Skip to content
Menu

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Ramblings
    • Musings
    • Books and Media
    • 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
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Nebraska
      • New England
      • Nevada
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • South Dakota
      • Texas
      • Wyoming
    • Photos
    • PMags News
    • Press
  • Nuts and Bolts
    • 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
      • Gear Lists
      • Budget Gear
      • What I’m Wearing
      • Clothing and related
      • Footwear
      • Packs
      • Shelters and related
      • Sleeping bags, quilts, and pads
      • Stoves, cooking, and related
      • Tools
      • Water containers
    • Road trip and car camping – gear and techniques
    • Winter trip reports, gear overviews, tips, and techniques
  • Subscribe by email
  • Write Me
  • About PMags.com
    • Who is Paul Mags?
    • About Joan West
      • Joan’s articles
Header Toggle
Facebook Twitter Feed Pinterest YouTube Instagram Reddit
PMags.com
Facebook Twitter Feed Pinterest YouTube Instagram Reddit
Home »RamblingsPage 14

Gear we liked for 2023

Posted onNovember 25, 2023January 27, 2026AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Our annual look at the pieces of gear and clothing we enjoyed over the past year. A mix of high-end, cottage, budget, and even surplus. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear we liked, Joan West, montbell, packrafting, surplus, winter

Top Ten Reasons Why Top Ten Gear Lists (Mostly) Suck

Posted onNovember 17, 2023November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags14 Comments

Top Ten Gear Lists are perhaps the most popular articles in any community. Be it backpacking, music, movies, etc. But they are typically useless. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsFriday repost, gear review, top ten

A little camping, some backpacking, and goats!

Posted onNovember 9, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

We spent some time camping, got in a backpacking trip, met up with friends for a day. And hung out with goats. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Packraft around the island

Posted onNovember 6, 2023AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

A fine October weekend for a three-day packrafting trip. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagspackrafting, utah

Eclipse 2023 – Goosenecks State Park

Posted onOctober 19, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Joan and I worked an event for the Eclipse at Goosenecks State Park, had the privilege of camping on the rim, and then went to see some equally amazing sights along an old travel path.
Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Wandering the Labyrinth

Posted onOctober 17, 2023October 18, 2023AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Four days and a bonus night of camping that we that never fails to entice more and more. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Gear Review: Montbell Alpine Light Down Parka

Posted onOctober 16, 2023December 21, 2023AuthorPaul Mags12 Comments

A three-season+ or early winter coat suitable for many different uses—the last of my winter season reviews. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsclothing, down coat, gear review, montbell, puffy, winter

Fall on the Plateau

Posted onOctober 12, 2023October 12, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Another weekend out and about in Utah’s Canyon Country. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Gear Review – ALPS Mountaineering Chaos 3 tent

Posted onOctober 5, 2023April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

After about 100 nights we find the $200 ALPS Mountaineering Chaos 3 an excellent car camping tent. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, gear, gear review, shelters

Gear Review – Nortiv8 Armadillo 2 boots

Posted onOctober 1, 2023October 1, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look the Armadillo 2 hiking boots from Nortiv8. Another potential budget option that’s effective in certain conditions. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsfootwear, gear, gear review

Outside of Moab

Posted onOctober 1, 2023October 1, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Joan and I poked around in a place with litle info. Perfect! Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

The Abajos in September

Posted onSeptember 21, 2023June 9, 2026AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Backpacking in the Abajos on a fine September weekend. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Canyon country early

Posted onSeptember 13, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Enering canyon country a bit earlier in the fall than normal for us but we found it delightful. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

To the higher San Juans

Posted onSeptember 12, 2023March 13, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Four days in our favorite local(ish) mountains, Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsColorado, san juans

Lightweight backpacking concepts for couples

Posted onSeptember 7, 2023April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

A look at lightweight backpacking concepts for couples. More so than solo, lightweight backpacking as a couple means the overall system. Some thoughts. Updated Sept 2023. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagscouples, Friday repost, partners, sharing gear

Gear review: Topo Athletic Ultraventure 2 shoes

Posted onSeptember 6, 2023April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A look at the Topo Athletic Ultraventute shoes. Excellent shoes for the mountains but perhaps not brushy and prickly terrain. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsfootwear, gear, gear review, review

San Juan interlude

Posted onSeptember 4, 2023September 4, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A quick overnighter in the lower San Juans. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsColorado, san juans

Two years in the La Sals

Posted onAugust 18, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Camping and hiking to celebrate two years of marriage. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsLa Sals, utah

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

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

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.
"Effective today, June 30, 2026 at 12:00 PM, all Forest Service lands, roads, and trails within the Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest (San Juan County, Utah) are temporarily closed due to the Babylon Fire. "

PMags Popular Posts

  • Popular
  • Comments
  • Latest
  • Today Week Month All
  • The Colorado Trail “End to End” Guide The Colorado Trail “End to End" Guide
  • Backpacking Loops – Mags Favorites Backpacking Loops – Mags Favorites
  • The Frugal Backpacker – The $300 Gear Challenge The Frugal Backpacker - The $300 Gear Challenge
  • PCT trail marker A Quick and Dirty Guide to The Pacific Crest Trail
  • A Quick and Dirty CDT Guide A Quick and Dirty CDT Guide
  • Stove Comparison – Real World Use Stove Comparison – Real World Use
  • Talus vs. Scree – What is the difference? Talus vs. Scree - What is the difference?
  • Ground Cloths : A quick overview Ground Cloths : A quick overview
  • Build a gear sled the dirt bagger way Build a gear sled the dirt bagger way
  • From GIS Sleepings Pads - A grounded view
  • More thoughts on the once and future Bears Ears More thoughts on the once and future Bears Ears
  • Back to our local mountains Back to our local mountains
  • Local-ish Local-ish
  • The Once and Future Bears Ears The Once and Future Bears Ears
  • Rock Images Gallery Rock Images Gallery
  • Gear Review – Hywell Merino Wool Socks 2.0 Gear Review – Hywell Merino Wool Socks 2.0
  • Up in the smoke Up in the smoke
  • There’s An App for That: 2026 Edition There’s An App for That: 2026 Edition
  • The forest is on fire The forest is on fire
  • Edge of the San Juans Edge of the San Juans
  • Today Week Month All
  • Sorry. No data yet.
Ajax spinner

Archives

Recent Comments

  • Paul Mags on Standard vs Grid vs Alpha vs Octa Fleece for Backpacking: Real-World Pros and Cons
  • ASW on More thoughts on the once and future Bears Ears
  • Hikin' Jim on Standard vs Grid vs Alpha vs Octa Fleece for Backpacking: Real-World Pros and Cons
  • Pete on Gear Review – Hywell Merino Wool Socks 2.0
  • Paul Mags on Gear Review – Hywell Merino Wool Socks 2.0

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.

 

© 2026 - PMags.com - All Rights Reserved -Privacy Policy
Scroll Up
  • Home
  • Ramblings
    • Musings
    • Books and Media
    • 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
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Nebraska
      • New England
      • Nevada
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • South Dakota
      • Texas
      • Wyoming
    • Photos
    • PMags News
    • Press
  • Nuts and Bolts
    • 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
      • Gear Lists
      • Budget Gear
      • What I’m Wearing
      • Clothing and related
      • Footwear
      • Packs
      • Shelters and related
      • Sleeping bags, quilts, and pads
      • Stoves, cooking, and related
      • Tools
      • Water containers
    • Road trip and car camping – gear and techniques
    • Winter trip reports, gear overviews, tips, and techniques
  • Subscribe by email
  • Write Me
  • About PMags.com
    • Who is Paul Mags?
    • About Joan West
      • Joan’s articles

Subscribe to PMags.com

  • Receive an email notification of new posts direct to your inbox once a week.
  • Old school text email digest
  • It is easy!

ClickHereButton

×