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Home »RamblingsPage 7

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

Local Delights

Posted onOctober 17, 2024AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Hosting another friend means we have another chance to take in some local favorites and some nearby places off the beaten path. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsutah

Solo in the South San Juans

Posted onOctober 16, 2024AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

A few days solo in the South San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Read More …

CategoriesOther Outdoor JauntsTagsColorado

Birthday in the La Sals

Posted onOctober 9, 2024October 9, 2024AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Some time in the La Sals for Joan’s birthday. 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 

                                                                    

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Some local hiking this weekend. I scouted a route for a possible packrafting trip later this month, and on Sunday, @ramblinghemlock and I meandered through a canyon we’ve been curious about for a while.
I can’t imagine this landscape with a wall.
Two years inside the Park Service, trying to balance trade and calling. I left in fall 2025, and I’m still making sense of it - part grief, part gratitude, and part closure.
With a brief but noticeable bit of winter this past week, we opted not to travel the muddy, snowy roads into more remote areas. Instead, we tackled some home projects on Saturday and spent Sunday revisiting a place we hadn’t seen in a while. Red rock, canyon wrens, images, and late winter desert light accompanied the day.
@ramblinghemlock and I pivoted from an original trip after much-needed rain on Friday. On Saturday, we avoided muddy roads that would have derailed our original plan and spent two nights poking around a place we could reach only because of temporary, water-filled potholes and a handy Ziploc bag that made it possible. We also revisited sights we hadn’t seen in a while. Red rock, grand views, and old images marked the unofficial long weekend kickoff of spring around Moab.
@ramblinghemlock and I finally felt better and took a long-overdue trip into the backcountry. We slept outside and enjoyed the peace of the wild places. Canyon wrens filled the canyon with song during the day, and owl calls echoed off the walls at night. We returned to places we had not seen in a while and saw places new to us. The land endures.

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      • Appalachian Trail
      • Pacific Crest Trail
      • Colorado Trail
      • Continental Divide Trail
      • Ring The Peak Trail (Pike’s Peak)
      • Benton Mackaye Trail
      • Tahoe Rim Trail
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