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Home » Archive for  Musings (Page 11)

Category: Musings

My views on life, the universe, and everything.

The night sky, light pollution and wildness

Posted onMarch 3, 2016September 26, 2019AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Some thoughts on light pollution and how it affects our perception of wildness. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagslight pollution, wild places, Wildness

Go Fund Yourself – A modest proposal

Posted onFebruary 26, 2016March 11, 2020AuthorPaul Mags10 Comments

Some thoughts on GoFundMe for vacations as opposed to charitable causes. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbegging, charity, GoFundMe

How to generate “buzz”?

Posted onFebruary 19, 2016June 18, 2017AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

I received an email recently asking how to generate “buzz”. Here’s my curmudgeonly take on this concept. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagscareer, outdoors, professional

Withdrawing from the time bank

Posted onFebruary 15, 2016February 15, 2016AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Having a cold means I have to withdraw precious vacation days from the time bank. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagscold, time bank

Catholicism, the Sacred Mystery and Nature

Posted onFebruary 11, 2016January 3, 2021AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Some ruminations during this Lenten season on how Catholicism may have affected my view of the outdoors. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsCatholicism, favorite, nature, Sacred Mystery, spiritual

The Revenant, fur trade and Colorado history

Posted onFebruary 5, 2016November 17, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

If you enjoyed the movie The Revenant, and live in Colorado, much of the fur trade history took place very close to where we live. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsColorado, colorado-tip, favorite, fur trade, history, The Revenant

Some strolls on winter evenings

Posted onFebruary 2, 2016February 4, 2016AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

On nights with freshly fallen snow, even the everyday walk is memorable. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsBoulder, Colorado, winter

Presentation gremlins : How to avoid them

Posted onJanuary 20, 2016December 29, 2016AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Volunteering to give an outdoor based presentation? Great! Here’s how to be prepared and avoid the gremlins that seem to crop up. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagselectronics, presentations, technology, volunteer

Giving back

Posted onJanuary 18, 2016December 29, 2016AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

More and more work is done by volunteer groups for protecting our wild lands. These groups need our help. Here’s some ways you can give this help. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsactivism, giving back, stewardship, trail work, volunteer, Wildness

Looking over 2015…

Posted onDecember 31, 2015May 21, 2018AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

The semi-mandatory review of the previous year. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, PMags NewsTagsbackpacking, hiking, year in review

Outdoor coats for everyday use

Posted onDecember 15, 2015November 21, 2018AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Some outdoor clothing that works for everyday use. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsclothing, winter

Website of the week: Gambler’s House

Posted onDecember 9, 2015April 6, 2018AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A very well-written and informative website on Ancestral Pueblo culture with an emphasis on Chacoan culture in particular. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsAncestral Pueblo, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, Website of the week

Outdoorsy Holiday Gifts : Non-Gear Edition!

Posted onDecember 2, 2015November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Some gift ideas for the outdoors person that are NOT gear related. Updated for 2015.
Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackpacking, gift ideas, hiking, holidays

Anticipation

Posted onNovember 24, 2015November 23, 2016AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Getting ready for a trip is satisfying. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsanticipation, Thanksgiving

We are opting to be outside again this year…

Posted onNovember 23, 2015November 23, 2015AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Another Thanksgiving spent in the backcountry. And for that I am thankful. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackcountry, Black Friday, Thanksgiving

What the heck is an adventure?

Posted onNovember 20, 2015July 8, 2019AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Adventure is a word used a lot. What the heck is it? Or is it simply being outside? Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsadventure, EPIC, outdoors

Meh…REI’s #optoutside campaign

Posted onNovember 17, 2015November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Is it cynical to think REI’s #optoutside campaign is nothing really special other than excellent marketing? Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTags#optoutisde, REI

National Geographic, Bread and Circuses

Posted onNovember 9, 2015December 3, 2017AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Ranting with a purpose… Read More …

CategoriesBooks and Media, MusingsTagsactivism, books, NatGeo

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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.

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The Squak Camp Dress 

One of Joan’s favorites!

The Squak Alpha Fleece 

                                                                    

– 15% off coupon = PMAGS-SQUAK                                                                                                      

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@ramblinghemlock and I scouted a route for a future trip, visiting a few places that were new to us and returning to others we hadn’t seen in some time. There’s something about the December light that makes the canyon country feel sublime.
Day 2 in the volunteer office
A day in the (volunteer) office with @moabtrailmix
@ramblinghemlock and I had to do some “adulting” this past week with a new roof, and the contractors wrapped up late yesterday afternoon. We squeezed in a short hike yesterday and a longer one today. Both hikes were local and perfect for this time of year.
Ultralight Catechism: When a Toolkit Becomes Dogma
New gear we liked for 2025: Solid, reliable tools that kept @ramblinghemlock and me warm, fed, and comfortable from the desert to the mountains. A mix of DIY, cottage gear, higher-end pieces, and budget picks — just the things that worked for two people who try to get outdoors as much as they can.

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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
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    • 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
      • Tools
      • Water containers
    • Road trip and car camping – gear and techniques
    • Winter trip reports, gear overviews, tips, and techniques
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    • Who is Paul Mags?
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