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Home »View all posts by  Paul Mags (Page 2)

Author: Paul Mags

Off Piste – Nelko P21 Label Maker

Posted onMay 19, 2026May 19, 2026AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

An inexpensive and useful label maker to help organize gear, maps, and other items. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagselectronics, gear, off-piste, organization

A few days off the desert floor

Posted onMay 19, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Desert haiku. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Grab and go – Pantry tote

Posted onMay 13, 2026May 13, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Organization is not glamorous, but it buys us more time outside. Our pantry tote is a key part of that system. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, Trip PlanningTagscar camping, gift of time

Budget overlook – 32 Degree Heat light puffy

Posted onMay 12, 2026May 13, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

An inexpensive, functional puffy jacket for outdoor work, go bags, day hikes, and starter backpacking kit. Not fancy, but useful. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget, clothing, gear review

Avenza: Enshittified. Sigh.

Posted onMay 11, 2026July 2, 2026AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

Another victim of enshittification – Avenza Maps Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsapp, electronics

Solo on the plateau

Posted onMay 6, 2026AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Starting another chapter soon, so I took a few days for a solo walkabout in canyon country after my WFR recert. Three days of backpacking with a quiet camp on the canyon rim proved memorable. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Thinking of the last journey

Posted onMay 5, 2026May 6, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

When the weather shut down our original plan, we shifted to a canyon we hadn’t seen and a float on the Gunnison. It worked out, but the lower flows and changing conditions echo a larger reality across the Colorado Plateau. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsColorado, packrafting

Ultralight as an auto hobby

Posted onApril 27, 2026July 2, 2026AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Ultralight hobbyists reminds me classic car aficionados. Some thoughts. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsconsumerism

Off-Piste – Brother 2170w Printer (2009 vintage)

Posted onApril 27, 2026April 27, 2026AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Another off-piste article; this time about our circa 2009 Brother printer. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagselectronics, off-piste

Backpacking and Car camping – Two tools in the timebank kit

Posted onApril 20, 2026April 20, 2026AuthorPaul Mags7 Comments

We often treat backpacking and car camping as separate categories. They’re not. They’re two tools that add to the overall time outside. Some thoughts. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagscar camping

Two days meandering near Moab

Posted onApril 20, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Local hikes near our Moab home. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsutah

Gear Review – Hywell Merino Wool Boot Socks

Posted onApril 19, 2026AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

An alternative sock to Darn Tough that does not quite work well for trail runners. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, gear, gear review, socks

Walking in Wisconsin

Posted onApril 9, 2026June 9, 2026AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Some wanderings in Wisconsin over Easter Week. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsWisconsin

Among the Pueblitos

Posted onApril 9, 2026April 9, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A weekend in the Land of Enchantment with Holly and Dan. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsNew Mexico

Western Snap shirts vs. Sun Hoodies- Hot and Dry Weather

Posted onMarch 24, 2026July 28, 2026AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

I’ve tried several sun hoodies over the years. I still find my poly-cotton Western snap shirt works better in hot, dry weather. Here’s why. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, sun protection

Higher up, a little early

Posted onMarch 24, 2026March 24, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A trip to an area we usually see in May and not March. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

More local hiking – Moab in March

Posted onMarch 22, 2026March 22, 2026AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Some local hiking others parts our life take precedence. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Some volunteering and camping

Posted onMarch 17, 2026March 17, 2026AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Some volunteering and camping locally. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

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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

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.
"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. "

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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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  • 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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