car camping trip, but we still wandered to the edge of treeline. We also settled in with hot drinks while wearing puffies, a welcome contrast to the sweltering heat in Moab earlier in the week.

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Disclosure: This website may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products to which I link. These sites include Amazon, REI, Moose Jaw, Gaia GPS, Six Moon Designs, Squak Mountain Co, and ULA Equipment. There is no additional fee for purchasing items through these links.

 

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  • Home
  • Ramblings
    • Musings
    • Books and Media
    • Videos
    • From The Web
    • Thru Hikes, Long Walks, or Routes
      • My Alphabet Soup summary
      • Vermont’s Long Trail
      • Appalachian Trail
      • Pacific Crest Trail
      • Colorado Trail
      • Continental Divide Trail
      • Ring The Peak Trail (Pike’s Peak)
      • Benton Mackaye Trail
      • Tahoe Rim Trail
      • Uinta Highline Trail
      • Collegiate Loop
      • A Walk Across Southern Utah
      • Great Divide Trail (Canada)
      • The Northern New Mexico Loop
      • Grand – Moab Route
      • SEUG Circuit
      • A Walk Across New England
    • Other Outdoor Jaunts
      • Utah
      • Colorado
      • New Mexico
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Florida
      • Georgia
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      • New England
      • Nevada
      • North Carolina
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      • South Dakota
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    • Photos
    • PMags News
    • Press
  • Nuts and Bolts
    • New to the outdoors? Start here!
    • Getting Started
    • Quick Tips
    • Trip Planning
    • Quick and Dirty Guides
    • Food
    • Gear
      • All Gear Posts
      • Gear Reviews
      • Gear Quivers
      • Gear Lists
      • Budget Gear
      • What I’m Wearing
      • Clothing and related
      • Footwear
      • Packs
      • Shelters and related
      • Sleeping bags, quilts, and pads
      • Stoves, cooking, and related
      • Tools
      • Water containers
    • Road trip and car camping – gear and techniques
    • Winter trip reports, gear overviews, tips, and techniques
  • Subscribe by email
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    • Who is Paul Mags?
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