Skip to content
Menu

Primary Menu

  • 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
      • Joan’s articles
Header Toggle
Facebook Twitter Feed Pinterest YouTube Instagram Reddit
PMags.com
Facebook Twitter Feed Pinterest YouTube Instagram Reddit
Home » Archive for  Musings

Category: Musings

My views on life, the universe, and everything.

Outdoors after 50

Posted onNovember 21, 2025November 21, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

What you do regularly matters more than what you do spectacularly. Hiking after 50 isn’t about slowing down, it’s about living a life where movement is ordinary, not exceptional. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsfitness, gift of time, lifestyle

One step at a time, differently – Long Distance hiking vs. Thru-hiking

Posted onNovember 20, 2025November 20, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Not every long journey on foot is a thru-hike and not every long-distance hike needs to be one. Some musings on the difference. Read More …

CategoriesLong Walks, MusingsTagslong distance hiking, thru hiking

WANE Bonus : A Post-Hike History Tour

Posted onNovember 12, 2025November 12, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A “bonus” entry from my New England Walk where I took in colonial, early US, and early 20th century era history. Read More …

CategoriesLong Walks, Musings, Other Outdoor JauntsTagsRhode Island, wane

Paralysis by Analysis

Posted onAugust 8, 2025August 8, 2025AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

A look at paralysis by analysis that I think stops people from getting out in the wild places. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, MusingsTagsgear

Not Gatekeeping – Guardrails

Posted onAugust 3, 2025August 5, 2025AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

Some thoughts on maps, miles, and giving people the tools to see what they want to see. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsWilderness Ethics

Pay to Play on Public Lands

Posted onJuly 29, 2025July 29, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A piece inspired by a recent article in the Florida Phoenix about a private corporation now controlling access to public lands. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagspublic lands

Whitman – Almost a decade later

Posted onJuly 28, 2025July 29, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

More thoughts about Whitman almost a decade later since I took my solo Walk Across Southern Utah. Read More …

CategoriesBooks and Media, MusingsTagspoetry, Whitman

A Tale of Three Mugs

Posted onJuly 20, 2025July 20, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A review? A philosophical look at gear? Navel gazing? Or recognizing I seem to run on caffeine, sarcasm, and stubbornness most days? Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagscoffee, cooking

Celebrating the wild places

Posted onJuly 18, 2025July 18, 2025AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

We celebrate not the trail, but the wild places it passes through. – Ray Jardine, PACIFIC CREST TRAIL HIKER’S HANDBOOK, 1996 Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsRay Jardine, wild places, Wildness

Times are a changin’ – Walking in time of weather extremes

Posted onJuly 13, 2025July 13, 2025AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

Call it climate change, weather events, cycles, or bad juju. But there are more fires, swings in snow levels, droughts, closures, etc. Some thoughts. Updated July 2025 Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsclimate, climate change, favorite, weather, wildfires

First time on the Appalachian Trail

Posted onJune 28, 2025June 28, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

I am contemplating an extended walk in New England this Autumn.  This post comes back to mind. If all goes well, I will be returning to what sparked my love of the outdoors nearly 40 years ago. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsAppalachian Trail, boy scouts, New Hampshire

Another baker’s dozen – favorite campsites

Posted onMarch 16, 2025March 16, 2025AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Another “Baker’s Dozen” of favorite camping spots. A sequel of sorts to what I wrote in 2017. Rather than specific places it is areas we enjoy. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, Other Outdoor Jaunts

Two+ Year review – LightHeart Gear Fleece Hoodie

Posted onMarch 4, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A longer term review of the LightHeart Gear micogrid fleece hoodie. Made in the USA, readily avialable, warm and fuzzy, but best for people who run cold or static use. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsclothing, fleece, gear review, Joan West

Ultra-light but not ultra-precise

Posted onJanuary 18, 2025January 18, 2025AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

Why I stopped counting ounces with my gear…at least precisely. Updated for 2025. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsgear, grams, lightweight, ounces

2024 in review

Posted onJanuary 6, 2025January 6, 2025AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

The 2015 version of a 1995 holiday newsletter (as I am too old/lazy to do a 2025 TikTok video) .
Read More …

CategoriesMusings, PMags NewsTagsyear in review

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

The Enshittification of Gaia GPS

Posted onAugust 30, 2024September 2, 2024AuthorPaul Mags25 Comments

Gaia is now potentially new  sharing tracks and GPX waypoints unless you mark it as private.  And based on their past behavior, I don’t trust them for legacy tracks. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsenshittification

Post navigation

← Older posts

Virtual tip jar

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 did some more structured rambling in an area we hadn’t visited in a while. We even set a new PR one day - No more than a mile from camp and eight hours of consistent hiking!
A variation on a route I did about six weeks ago—this time with @ramblinghemlock and our friends Mike and Katie. It was Mike’s first visit to the area, and Katie’s first desert backpacking trip!
After 500 miles or so of backpacking, what better way to catch up with @ramblinghemlock than to go backpacking? But of course!
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring
I decided to end my trip where it all began. Rather than take a mini road trip, it’s time to head back to Moab and see Joan.
“Ocian in view! O! The joy.”

PMags Popular Posts

  • Popular
  • Comments
  • Latest
  • Today Week Month All
  • The Colorado Trail “End to End” Guide The Colorado Trail “End to End" Guide
  • Backpacking Loops – Mags Favorites Backpacking Loops – Mags Favorites
  • The Frugal Backpacker – The $300 Gear Challenge The Frugal Backpacker - The $300 Gear Challenge
  • A Quick and Dirty CDT Guide A Quick and Dirty CDT Guide
  • PCT trail marker A Quick and Dirty Guide to The Pacific Crest Trail
  • Stove Comparison – Real World Use Stove Comparison – Real World Use
  • Talus vs. Scree – What is the difference? Talus vs. Scree - What is the difference?
  • Ground Cloths : A quick overview Ground Cloths : A quick overview
  • Build a gear sled the dirt bagger way Build a gear sled the dirt bagger way
  • From GIS Sleepings Pads - A grounded view
  • A trip to the Abajos this past year. Kind sorta looks like NH??? Outdoors after 50
  • One step at a time, differently – Long Distance hiking vs. Thru-hiking One step at a time, differently – Long Distance hiking vs. Thru-hiking
  • The Colorado Trail “End to End” Guide The Colorado Trail “End to End” Guide
  • Shoulder Season  – The Time in Between Shoulder Season – The Time in Between
  • A Structured Rambling: The Eight-Hour, One-Mile Day A Structured Rambling: The Eight-Hour, One-Mile Day
  • Quick Tip – Kitty litter bucket for camping and river Quick Tip – Kitty litter bucket for camping and river
  • Desert Quartet Desert Quartet
  • WANE Bonus : A Post-Hike History Tour WANE Bonus : A Post-Hike History Tour
  • My desert homecoming My desert homecoming
  • A Walk Across New England (WANE) – Overall Thoughts A Walk Across New England (WANE) – Overall Thoughts
  • Today Week Month All
  • A trip to the Abajos this past year. Kind sorta looks like NH??? Outdoors after 50
  • One step at a time, differently – Long Distance hiking vs. Thru-hiking One step at a time, differently - Long Distance hiking vs. Thru-hiking
Ajax spinner

Archives

Recent Comments

  • Paul Mags on Outdoors after 50
  • Thomas Jamrog on Outdoors after 50
  • Paul Mags on One step at a time, differently – Long Distance hiking vs. Thru-hiking
  • Drew Smith on One step at a time, differently – Long Distance hiking vs. Thru-hiking
  • Jay on A Walk Across New England (WANE) – Overall Thoughts

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.

 

© 2023 - PMags.com - All Rights Reserved -Privacy Policy
Scroll Up
  • 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
      • Joan’s articles

Subscribe to PMags.com

  • Receive an email notification of new posts direct to your inbox once a week.
  • Old school text email digest
  • It is easy!

ClickHereButton

×
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to the use of cookies. Please read the Privacy Policy for additional details.