The Quiver: Our Backpacking Stoves in 2026
Different trips, different stoves, and different tools for different jobs. An updated look at the backpacking stoves in our quiver. Read More …
Author: Paul Mags
Rain Mitt #3 – Biohazard mitts UPDATE OCT 2026
Update Oct 2025 – These biohazard trigger mittens are inexpensive, waterproof, and light at 1 oz a pair. Over time, I found they work surprisingly well for rain. Read More …
Brave New Industrial Tourism – Chiricahua National Park
Chiricahua may soon become a national park. But will increased tourism bring the resources needed to protect it? Some thoughts on industrial tourism and public lands. Read More …
Hiking some ancient canyons
A weekend in nearby Colorado so Joan could attend a class. Read More …
Bearing Witness: Fire, Flood, and a Changed Landscape
Walking through a changed landscape after a fire. Read More …
Tragedy of The Commons
A fire ring at an archaeological site, an unleashed dog where dogs are prohibited, and a reminder that protecting public lands means more than saying we value them. The tragedy of the commons, backcountry edition. Read More …
Above Capitol Reef
Fall in the high country is brief. We caught it just right: golden aspens, bugling elk, an old cabin, cold nights overlooking the desert, and pie to finish. Read More …
Book Review – This Vast Enterprise a New History of Lewis and Clark
Twenty years after walking parts of the Lewis and Clark route on the Continental Divide Trail, I revisit the expedition through Craig Fehrman’s “This Vast Enterprise”, a broader and more nuanced history that restores many of the voices missing from the familiar story. Read More …
The awesome view
Another trip to the mountains and one peak with a spectacular viewscape. Read More …
Stoves for camping – A Decade Later
A decade after writing about my camping stoves, I revisit what Joan and I actually use today and why different trips still call for different tools. Read More …
White Box Alcohol Stove: An 18-Year-Overdue Review
A look at nearly twenty years of use with the White Box alcohol stove, even as alcohol stoves faded from the mainstream and my own regular use.
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Hilltop Packs Custom Printed Dry Bags
Lightweight, durable, and personalized with photos from our trips. We’ve been using Hilltop Packs custom dry bags as an alternative to the humble trash compactor bag. Here’s how they’ve worked for us. Read More …
Labor Day in the San Juans
Labor day in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Read More …
Thoughts on 9/11
Thoughts on 9/11 on its 25th anniversary. Read More …
Gear tip – Zenni eyeware glass case
A lightweight and protective eyeglass case for the backcountry, with an Amazon alternative available, too. Read More …
Gear Review – Generic $10 canister stove
A $10 canister stove I’ve recommended for years received some extended field use this past year. It’s not perfect, but it’s light, functional, and surprisingly capable for the price. Read More …
Hiking Rhode Island’s North-South Trail: A Practical Guide
Planning a hike on Rhode Island’s ~75-mile North-South Trail? Here’s a practical guide to maps, camping, water, resupply, transportation, road walks, side quests, and the other logistics needed to put together an NST hike. Read More …
Quick Tip – Mark and update your OTC drugs yearly!
A simple tip from a wilderness medicine instructor: Once a year, check the expiration dates on your first aid and medical supplies, then replace what’s needed. Read More …