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Home »View all posts by  Paul Mags (Page 9)

Author: Paul Mags

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

Gear over the years – A look back, Part 1

Posted onJanuary 9, 2025January 9, 2026AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

The first in a series of some quick looks at some gear or gear-adjacent items we still use over the years. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear list, gear used over the years, Joan West

2024 in review

Posted onJanuary 6, 2025January 6, 2025AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

The 2015 version of a 1995 holiday newsletter (as I am too old/lazy to do a 2025 TikTok video) .
Read More …

CategoriesMusings, PMags NewsTagsyear in review

Thoughts on seventeen days away

Posted onJanuary 5, 2025January 5, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

We just returend from seventeen days away in Texas going to Hueco Tanks, Big Bend National Park, and Davis Mountain State Park. Some initial thoughts. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, Other Outdoor JauntsTagsTexas

Sunday Blues

Posted onJanuary 5, 2025January 5, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

All about the “Sunday Night Blues.” Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsSunday Blues, work life balance

Gear pick of the year 2024 – The Free Time Firewall

Posted onDecember 19, 2024December 19, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

The gear pick of the yeat for 2024? The Free Time Firewall. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear pick of the year

Gear we liked for 2024

Posted onDecember 18, 2024December 20, 2024AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Our annual summary of “The Gear We Liked” in 2024. A mix of cottage, budget, and even some MYOG courtesy of the talented Joan. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear we liked, Joan West, myog, packrafting

Overnight in December

Posted onDecember 15, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A quick overnight trip that featured beautiful light, stunning scenery, archeological wonders, and solitude. What’s not to like? Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Along the Oregon Coast

Posted onDecember 15, 2024December 15, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Thanksgiving on the Oregon Coast with Joan’s family. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsOregon

Follow the North Road

Posted onDecember 1, 2024AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Hiking to a Chacoan Great House, seeing interesting canyons, and following an ancient road. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Gear review -Zengjo grid fleece hoodie

Posted onNovember 30, 2024December 1, 2024AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A $20 grid fleece hoodie that’s not as well made as others ones, but a good price for a no-frills piece of kit. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget, clothing, fleece, gear, gear review

Gear review – Coghlan’s Map Compass

Posted onNovember 22, 2024November 22, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A basic compass at $8 from Coghlan’s but made for them by a navigation company with over 40 years experience. Good quality at a good price! Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear, gear review, tools

Three Days in November

Posted onNovember 21, 2024December 1, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Joan and I took a friend on a loop in the canyons, where we saw some places we’d seen before and places new to us. Always a memorable time in canyon country. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Gear review – Laek Adventure Towels

Posted onNovember 19, 2024June 21, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look at the laek adventure towels – simple, sturdy, quick drying, and absorbent. Awesome for our extended camping trips and times in between backpacking. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscar camping, clothing, gear review

Bears Ears Marathon and nearby

Posted onNovember 17, 2024December 1, 2024AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

We volunteered at a local race, cheered on a friend, and camped two nights in archeological memorable areas. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Fremont Indian State Park

Posted onNovember 17, 2024December 1, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A quick trip to Fremont Indian State Park and Museum as I joined Joan for her training weekend. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Three Days on the Hayduke

Posted onOctober 31, 2024November 1, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Three days on the Hayduke Trail through the Needles District of Canyonlands. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

More local jaunts in Moab

Posted onOctober 31, 2024AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A rainy weekend, and the muddy roads up a steep area, means we changed our plans to some enjoyable local hikes. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

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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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  • REI: Official Coupons and Rebates page
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Between the fires, a brief monsoon season, the AQI, and life in general, we didn't make it to our summer retreat in the San Juans as much as we'd hoped. But this "weekend," Joan and I finally made it back to our favorite mountains in Colorado.
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.

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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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