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Home »RamblingsPage 29

Green friendly, consumerism, and minimalism – Some thoughts

Posted onSeptember 14, 2020January 3, 2021AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

Thinking (virtually) out loud about some ideas on the green-friendly movement, consumerism, and minimalism as it pertains to the outdoors. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsconsuerism, favorite, green friendly

My backpacking stoves – A practical look

Posted onSeptember 7, 2020September 7, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A video that looks over the backpacking stoves I use from a practical standpoint. Read More …

CategoriesGear, VideosTagsquiver, stoves, videos

Quick Tip: Calibrate your phone GPS

Posted onSeptember 6, 2020July 2, 2026AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

You may need to calibrate the internal compass of your phone GPS on occasion to get accurate results with your navigation software. Read More …

CategoriesQuick TipsTagsapp, electronics, GPS, navigation, quick tip

Sleeping systems – Joan’s Picks

Posted onAugust 31, 2020April 25, 2025AuthorJoan4 Comments

Joan’s thoughts on sleeping systems for winter, cowboy camping, hammock camping, and more and what works best for her. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsJoan West, quil, sleeping bag, sleeping pads, wintert

Moab in the smoke

Posted onAugust 24, 2020January 19, 2021AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A weekend of hiking makes me think of an article I wrote two years ago. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsclimate, utah, wildfires

An ode to the USPS

Posted onAugust 19, 2020August 22, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Why the US Postal System holds so much importance during my outdoor travels. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsmaildrops, postal service, USPS

Gear Review: Down Sleeping Wrap #2 Long

Posted onAugust 18, 2020February 15, 2022AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A quilt so well-made, Joan “borrows” it from me on her solo trips. And at least once on trips we took together. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsgear review, montbell, quilt, sleeping bag

San Juans in the Smoke

Posted onAugust 17, 2020January 19, 2021AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A smoky weekend exploring more of the San Juan Mountains. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsclimate, Colorado, San Juan Mountains, san juans

A look at my shell systems

Posted onAugust 13, 2020December 1, 2020AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A video that looks over the clothing I use for my shells be it rain or snow. And with a few budget options as well. Read More …

CategoriesGear, VideosTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear review, montbell, rain gear, shell, the quiver, wind shirt, winter

Review – NoBox Globe Lantern

Posted onAugust 11, 2020December 31, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Another well-designed and useful item from NoBox out of Salt Lake City. This lantern makes a great basecamp light I’ve grown to like over the months. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagscar camping, gear review, lights

San Juan Lollipop

Posted onAugust 10, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A classic weekend backpacking on a stick, to a loop, and back again in the not-so-distant San Juan Mountains. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsColorado, San Juan Mountains, san juans

Edge of our World – San Juan Mountains

Posted onAugust 4, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A trip to the San Juans mountains of Colorado – fewer than three hours away. But a world of a difference. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsColorado, San Juan Mountains, san juans

Three months out – Six Moon Designs Daybreaker

Posted onJuly 23, 2020April 27, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

An overview of my first few months using the Six Moon Designs Daybreaker travel and day-use pack. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsdaypack, gear review, packs, Six Moon Designs

On the roof top of Moab

Posted onJuly 21, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Another weekend where we leave the desert floor to enjoy alpine delights. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsLa Sals, utah

Down in The Abajos

Posted onJuly 14, 2020July 21, 2020AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

More local travels in the mountains just to the south of us. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsabajo mountains, utah

Assertive Backcountry Driving

Posted onJuly 8, 2020AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Thoughts on assertive driving. Particularly when there are people using their GoPro, blocking the road, and not moving. So they can film cows. Read More …

CategoriesVideosTagsvideos

More La Sal exploration

Posted onJuly 7, 2020July 7, 2020AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Another weekend of hiking and camping in our backyard mountains. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsLa Sals, utah

Gear review – Wrangler performance button downs

Posted onJuly 1, 2020April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Another budget review for an item I’ve used for a few years now – Wrangler performance button-down short sleeve shirts that I wear for day use. Read More …

CategoriesGearTagsbudget gear, clothing, gear review, shirt

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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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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. "

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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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