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Home » Archive for  Musings (Page 17)

Category: Musings

My views on life, the universe, and everything.

Don’t get stuck – Winter trailhead driving

Posted onJanuary 7, 2014November 2, 2021AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

More people seem to get stuck on the way to or from the winter trail head. Here’s some advice on how not to get stuck…or what to do if you do. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagscar camping, driving, trail head, winter

A look back at 2013

Posted onJanuary 2, 2014December 29, 2014AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Highlights of 2013…and hopes for 2014

CategoriesMusings, PMags NewsTags2013, hiking, outdoors. trips, year in review

The Thermos – Best Winter Gear Ever?

Posted onDecember 11, 2013April 25, 2025AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

A look at why I take a thermos on winter outings Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, MusingsTagsgear, thermos, winter

Website of the week – Winter Trekking

Posted onDecember 4, 2013November 17, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

With the cold weather hitting Colorado, my mind is turning to winter. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackpacking, camping, skiing, Website of the week, winter

The Gift of Time – My dream adventure

Posted onNovember 14, 2013November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

Most of us (all?) have played the game: What if money and time was no object? What would I do?  Well among outdoor enthusiasts, the conversation invariably is: What is my dream adventure?  Well, here’s mine.   If I was gifted Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagstime bank

Gear as lifestyle – Why is gear discussion so popular?

Posted onNovember 7, 2013March 13, 2019AuthorPaul Mags12 Comments

Gear as lifestyle. Or why discussion of the minutiae of gear is so popular. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackpacking, gear, hiking, lifestyle, outdoors

Cowboy Camping – My blanket is the stars above

Posted onOctober 10, 2013November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

  There are many shelters to use when backpacking from simple tarps to hammocks to palatial 4-season tents big and stout enough to weather out a blizzard. But my favorite way of sleeping outside is the simplest: Under the stars, Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, MusingsTagsbackpacking, cowboy camping

Work-Life-Outdoors Balance

Posted onOctober 1, 2013November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

How to get outdoors as much as possible while balancing work, a marriage and other obligations? Read on!
Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackpacking, camping, hiking, organization, time bank

Website of the Week – Boulder Map Gallery

Posted onSeptember 6, 2013August 14, 2017AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Website of the Week: Boulder Map Gallery

CategoriesMusingsTagsWebsite of the week

Alcohol Stoves Reconsidered

Posted onAugust 22, 2013April 26, 2025AuthorPaul Mags20 Comments

Re-thinking my personal use of the alcohol stove.
Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsalcohol stove, backpacking, burn bans, gear, stoves

Made In The USA gear

Posted onAugust 16, 2013April 22, 2020AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Reconsidering the “Made in the USA” as a factor for buying outdoor goods.

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsbackpacking, gear, Made in the USA

TrailGroove Magazine

Website of the Week – TrailGroove Magazine

Posted onAugust 6, 2013August 13, 2016AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Another favorite website of mine: TrailGroove magazine.Real world gear reviews, great photos and fantastic writing. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsTrail Groove, Website of the week

CDT Trail Register – Cuba, NM : May 1990 – May 2013

Posted onJune 30, 2013June 27, 2017AuthorPaul Mags10 Comments

A scan of a historic Continental Divide Trail Register from May 1990 to May 2013. Read More …

CategoriesLong Walks, MusingsTagsbackpacking, Continental Divide Trail, hiking, register

Website of The Week – The Hiking Life

Posted onJune 19, 2013July 26, 2017AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Website of the week: The Hiking Life.  A website about Cam “Swami” Honan’s many, many, many miles of backpacking!

CategoriesMusingsTagsCam Honan, Website of the week

Website of The Week – Semi-rad.com

Posted onJune 1, 2013December 3, 2013AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Website of the week: Semi-Rad.com. More than just gear or trip planning, it is a website about the outdoors as a lifestyle.

CategoriesMusingsTagsWebsite of the week

Website of the Week – SummitPost

Posted onMay 24, 2013January 5, 2021AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Website of the week: SummitPost.org. A great site for any initial trip planning.

CategoriesMusings, Trip PlanningTagsbackpacking, hiking, Website of the week

Web Site of The Week – ProTrails.com

Posted onMay 16, 2013December 3, 2013AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Looking for good day hike ideas esp in Colorado? Check out ProTrails.com

CategoriesMusings, Trip PlanningTagsColorado, hikes, hiking, Website of the week

The Peace of Wild Things

Posted onApril 15, 2013June 13, 2016AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

Thoughts on “The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry. Read More …

CategoriesMusings

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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

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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