On being an amateur professional
What is a professional outdoors person? Who knows for sure. But I am an avowed amateur. Post Script for 2026 Read More …
Author: Paul Mags
Gear Review – Nalgene Ultralite Wide-Mouth Bottle
A look at the Nalgene UL widemouthed bottle that has a place in our cold weather kit. Read More …
2025 in review
The annual navel gazing I call the “Year in Review.” But, hey, there are pretty photos! Read More …
Quick Tip – Customize your “America the Beautiful” Pass
Have a new 2026 “America the Beautiful Pass?” Want a different set of photos on said pass? Some easy tips! Read More …
Two More Nights to Close Out New Year’s
Two more nights in the backcountry to welcome 2026. Read More …
The last days of 2025
Joan and I spent the last days of 2025 the best way we know how: backpacking on the Colorado Plateau. Read More …
Solstice over the canyons
A quiet, Honda-friendly solstice wander on the Colorado Plateau. Old stock trails, mesas, winter light, and a sunset worth the walk. Read More …
Small, good things.
A recent social media post made me think about shorter hikes and how they add up to a collective whole; much like a collection of well-crafted short stories. Read More …
Gear pick of the year 2025 – Cider, rum, and chocolate
Gear pick of the year for 2025? Cider, chocolate, and rum. Read More …
December backpacking on the plateau, oh deer!
Some images, desert light, red rock, and unexpected “adulting” before we go see family next week. Read More …
“Adulting” and some hikes
“Adulting”, hiking, and trail work. Read More …
How to get ultralight?
Going ultralight with your gear is a Holy Grail of sorts for many new to backpacking. Here are some thoughts on achieving that goal. Read More …
Ultralight Catechism: When a Toolkit Becomes Dogma
Ultralight works best as a toolkit, not a creed. A case for skills over spreadsheets and context over catechism. Read More …
The Quiver – Top Shelters of all time!
What began as a parody of “top ten” gear lists has grown into a reflection on how real shelter choices evolve with trips, partners, seasons, and the simple goal of sleeping well and walking on. Updated 2025. Read More …
Thanksgiving by the Oregon Coast
Holiday hikes on the Oregon coast—rain, sun, ocean, and family time. My second ocean in a month’s time. Both beautiful in their own way, but the desert still calls us home. Read More …
Gear we liked for 2025
Our annual roundup of the simple, effective gear that served Joan and me well in 2025 — from shelters and stoves to daypacks, pans, and a few DIY touches. Read More …
Red Rocks, and then, the coast
a local hike on Moab before we visit our family. Read More …
Outdoors after 50
What you do regularly matters more than what you do spectacularly. Hiking after 50 isn’t about slowing down, it’s about living a life where movement is ordinary, not exceptional. Read More …