A recharge in the San Juans
Two nights of a mental recharge. Read More …
Author: Paul Mags
A Tale of Three Mugs
A review? A philosophical look at gear? Navel gazing? Or recognizing I seem to run on caffeine, sarcasm, and stubbornness most days? Read More …
Celebrating the wild places
We celebrate not the trail, but the wild places it passes through. – Ray Jardine, PACIFIC CREST TRAIL HIKER’S HANDBOOK, 1996 Read More …
The La Sals, Molas Pass, and fires
Joan is off to Denver on the CT but we did an acclimation hike in our local mountains first. Read More …
Times are a changin’ – Walking in time of weather extremes
Call it climate change, weather events, cycles, or bad juju. But there are more fires, swings in snow levels, droughts, closures, etc. Some thoughts. Updated July 2025 Read More …
Map, Compass, GPS: Not Either/Or, But All of the Above
A collection of my Reddit posts. cleaned up and expanded, with thoughts on how maps, compasses, and GPS all work together in the field. It’s not about which tool is “better,” but how they complement each other. Read More …
Gear Review: UCO Utility Spork 3-in-1 Combo Spoon-Fork-Knife
The UCO Utility Spork 3-in-1 Combo Spoon-Fork-Knife from is a modest item that Joan and I use all the time since 2019. Read More …
Local fun over the 4th
A relaxing 4th in the mountains and on the river. Read More …
Gear Review – Gossamer Gear Loris 25 daypack
A look at the Gossamer Gear Loris 25 daypack that’s a worthy successor to the Type II utility packs we we wore out. Read More …
Paul Mags’ Gear List (Solo Backpacking, three-season)
My gear list for solo, three-season hiking in Colorado or similar. I also added some gear I may swap in depending on the trip type. Updated. Read More …
First impressons – Gossamer Gear “The Two”
An initial overlook at The Gossamer Gear “The Two” that Joan and I have used the past couple of months. Read More …
A quick overnighter in the La Sals
A quick overnight trip to the La Sal Mountains where left the desert and enjoyed the cool night air. Read More …
First time on the Appalachian Trail
I am contemplating an extended walk in New England this Autumn. This post comes back to mind. If all goes well, I will be returning to what sparked my love of the outdoors nearly 40 years ago. Read More …
Long term review – 2010 ~50 liter Igloo cooler
A long tern review of the decidely un-hip Costco Igloo cooler from 2010. Read More …
Down there in the mountains
Some time spent in the local mountains with the hotter weather now here. Read More …
Eight Days at the “Edge of Nowhere”
I want to go back, sleep under the stars, and walk in the desert again for many days. I want to “light out for the Territory.”
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Into some higher country
A weekend that did not go as planned but did not matter in the end. Read More …
I went down to Austin…
I went to Austin, had some BBQ, and talked trail. Read More …