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Home »View all posts by  Paul Mags (Page 5)

Author: Paul Mags

Paddling into the labyrinth

Posted onMarch 30, 2025March 30, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Another trip we rambled, ambled, sauntered, and generally enjoyed ourselves. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagspackrafting, utah

Another baker’s dozen – favorite campsites

Posted onMarch 16, 2025March 16, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Another “Baker’s Dozen” of favorite camping spots. A sequel of sorts to what I wrote in 2017. Rather than specific places it is areas we enjoy. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, Other Outdoor Jaunts

Overnight in the canyon

Posted onMarch 7, 2025March 7, 2025AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

More structured rambling on an overnight trip in support of our volunteer role. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Budget camping gear

Posted onMarch 7, 2025April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

Car camping serves as a useful introduction to the outdoors for many. And a useful adjunct to other trips for the experienced. How to equip affordably? Updated March 2025. Read More …

CategoriesGetting StartedTagsbudget gear, car camping, gear list

Two+ Year review – LightHeart Gear Fleece Hoodie

Posted onMarch 4, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A longer term review of the LightHeart Gear micogrid fleece hoodie. Made in the USA, readily avialable, warm and fuzzy, but best for people who run cold or static use. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsclothing, fleece, gear review, Joan West

Along the bluffs

Posted onFebruary 27, 2025March 5, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A local backpacking trip with some great views not often seen by most. We love these quick trips in our (almost literal) backyard. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Backpacking in the public lands

Posted onFebruary 26, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Spending a weekend in our public lands. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Taking the (canyon) fork

Posted onFebruary 15, 2025February 17, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

After three weekends without a night in the backcountry, Joan and I finally got to sleep somewhere in the back of beyond. We walked up a canyon, saw what we could see, and enjoyed our time in the red rock canyons of the place we call home. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Gear over the years – A look back, Part 3

Posted onFebruary 15, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Part three of a a continuing series of looking at gear we’ve used over the yeatrs.
Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear list, gear used over the years, Joan West, surplus

Another winter camp

Posted onFebruary 4, 2025February 4, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A winter camp after our Big Bend trip. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Texas Sojurn – Big Bend National Park, Part 3

Posted onJanuary 27, 2025June 4, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

The last bit of our Texas winter break with a brief stop at Davidson Mountains State Park. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsBig Bend, Davis Mountains, Texas

Texas Sojurn 2024 – Big Bend National Park, Part 2

Posted onJanuary 26, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Part 2 of our Big Bend jaunt over Christmas and into the New Year. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsBig Bend, Texas

Texas Sojurn 2024 – Big Bend National Park, Part 1

Posted onJanuary 25, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

The first part of our ten days at Big Bend National Park. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsBig Bend, Texas

An overlook -Alpha Squak V2

Posted onJanuary 24, 2025AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

A look at the Alpha Squak V2. The TL;DR – I like the garment itself but I still find Alpha fleece a niche use for my needs. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, fleece, gear review

Texas Sojurn 2024 – Hueco Tanks

Posted onJanuary 20, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

The first part of our Texas December vaction started at the awesome Hueco Tanks State Park with its memorable images. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsTexas

December desert meanderings

Posted onJanuary 20, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

An early December camp before we took for a couple of weeks. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Gear over the years – A look back, Part 2

Posted onJanuary 18, 2025January 19, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Another look over the gear Joan and I used over the decades. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear list, gear used over the years, Joan West

Ultra-light but not ultra-precise

Posted onJanuary 18, 2025December 6, 2025AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

Why I stopped counting ounces with my gear…at least precisely. Updated for 2025. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsgear, grams, lightweight, ounces

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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!
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The annual navel-gazing I call the “Year in Review.”
We wrapped up the time @ramblinghemlock had off during the week of New Year’s with two more nights in the backcountry.
We closed out 2025 with four days on the Colorado Plateau. We returned to familiar places, Joan showed me sites she’d seen while I was away, and we spotted new ones together.
A little oasis near the village. Second-largest live oak in the state!
Happy Solstice! A quick Honda-friendly trip while our truck is in the body shop. We followed an old stock trail, wandered around a mesa, and caught an incredible sunset over canyon country. Not a bad little outing to welcome the winter months; even if it feels more like October.😔
@ramblinghemlock and I scouted a route for a future trip, visiting a few places that were new to us and returning to others we hadn’t seen in some time. There’s something about the December light that makes the canyon country feel sublime.

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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
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      • Florida
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    • 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
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      • Clothing and related
      • Footwear
      • Packs
      • Shelters and related
      • Sleeping bags, quilts, and pads
      • Stoves, cooking, and related
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      • Water containers
    • Road trip and car camping – gear and techniques
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