Skip to content
Menu

Primary Menu

  • 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
      • Nebraska
      • New England
      • Nevada
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • South Dakota
      • Texas
      • Wyoming
    • 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
  • Write Me
  • About PMags.com
    • Who is Paul Mags?
    • About Joan West
      • Joan’s articles
Header Toggle
Facebook Twitter Feed Pinterest YouTube Instagram Reddit
PMags.com
Facebook Twitter Feed Pinterest YouTube Instagram Reddit
Home »2026 (Page 3)

Year: 2026

Thoughts on two years with the National Park Service

Posted onFebruary 22, 2026February 22, 2026AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Thoughts on two years balancing my trade with my passion at the National Park Service, and on still processing the decision to leave. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, PMags NewsTagswork life balance

Magic 8 Ball for Public Lands Management

Posted onFebruary 19, 2026February 23, 2026AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Public lands increasingly look less like shared landscapes and more like economic assets. From Moab to Big Bend, the pattern keeps repeating. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagspublic lands

Presidents Day Weekend 2026

Posted onFebruary 18, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A transitional weekend from this warm and dry winter to the upcoming spring season. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Standard vs Grid vs Alpha vs Octa Fleece for Backpacking: Real-World Pros and Cons

Posted onFebruary 18, 2026April 26, 2026AuthorPaul Mags7 Comments

Solid, grid, Alpha, and Octa fleece for backpacking and hiking. Real-world durability, breathability, cost, and when each layer works best. Updated Feb 2026. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsclothing, fleece

Off-Piste: Keeping an Aging Laptop Useful

Posted onFebruary 17, 2026June 9, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

And now some geek talk but explained plainly – Turning my circa 2019 laptop in a usable workstation going forward. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, PMags NewsTagselectronics, off-piste

Canyon Country in February

Posted onFebruary 10, 2026AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

A long over due trip due to a bug that hit us. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Local in Moab – Flu Recovery

Posted onFebruary 10, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Some moderate hiking as we recovered from the flu. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Some small, good things.

Posted onJanuary 29, 2026March 2, 2026AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

Here are some “small, good things.” Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsfavorite

Moab area – January 2026

Posted onJanuary 12, 2026February 4, 2026AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Local meanderings in winter. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

On being an amateur professional

Posted onJanuary 9, 2026January 9, 2026AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

What is a professional outdoors person? Who knows for sure. But I am an avowed amateur. Post Script for 2026 Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsfavorite, time bank

Gear Review – Nalgene Ultralite Wide-Mouth Bottle

Posted onJanuary 8, 2026January 8, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look at the Nalgene UL widemouthed bottle that has a place in our cold weather kit. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear, gear review, water containers, winter

2025 in review

Posted onJanuary 7, 2026January 7, 2026AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

The annual navel gazing I call the “Year in Review.” But, hey, there are pretty photos! Read More …

CategoriesMusings, PMags NewsTagsyear in review

Quick Tip – Customize your “America the Beautiful” Pass

Posted onJanuary 6, 2026January 11, 2026AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Have a new 2026 “America the Beautiful Pass?” Want a different set of photos on said pass? Some easy tips! Read More …

CategoriesQuick TipsTagsgift of time, quick tip

Two More Nights to Close Out New Year’s

Posted onJanuary 4, 2026January 24, 2026AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Two more nights in the backcountry to welcome 2026. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

The last days of 2025

Posted onJanuary 1, 2026January 1, 2026AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Joan and I spent the last days of 2025 the best way we know how: backpacking on the Colorado Plateau. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Post navigation

Newer posts →

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

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.
"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.

PMags Popular Posts

  • Popular
  • Comments
  • Latest
  • Today Week Month All
  • The Colorado Trail “End to End” Guide The Colorado Trail “End to End" Guide
  • Backpacking Loops – Mags Favorites Backpacking Loops – Mags Favorites
  • The Frugal Backpacker – The $300 Gear Challenge The Frugal Backpacker - The $300 Gear Challenge
  • PCT trail marker A Quick and Dirty Guide to The Pacific Crest Trail
  • A Quick and Dirty CDT Guide A Quick and Dirty CDT Guide
  • Stove Comparison – Real World Use Stove Comparison – Real World Use
  • Talus vs. Scree – What is the difference? Talus vs. Scree - What is the difference?
  • Ground Cloths : A quick overview Ground Cloths : A quick overview
  • Build a gear sled the dirt bagger way Build a gear sled the dirt bagger way
  • From GIS Sleepings Pads - A grounded view
  • Rock Images Gallery Rock Images Gallery
  • Gear Review – Hywell Merino Wool Socks 2.0 Gear Review – Hywell Merino Wool Socks 2.0
  • Up in the smoke Up in the smoke
  • There’s An App for That: 2026 Edition There’s An App for That: 2026 Edition
  • The forest is on fire The forest is on fire
  • Edge of the San Juans Edge of the San Juans
  • Communication Technology Options: Seven Years Later Communication Technology Options: Seven Years Later
  • More time in our local mountains More time in our local mountains
  • Building Community with Joan West Building Community with Joan West
  • Digital mapping tools, my use in 2026 Digital mapping tools, my use in 2026
  • Today Week Month All
  • Sorry. No data yet.
Ajax spinner

Archives

Recent Comments

  • Rachel on Rock Images Gallery
  • Nancy weaver on Rock Images Gallery
  • Steve on 2025 in review
  • Steve on Ultralight Catechism: When a Toolkit Becomes Dogma
  • Steve on Thoughts on two years with the National Park Service

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.

 

© 2026 - PMags.com - All Rights Reserved -Privacy Policy
Scroll Up
  • 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
      • Nebraska
      • New England
      • Nevada
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • South Dakota
      • Texas
      • Wyoming
    • 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
  • Write Me
  • About PMags.com
    • Who is Paul Mags?
    • About Joan West
      • Joan’s articles

Subscribe to PMags.com

  • Receive an email notification of new posts direct to your inbox once a week.
  • Old school text email digest
  • It is easy!

ClickHereButton

×