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Home » Archive for  Musings (Page 14)

Category: Musings

My views on life, the universe, and everything.

The Perfect Campsite

Posted onMay 6, 2015November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

The perfect campsite is more that just a list of bullet points to check off. The perfect campsite is something less tangible. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackpacking, camp sites, camping

East to the Wildness

Posted onApril 22, 2015November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

To the east, on the The Great Plains, may just be where wildness is located. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagscamping, High Plains, hiking, The Great Plains, Wildness

April Showers

Posted onApril 16, 2015November 17, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Snow in April means it is spring. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsColorado, spring, wildflowers

To the happy place

Posted onApril 15, 2015February 7, 2017AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

In order to get the time off I need next month, I had to juggle my on-call schedule.  I am on now call for two out of three weeks this month. (Normally it is one out of six weeks) And Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackpacking, time bank, work life balance

Are you going “Hiking” this year?

Posted onApril 10, 2015June 19, 2017AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

The capital “H” means long trails with a designated route. The answer is no. And probably not for a while. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackpacking, hiking, thru hiking

FKT, OKT, YKT and OK-Dokee : The Roger Banister effect

Posted onMarch 19, 2015March 24, 2015AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Some thoughts on trail records and their impact. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackpacking, FKT, hiking, records, ykt

Gossamer Gear Blog : Time for a Walk

Posted onFebruary 24, 2015July 19, 2017AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

A recent post I wrote for the Gossamer Gear website about shorter thru-hikes. At this stage in my life, I want to get out as much as I can. But taking off for 4-6 months may not be an option. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, PressTagsGossamer Gear, short hikes

Technology, gear and decision making

Posted onFebruary 23, 2015November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags7 Comments

Some recent thoughts on the recent tragedy in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. And how gear and technology can only go far. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsdisaster, New Hampshire, technology, White Mountains, winter

Grassroots to organized – The changing nature of thru-hikes

Posted onFebruary 11, 2015January 3, 2019AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

The nature of The Triple Crown hiking trails are changing rapidly. Here’s the how, why and what the changes (possibly) mean.
Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsthru-hikes, trail angels

And now a PSA

Posted onFebruary 5, 2015January 1, 2020AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

Critters can be a problem…even at the trail head.

CategoriesMusingsTagsmarmot, rodents, trailheads

At the temple of gear – The Winter OR show

Posted onJanuary 28, 2015April 25, 2025AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Three days at the winter OR: Seeing a lot of gear, seeing a lot of friends and pitching in to help a good cause.

CategoriesGear, Musings, PMags NewsTagsOutdoor Retailer show, The Trail Show, Winter OR

Tools of the trade

Posted onJanuary 16, 2015December 8, 2023AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

Gear is just a tool. And it really does not state anything beyond that. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsgear, navel gazing, tools

Backcountry mobile device etiquette

Posted onJanuary 14, 2015January 3, 2021AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Thoughts on possible etiquette for mobile devices in the backcountry. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackcountry, connectivity, electronics, favorite, mobile devices, Wilderness Ethics, Wildness

TBT Gear: GoLite Bitterroot

Posted onJanuary 8, 2015November 26, 2023AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

GoLite gear is now rapidly becoming “throw-back” gear. The GoLite Bitterroot is an example of what GoLite did well: good, light gear that is not expensive.
Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsclothing, down coat, gear review, GoLite, puffy, TBT Gear

Why guided trips?

Posted onJanuary 6, 2015November 25, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

As one internet sage stated “It’s just walking”. So why go on a guided trip? Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, MusingsTagsbackpacking, hiking, time bank

Duct tape is magic

Posted onJanuary 2, 2015April 26, 2022AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

The wonders of that magical substance loved by all outdoors people: Duct Tape! Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsduct tape, gear maintenance

2014 – The year in review

Posted onDecember 31, 2014June 27, 2017AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

An overview of 2014 and where I plan to head in 2015.

CategoriesMusings, PMags NewsTagsbackpacking, hiking, year in review

Gear: Cheap vs Affordable vs High End

Posted onDecember 19, 2014November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags9 Comments

What is the real difference between gear in terms of price. Do you really get what you pay for? As always: It all depends. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsbudget gear

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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                                                                                                      

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PMags Instagram

Between the fires, a brief monsoon season, the AQI, and life in general, we didn't make it to our summer retreat in the San Juans as much as we'd hoped. But this "weekend," Joan and I finally made it back to our favorite mountains in Colorado.
Joan and I hosted some friends this past week. We gave them the classic tour, starting with an early morning visit to the Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park. While Joan attended a meeting, I played tour guide a bit for other parts of the park. That afternoon, we headed to the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park to take in the sweeping views across the Colorado Plateau. Today? We escaped to our local mountains, looking down at the desert floor far below.
Not a good year for backpacking in the Abajos or the San Juans, but our local mountains still offer some good opportunities for camping and hiking. And only an hour away. With @ramblinghemlock
The once and future Bears Ears.
@ramblinghemlock and I went to some local(ish) mountains to avoid the fires and smoke in our usual places.
A hike to our local mountains did not go quite as planned. With an AQI of 176 in Moab due to the fires in our corner of the world, we sought refuge in the mountains.

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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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      • Appalachian Trail
      • Pacific Crest Trail
      • Colorado Trail
      • Continental Divide Trail
      • Ring The Peak Trail (Pike’s Peak)
      • Benton Mackaye Trail
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