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Home » Archive for  Getting Started (Page 4)

Category: Getting Started

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

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, 2018April 26, 2025AuthorPaul 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, 2018April 26, 2025AuthorPaul 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, 2018February 4, 2026AuthorPaul 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, 2018April 26, 2025AuthorPaul 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

Basic Backcountry Hygiene: Why do it!?

Posted onApril 26, 2018April 26, 2018AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

Why basic hygiene in the backcountry is good for you, your health, your gear, fellow outdoor users, and the people in town. Read More …

CategoriesGetting StartedTagshealth, hygiene

Quick Tip: Water bottle leveler

Posted onFebruary 27, 2018December 2, 2018AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

An easy way to make sure the ground is level. Something showed to me when taking crew leader training for volunteer trail work. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagsquick tip

Quick Tip: Estimating amount of daylight left

Posted onJanuary 4, 2018January 4, 2018AuthorPaul Mags7 Comments

A quick and dirty way of estimating the amount of daylight left for hiking, backpacking, skiing, etc. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagsquick tip

Lightweight Backpacking: REI Style

Posted onAugust 10, 2017April 27, 2025AuthorPaul Mags26 Comments

Going lightweight (sub-20lbs) with typical gear and clothing from REI. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsgear list, REI

Colorado outdoor issues and concerns

Posted onJuly 31, 2017January 19, 2021AuthorPaul Mags15 Comments

Some issues and concerns for Colorado backpacking, hiking, and camping that may not be readily apparent. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Trip PlanningTagsclimate, colorado-tip, concerns, issues, questions

How to do a fast hike

Posted onJuly 6, 2017July 9, 2017AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

How to do a fast hike? The real question is how to hike all day consistently. And then repeat. Here are some ideas. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, MusingsTagsendurance, fast, thru hiking

The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide – 2nd Edition

Posted onMarch 28, 2017June 22, 2017AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A look at the second edition of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide by Andrew Skurka. Read More …

CategoriesBooks and Media, Getting StartedTagsAndrew Skurka, books

Quick Tip: Easy Bake Oven Post-Trip

Posted onJanuary 13, 2017January 4, 2018AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Hot cinnamon rolls or warm danish for post-trip enjoyment? Why yes. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagsfood, quick tip, winter

Quick Tip: Pre-packaged winter meals

Posted onDecember 12, 2016January 31, 2017AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

A quick way to make a meal for winter backpacking. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagsfood, quick tip, winter

Winter Backpacking – A fourth season delight

Posted onNovember 8, 2016December 8, 2025AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

An introductory overview to winter backpacking. Read More …

CategoriesGetting StartedTagsgear list, winter, winter backpacking

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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!
  • REI: Outlet 50% off deals
  • REI: Official Coupons and Rebates page
  • REI: Used Gear Store

PMags Instagram

@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.
@ramblinghemlock and I are recovering from the flu, so we decided to keep things local this weekend.
Small, good things.
I wish my grandparents were still alive so I could ask how they kept their sanity and hope through times of turmoil.
We sang this song once a month at Mass when I attended Catholic school -
Classic hike to start the day with @ut_shpo in @archesnps

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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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  • 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
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