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Home »2016 »April

Month: April 2016

Gear review: Deuce of Spades

Posted onApril 28, 2016May 30, 2017AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

A lightweight, durable and compact trowel for doing what needs to be done. Useful in more popular backcountry areas. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsDeuce of Spades, gear review, trowel

What is rotten snow?

Posted onApril 27, 2016November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

A brief explanation of what is “rotten snow”. And why it is best to not plan on extended travel in these conditions. Read More …

CategoriesGetting StartedTagsColorado, colorado-tip, rotten snow, travel

An encounter with a Northern Goshawk

Posted onApril 26, 2016November 2, 2020AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

There was only one incident where I ever felt threatened by a wild animal. Where? In the “wilds” of Rhode Island. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsanimal encounters, goshawk, New England, Rhode Island, wildlife

Spring wildflower hunt

Posted onApril 25, 2016November 17, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A few hours in the foothills with my camera? It means looking for spring wildflowers. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsBoulder, Colorado, spring, wildflowers

LWCF permanently reinstated

Posted onApril 22, 2016June 18, 2017AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

The Land and Water Conservation Fund was reinstated. A victory for the outdoors! Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsactivism, Land and Water Conservation Fund, LWCF, Wildness

Fish on a bicycle – Useless gear concepts

Posted onApril 21, 2016February 4, 2026AuthorPaul Mags28 Comments

Some gear concepts boggle the mind for three-season backpacking. Why are they so popular? A very opinionated list. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsover engineered, useless gear

Discovery vs Safety – The Balance

Posted onApril 19, 2016June 28, 2023AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

How to plan, have a measure of safety but still have a sense of discovery when outdoors? Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, MusingsTagsdiscovery, planning, safety

Springtime Snow

Posted onApril 18, 2016July 9, 2018AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A spring snow storm is a bridge between the seasons. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsColorado, local, spring snow

So long to The Trail Show

Posted onApril 15, 2016February 7, 2017AuthorPaul Mags18 Comments

It has been a fun three years of beer, trails and nonsense, but it is time for me to move on. Read More …

CategoriesPMags NewsTagspodcast, The Trail Show, time bank, work life balance

Stoves for camping

Posted onApril 13, 2016April 25, 2025AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Car camping, road tripping, doing trail work or even a trailhead bivy? Here’s an overview of stoves that may work. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscamping, campstoves, car camping, gear review, quiver, stoves, the quiver

Book Review: The End of Night by Paul Bogard

Posted onApril 8, 2016May 13, 2021AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

A look at “The End of Night” by Paul Bogard. The subtitle of the book says it all: Searching for Darkness in an age of artificial light. Read More …

CategoriesBooks and MediaTagsbooks, climate, light pollution, wild places, Wildness

TBT Gear: Gossamer Gear Rukus

Posted onApril 7, 2016April 22, 2020AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

An odd pack that is “neither fish nor fowl”, but ends up being surprisingly useful. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbackpacks, daypack, gear review, Gossamer Gear, packs, TBT Gear

Quick Tip: Burning end of cord

Posted onApril 5, 2016April 26, 2022AuthorPaul Mags7 Comments

A frayed piece of utility cordage? Here’s a very simple way to help prevent it from fraying further. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagscord, DIY, gear maintenance, guylines, quick tip

New Mexico – Kiowa Grasslands

Posted onApril 4, 2016March 21, 2018AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

Seeking wildness and a remote experience in the High Plains of New Mexico. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagscamping, Canadian River Canyon, Capulin, High Plains, Kiowa National Grassland, Mills Canyon, New Mexico

My new sponsor – Goodwill Industries Intl

Posted onApril 1, 2016November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

I am pleased to announce that I have received my first outdoor gear and clothing sponsor: Goodwill Industries International. Read More …

CategoriesPMags NewsTagsApril Fools, favorite, gear ambassador, humor, sponsorship

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

Between the fires, a brief monsoon season, the AQI, and life in general, we didn't make it to our summer retreat in the San Juans as much as we'd hoped. But this "weekend," Joan and I finally made it back to our favorite mountains in Colorado.
Joan and I hosted some friends this past week. We gave them the classic tour, starting with an early morning visit to the Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park. While Joan attended a meeting, I played tour guide a bit for other parts of the park. That afternoon, we headed to the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park to take in the sweeping views across the Colorado Plateau. Today? We escaped to our local mountains, looking down at the desert floor far below.
Not a good year for backpacking in the Abajos or the San Juans, but our local mountains still offer some good opportunities for camping and hiking. And only an hour away. With @ramblinghemlock
The once and future Bears Ears.
@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.

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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
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    • 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
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      • New England
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    • PMags News
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  • 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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