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Home » Archive for  Getting Started (Page 6)

Category: Getting Started

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

Pack Shakedowns

Posted onJanuary 29, 2016November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags22 Comments

A “pack shakedown” is popular be it online or in person. But the best way to shake down a pack is to go out and use it. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagspack shakedown

Quick Tip: Sun shield for winter camping

Posted onJanuary 27, 2016October 9, 2018AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

A simple trick for sleeping warmer at night. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, Quick TipsTagsbudget gear, camping, quick tip, winter

Quick Tip: Green soda bottle for alcohol fuel

Posted onJanuary 21, 2016July 14, 2019AuthorPaul Mags9 Comments

A simple, effective and safe way to carry denatured alcohol. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagsalcohol stove, camp stoves, quick tip

Puffies 101

Posted onJanuary 19, 2016April 25, 2025AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

A general overlook at puffy jackets. Which type is best for three-season use, general winter use or more extreme environments. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsclothing, coats, down, jackets, parkas, puffy winter

Quick Tip: Lithium batteries for cold weather

Posted onJanuary 5, 2016January 31, 2017AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

In the cold weather, bring some lithium batteries. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagscamping, quick tip, winter

Website of the week: Minimus.biz

Posted onDecember 30, 2015December 30, 2015AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A great website to buy small sized food items perfect for backpacking or camping. Read More …

CategoriesGetting StartedTagsfood, Website of the week

Backpacking food – weekends or long hikes

Posted onDecember 22, 2015April 25, 2025AuthorPaul Mags9 Comments

A general overview of backpacking food be it for weekend hikes, thru-hikes or something in between. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Trip PlanningTagsbackpacking, cooking, food

Quick Tip: Don’t burn your snow pot!

Posted onDecember 11, 2015January 31, 2017AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Winter backpacking? Don’t burn the snow pot! Here’s how to melt snow the right way. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Quick TipsTagscamping, cooking, quick tip, winter

Website of the week: National Weather Service – NOAA

Posted onOctober 16, 2015AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A great website for forecasting weather in backcountry areas. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Trip PlanningTagsNOAA, weather, Website of the week

Review – Backcountry Navigator

Posted onSeptember 16, 2015December 18, 2019AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A review of Backcountry Navigator and gps/mapping software in general. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, MusingsTagsapp, Backcountry Navigator, electronics, GPS, maps

Talus vs. Scree – What is the difference?

Posted onSeptember 15, 2015January 2, 2021AuthorPaul Mags22 Comments

A quick and dirty description of the difference between talus and scree. Read More …

CategoriesGetting StartedTagsoff trail, popular, scree, talus

Classes of hiking – The Yosemite Decimal System

Posted onSeptember 11, 2015July 7, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

An explanation of the different classes of the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) esp as it applies to hiking. Read More …

CategoriesGetting StartedTagsclimbing, hiking, scrambling, YDS, Yosemite Decimal System

Website of the week: CalTopo

Posted onSeptember 10, 2015April 9, 2017AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

A great website for that essential of backcountry navigation – maps! Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Trip PlanningTagsmaps, Website of the week

How to find a good campsite

Posted onJune 18, 2015November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Some tips and ideas to find a campsite that is comfortable, away from the crowds and less critter prone. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, Trip PlanningTagsbackpacking, camp sites

Bear and Critter Concerns : What to do?

Posted onJune 11, 2015April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags10 Comments

Concerns about bears or critters? Here are some suggestions to avoid conflict with them. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting StartedTagsbagging, bears, canisters, colorado-tip, critters, prevention

Quick Tip : Water bottles as ice packs

Posted onJune 3, 2015July 16, 2024AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Have a lot of water bottles accumulated? Use them as quick and dirty ice packs! Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, Quick TipsTagscamping, car camping, quick tip, water bottles, water containers

Whole bunch of knot-sense

Posted onMay 1, 2015March 24, 2016AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Some basic knots to know for hiking, backpacking or camping. Works well for daily use, too. Read More …

CategoriesGetting StartedTagsbackpacking, camping, knots

Quick Tip: Duct tape for easy splinter removal

Posted onFebruary 20, 2015June 19, 2017AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Duct tape can be a quick and dirty way of removing multiple splinters. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, Quick TipsTagsduct tape, quick tip, splinters

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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

The Squak Swell Sun Hoodie

Women’s Swell  | Men’s Swell

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

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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
    • 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

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