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Home »2023

Year: 2023

2023 in review

Posted onDecember 27, 2023January 1, 2024AuthorPaul Mags10 Comments

A look over 2023 with some photos and a few thoughts. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, PMags NewsTagsyear in review

December Fog

Posted onDecember 21, 2023AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Some camping and hiking in the cold and dense fog.
Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Camping with Steve

Posted onDecember 19, 2023December 19, 2023AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

“Camping with Steve” is calming and strangely addicting. Well worth giving it a watch. Read More …

CategoriesBooks and MediaTagsYouTube

Another December overnight

Posted onDecember 17, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Another December weekend backpacking in canyon country. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Dirt Bagger Winter Stove Platform

Posted onDecember 12, 2023April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

How to build an inexpensive  stove platform for winter backpacking. Bonus: doubles as a heat reflector.
Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, Quick TipsTagsbackpacking, blue foam, budget gear, DIY, gear, heat reflector, myog, quick tip, stove base, stove platform, winter

An overnight in December

Posted onDecember 10, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Joan and I enjoy going to certain places at specific times of the year. We enjoy going to the more well-known places in winter because we see fewer people, and the winter light and the red rock mixed in with Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Gear pick of the year 2023 – The Gift of Time

Posted onDecember 8, 2023January 20, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

The gear pick of the year for 2023? The best gift for any outdoors person – The Gift of Time. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsgear pick of the year, gift of time

20+ years Gear Review – Military Surplus Wool Liner Gloves

Posted onDecember 6, 2023December 6, 2023AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

As winter approaches, I am reminded of one of the items we use all year around: Surplus wool liner gloves. A long-time favorite for twenty years now and a favorite budget pick for both Joan and I.
Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear, gear review, gloves, surplus, winter

Budget day hiking kit

Posted onDecember 5, 2023April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

A budget-minded gear list for day hikes in three-season alpine conditions. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear list

Solo camping cook kit

Posted onDecember 3, 2023January 9, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A more in-depth look at the solo camping cook kit we put together for some trips Joan did this past year that seemed to sparked some interest. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, camping, gear, gear list, Joan West, stoves

Thanksgiving 2023 – In the desert

Posted onDecember 1, 2023December 4, 2023AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Thanksgiving in the desert with friends means camping, hiking, and some turkey dinner cooked in a Dutch oven. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Ten plus year review – Nemesis Safety Glasses

Posted onNovember 27, 2023December 8, 2025AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

A review of Nemesis Safety Glasses. Affordable, light, functional, comfortable and durable. And after over ten years of use, perhaps one my favorite pieces of budget gear by far.
Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear, gear review, Nemesis, sunglasses

The Quiver: A plethora of puffies

Posted onNovember 26, 2023April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags10 Comments

The puffies Joan and I use for outdoor use. Updated in November 2023 to feflect both new pieces and input from Joan. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget, car camping, clothing, gear review, Joan West, montbell, nunatak, puffies, surplus, the quiver, winter

A swell time with friends

Posted onNovember 25, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A swell time with friends over a Novemember weekend. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Rock Images Gallery

Posted onNovember 25, 2023November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags9 Comments

Over 200 images for your perusal. Mainly The Four Corners area, some from Nevada, the High Plains, and even a few from north of Banff. Updated Nov 2023. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsArizona, Colorado, Colorado Plateau, High Plains, Nevada, New Mexico, Petroglyphs, pictographs, utah

Gear we liked for 2023

Posted onNovember 25, 2023April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Our annual look at the pieces of gear and clothing we enjoyed over the past year. A mix of high-end, cottage, budget, and even surplus. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear we liked, Joan West, montbell, packrafting, surplus, winter

Top Ten Reasons Why Top Ten Gear Lists (Mostly) Suck

Posted onNovember 17, 2023November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags14 Comments

Top Ten Gear Lists are perhaps the most popular articles in any community. Be it backpacking, music, movies, etc. But they are typically useless. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsFriday repost, gear review, top ten

A little camping, some backpacking, and goats!

Posted onNovember 9, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

We spent some time camping, got in a backpacking trip, met up with friends for a day. And hung out with goats. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

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

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We wrapped up the time @ramblinghemlock had off during the week of New Year’s with two more nights in the backcountry.
We closed out 2025 with four days on the Colorado Plateau. We returned to familiar places, Joan showed me sites she’d seen while I was away, and we spotted new ones together.
A little oasis near the village. Second-largest live oak in the state!
Happy Solstice! A quick Honda-friendly trip while our truck is in the body shop. We followed an old stock trail, wandered around a mesa, and caught an incredible sunset over canyon country. Not a bad little outing to welcome the winter months; even if it feels more like October.😔
@ramblinghemlock and I scouted a route for a future trip, visiting a few places that were new to us and returning to others we hadn’t seen in some time. There’s something about the December light that makes the canyon country feel sublime.
Day 2 in the volunteer office

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      • 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
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