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Home »View all posts by  Paul Mags (Page 34)

Author: Paul Mags

Quick Tip: Read the National Park Service Jr Ranger books

Posted onSeptember 20, 2019November 20, 2019AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

The NPS Junior Ranger books are an excellent way to learn the biology, geology, and history of a national park unit quickly, accurately, and in a fun manner. Read More …

CategoriesBooks and Media, Quick TipsTagsbooks, Junior Ranger, national park, quick tip

Introducing something new: guest posts from Joan

Posted onSeptember 18, 2019October 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

I am pleased to announce that Joan plans to contribute some articles on a regular basis. Read More …

CategoriesPMags NewsTagsJoan West

Gear Review: Toaks titanium alcohol stove cook system

Posted onSeptember 5, 2019September 5, 2019AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

A light and efficient stove system suitable for solo use. But it is the Siphon Stove itself that most impressed me. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscooking, gear review, stoves

Food Review: “Eat Your Coffee” snack bars

Posted onSeptember 4, 2019September 4, 2019AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Snack bars; with a caffeine buzz. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsfood, gear, gear review

A journey in the Land of Entrapment – Overall NNML Thoughts

Posted onSeptember 3, 2019March 16, 2023AuthorPaul Mags12 Comments

A summary of my experience hiking the 500-mile long Northern New Mexico Loop. Read More …

CategoriesLong WalksTagsNew Mexico, Northern New Mexico Loop

NNML – Pt 5 – The Pilgrimage Ends

Posted onAugust 30, 2019September 3, 2019AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

The last 100 miles into Sante Fe. Read More …

CategoriesLong WalksTagsNew Mexico, Northern New Mexico Loop

NNML – Pt4 – In and around The Sangres

Posted onAugust 23, 2019September 3, 2019AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

My route finds me winding in and out of the Sangres mountains. Read More …

CategoriesLong WalksTagsNew Mexico, Northern New Mexico Loop

NNML – Pt 3 – Southern Bound

Posted onAugust 19, 2019September 3, 2019AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

I am now heading mainly south and into the New Mexico Sangres. Read More …

CategoriesLong WalksTagsNew Mexico, Northern New Mexico Loop

NNML – Pt 2 – Top of the loop

Posted onAugust 13, 2019September 3, 2019AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

Part two of my Northern New Mexico jaunt. From Ghost Ranch to Cumbres Pass on the CDT. Read More …

CategoriesLong WalksTagsNew Mexico, Northern New Mexico Loop

NNML – Pt 1 – The Pilgrim’s Path

Posted onAugust 8, 2019September 3, 2019AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

The first stage of my journey from Santa Fe to Ghost Ranch. Read More …

CategoriesLong WalksTagsNew Mexico, Northern New Mexico Loop

The Northern New Mexico Loop – An Overview

Posted onJuly 31, 2019September 3, 2019AuthorPaul Mags10 Comments

A look at my overall plans for the ~500 mile Northern New Mexico Loop. Read More …

CategoriesLong WalksTagsNew Mexico, Northern New Mexico Loop

Two weeks in the “Range of Light”

Posted onJuly 31, 2019July 31, 2019AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

I spent a two-week gig guiding in Yosemite Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsAndrew Skurka, California, guiding, National Parks, Yosemite

My three rules for guiding

Posted onJuly 20, 2019July 20, 2019AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

The three rules I try to adhere to for guiding. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsguiding

How to Survive Your First Trip in the Wild: Backpacking for Beginners

Posted onJuly 19, 2019April 29, 2020AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

My book focused on beginner backpackers will be available on Sept 3rd. And pre-order copies are available for a discount. Read More …

CategoriesBooks and Media, Getting Started, PMags NewsTagsbeginners, books

Road trip gear all-stars

Posted onJuly 14, 2019June 25, 2020AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

Some useful items for our Summer 2019 road trip. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, car camping, Kia Sorento, Summer 2019 Road Trip, surplus

On the so-called “Loneliest Road in America”

Posted onJuly 9, 2019July 9, 2019AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

Traveling along Highway 50 to Reno, NV before Joan and I take off to California. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsNevada, Summer 2019 Road Trip

In the shadow of Moriah

Posted onJuly 6, 2019July 8, 2019AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Some backpacking in Nevada. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsNevada, Summer 2019 Road Trip

Three days at Cave Lake

Posted onJuly 5, 2019July 8, 2019AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Using Cave Lake State Park as a base to explore the exquisite area of eastern Nevada Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsNevada, state parks, Summer 2019 Road Trip

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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

We did some volunteer work for an organization we are active with on Saturday and Sunday, and made it into a local camping trip in between the assignments.
Some local hiking this weekend. I scouted a route for a possible packrafting trip later this month, and on Sunday, @ramblinghemlock and I meandered through a canyon we’ve been curious about for a while.
I can’t imagine this landscape with a wall.
Two years inside the Park Service, trying to balance trade and calling. I left in fall 2025, and I’m still making sense of it - part grief, part gratitude, and part closure.
With a brief but noticeable bit of winter this past week, we opted not to travel the muddy, snowy roads into more remote areas. Instead, we tackled some home projects on Saturday and spent Sunday revisiting a place we hadn’t seen in a while. Red rock, canyon wrens, images, and late winter desert light accompanied the day.
@ramblinghemlock and I pivoted from an original trip after much-needed rain on Friday. On Saturday, we avoided muddy roads that would have derailed our original plan and spent two nights poking around a place we could reach only because of temporary, water-filled potholes and a handy Ziploc bag that made it possible. We also revisited sights we hadn’t seen in a while. Red rock, grand views, and old images marked the unofficial long weekend kickoff of spring around Moab.

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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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      • 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
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