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Home » Archive for  Getting Started (Page 3)

Category: Getting Started

Some articles if you are just starting in the outdoors. Or want to pick up some new ideas.

Becoming an NPS ranger – The nuts and bolts

Posted onSeptember 30, 2019September 30, 2019AuthorJoan3 Comments

How Joan became a National Park Ranger mid-career; discussed are ways to volunteer, finances, housing, and even healthcare from a nuts and bolts perspective. Read More …

CategoriesGetting StartedTagsJoan West, NPS, ranger

Hands-free umbrella rigging

Posted onSeptember 23, 2019November 8, 2022AuthorJoan12 Comments

Joan shares her techniques for using an umbrella hands-free. Bonus: She also shares some unique, and colorful, alternative uses for an umbrella, too! Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsDIY, Joan West, rain gear, sun protection, umbrella, utah-tip

How to Survive Your First Trip in the Wild: Backpacking for Beginners

Posted onJuly 19, 2019April 29, 2020AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

My book focused on beginner backpackers will be available on Sept 3rd. And pre-order copies are available for a discount. Read More …

CategoriesBooks and Media, Getting Started, PMags NewsTagsbeginners, books

An outdoor library: Colorado Plateau collection

Posted onApril 28, 2019January 2, 2021AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Some suggested books for the outdoors person that make a good read for someone interested in the history, culture, or politics of The Colorado Plateau. Read More …

CategoriesBooks and Media, Getting StartedTagsbooks, Colorado Plateau, library, outdoors, utah-tip

Quick Tip: Instagram for trail conditions

Posted onApril 18, 2019April 18, 2019AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

How to use Instagram for quick and dirty researching of trail conditions. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick Tips, Trip PlanningTagsquick tip

All about the lumens and some real world use

Posted onApril 16, 2019September 27, 2021AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

What the heck is a lumen? And what does this rating mean for real-world application? Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagslights

Rock Images: Petroglyphs and Pictographs differences

Posted onMarch 6, 2019January 2, 2021AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

What are the differences between petroglyphs and pictographs? Read More …

CategoriesGetting StartedTagsPetroglyphs, pictographs, Rock Images, utah-tip

Quick Tip: Newsprint for drying shoes

Posted onJanuary 23, 2019April 17, 2019AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

An effective, easy, and inexpensive way to dry out your shoes quicker. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, Quick TipsTagsfootwear, quick tip

Glove in Hand – Layering for Cold Weather

Posted onDecember 7, 2018February 4, 2021AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

A fair amount of people ask what to wear on the hands for cool and cold weather hiking. Here’s my take.
Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsbackpacking, clothing, gloves, hiking, skiing, winter

A hike in the museum

Posted onNovember 15, 2018January 2, 2021AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Try to not to make “museum displays” as those displays can destroy the archeological record. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, MusingsTagsAncestral Pueblo, Colorado Plateau, utah, utah-tip

Quick Tip: Easy Cowboy-style Coffee

Posted onOctober 25, 2018October 25, 2018AuthorPaul Mags9 Comments

An easy way to make Cowboy-style coffee without the muss and chewy grounds by using a coffee filter sachet. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagscoffee, food, quick tip

Stove Comparison – Real World Use

Posted onOctober 17, 2018March 31, 2021AuthorPaul Mags35 Comments

An overview of backpacking stove types with their pluses and minuses. No such thing a the “best stove”…just what is best for you. Revised October 2018. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsburn bans, popular, stoves

Quick Tip: Psuedo Deadman Anchors

Posted onOctober 10, 2018April 29, 2022AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Deadman anchors are the way to secure a shelter in soft sand or snow. But there is a happy medium between a true deadman anchor and hoping your stakes hold. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, Quick TipsTagsdead man anchor, quick tip, tent stakes, utah-tip

Sleepings Pads – A grounded view

Posted onOctober 9, 2018January 2, 2021AuthorPaul Mags22 Comments

An overview and comparison of sleeping pads for backpacking and camping. Updated October 2018. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagspopular, sleeping bag, sleeping pads

Rain Gear – What To Wear?

Posted onOctober 4, 2018April 16, 2020AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Which rain gear or shell to wear? Depending on the conditions, one piece of gear may be better than another. Updated October 2018. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsclothing, rain gear, shell, wind shirt, winter

Quick Tip: Baking Soda and Vinegar for stains

Posted onOctober 2, 2018October 2, 2018AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Nasty dirt, oils, sweat, and salt in your outdoor clothing and gear? Grab some white vinegar and baking soda! Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, Quick TipsTagsgear maintenance, quick tip

Ground Cloths : A quick overview

Posted onOctober 1, 2018January 2, 2021AuthorPaul Mags45 Comments

An overlook at some options for ground cloths when backpacking or camping. Updated for 2018. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsground cloth, popular, shelters

Quick Tip: LNT Rule of Thumb for Animal Photos

Posted onSeptember 14, 2018April 30, 2019AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A literal rule of thumb for gauging if you are too close to an animal for photo taking. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagsLNT, photography, photos, quick tip

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A wintery weekend behind the rocks ... @ramblinghe A wintery weekend behind the rocks
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@ramblinghemlock and I kept it local this weekend as there is much snow in other places. Joan was not as keen to ski tour as I nor did we wish to drive down snowy roads.
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Instead, we went to a nearby wilderness study area and walked some ATV, jeep, and MTB track that gets little traffic this time of the year.
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What's a busy (!) place come spring makes a deserted, and stunning, place to view the winter sunset, the alpenglow on the La Sals, and that stunning mix of red rock and snow found on the Colorado Plateau during the winter months
...
#hiking #backpacking #camping #Moab #Utah #moabutah
Ten miles from home. Not bad. Ten miles from home. Not bad.
A cold and overcast morning for some local high de A cold and overcast morning for some local high desert hiking. We took a quick pitstop with few people before taking a hike in a more obscure park corner. The unofficial kick-off for peak season will start in less than a month.
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 We'll now enjoy the local park with red rock, snow, winter light, and fewer people.
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#hiking #moab #utah #moabutah #archesnationalpark
Joan finished a project today and could not join m Joan finished a project today and could not join me for hiking. I decided to stay local, see what I could see with fewer people, all topped with snow, and enjoy the beauty of my "backyard." 
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Winter makes the perfect time to see the familiar in a different light.
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#hiking #moab #utah #moabutah #petroglyphs
Joan looks at the made-in-the-USA, ~6..5 oz and $6 Joan looks at the made-in-the-USA, ~6..5 oz and $65 @lightheart_gear  Base Layer Shirt, designed by a woman for women. This shirt comes in sizes up to 3XL as well. Over the late fall and into winter, Joan’s worn this every week on our hiking, camping, and backpacking trips. Joan noted there are no other reviews posted of this garment and thought she’d write about one of her now favorite pieces of clothing .
. 
👕 Link in profile 🥾

....
#hiking #backpacking #camping
Snow in the high desert. .. #moab #utah #moabutah Snow in the high desert.
..
#moab #utah #moabutah
Load More... Follow on Instagram

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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

– 10% off coupon = PMAGS-SQUAK 

  • REI: Shop Deal of the Day at REI Garage!
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PMags Popular Posts

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  • Today Week Month All
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  • 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
  • Ground Cloths : A quick overview Ground Cloths : A quick overview
  • Talus vs. Scree – What is the difference? Talus vs. Scree - What is the difference?
  • From GIS Sleepings Pads - A grounded view
  • Off-season backpacking destinations in Colorado Off-season backpacking destinations in Colorado
  • A wintery weekend behind the rocks A wintery weekend behind the rocks
  • Local Moab winter hikes Local Moab winter hikes
  • Local in the winter Local in the winter
  • Roaming the canyon Roaming the canyon
  • Gear review – Lightheart Gear Base Layer Shirt Gear review – Lightheart Gear Base Layer Shirt
  • Ready for storage Gear overview – OXO Good Grips scale
  • Rock Images Gallery Rock Images Gallery
  • Another winter camp Another winter camp
  • Gear review – Etsy double-knit fleece mittens Gear review – Etsy double-knit fleece mittens
  • Review – West Desert Gear & Repair camera bag Review – West Desert Gear & Repair camera bag
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  • Roaming the canyon Roaming the canyon
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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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  • 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
    • Other Outdoor Jaunts
      • Utah
      • Colorado
      • New Mexico
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Florida
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      • New England
      • Nevada
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • South Dakota
      • Texas
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    • Photos
    • PMags News
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  • 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
      • Water containers
    • Road trip and car camping – gear and techniques
    • Winter trip reports, gear overviews, tips, and techniques
  • Subscribe by email
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  • About PMags.com
    • Who is Paul Mags?
    • About Joan West
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