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Home » Archive for  Musings (Page 18)

Category: Musings

My views on life, the universe, and everything.

Four years of trip reports…

Posted onDecember 16, 2010November 17, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

For your reading pleasure (?!?!), I imported and tweaked the bulk of my trip reports from late 2006 to the present.   The ones that tend to be missing are local 'shoulder' season hikes that, while nice, don't have many photos Read More …

CategoriesMusings, PMags News

Carter Moriahs

Big knife. Too much food. Out of shape. No map. My first backpacking trip

Posted onDecember 15, 2010November 21, 2025AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

An account of my first backpacking trip in 1996. I did not know what I was doing to say the least! But, everyone has to start somewhere. It was not a lightweight bapcking trip to say the least! 🙂   With Read More …

CategoriesGear, Musings, PressTagsbackpacking, camping, gear, humor, New Hampshire

Ga-Ga Over Gear: The New Gear Fetish

Posted onOctober 10, 2010December 10, 2010AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

This essay is my rant about gear and the outdoors. Or rather people who care more about spend time outdoors to use gear rather than the other way around.  🙂  

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsbackpacking, gear, wonks

The Growing Culture of Connectivity

Posted onOctober 10, 2010October 5, 2017AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

We are becoming and increasingly connected culture. And it is expected. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackpacking, cell phone outdoors, connectivity, Wildness

The Trail

Returning Home

Posted onSeptember 3, 2010June 21, 2017AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Home is sometimes that long brown path leading wherever we choose… Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsbackpacking, hiking, long-walks

After The Trail – Post Trail Re-adjustment

Posted onSeptember 3, 2010November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags7 Comments

Before a thru-hike, many people discuss the plans before the trail and what being on the trail will be like. Few people ask what it is like when you FINISH the trail.  Adjusting to life after the trail can be Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagshiking, lightweight backpacking, thru hiking

Trip is Full?

Posted onSeptember 3, 2010October 8, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

I’ve recently been a bit more strict about the size of trips I organize. Some members of the outdoor group to which I belong have questioned this TRIP IS FULL designation. Some seriously, some teasingly, all wondering. Here is my Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagscrowds, full trips, Wilderness Ethics

Hiker chow!

Colorado Trail 2004 – Calories Consumed and Miles Per Day Hiked

Posted onSeptember 3, 2010November 17, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Two questions I am always asked about my thru-hikes are "How many miles per day did you hike?" and "What did you eat?". My Colorado Trail thru-hike was short enough where I was able to keep track of this information. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, Trip PlanningTagsColorado Trail, colorado-tip, hiking, lightweight backpacking, trail food

Open Letter to AT Thru-Hikers

Posted onJanuary 17, 2010January 17, 2011AuthorPaul Mags1 Comment

With thru-hiking season starting in a few months, (and planning in full swing), thought I'd republish this article.  It is something I wrote for 1999 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers. The thoughts can apply to any long journey, however.  

CategoriesMusingsTagsAppalachian Trail, backpacking, hiking

My Cheesy Backpacker Magazine cover.. ;-)

Posted onAugust 21, 2008November 17, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Though I like this photo, I'll be the first to admit it looks like something out of a bad cover for Backpacker Magazine: Being the sarcastic twerp I am, I gave the photo this caption: I can see the titles Read More …

CategoriesMusings, PressTagsbackpacker magazine, cover

Hike now. Work later!

Posted onDecember 3, 2007November 17, 2023AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

One of my first backpacking trips was with my good buddy Tim. We did “The Presies”, culminating with the summiting of Mt. Washington. We did the usual posing at the summit, bought some over-priced and not-so-good cafeteria food that tasted 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.

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We spent a weekend camping, seeing post-Pueblo Revolt structures, and images in the "Land of Enchantment" with @hollywoulddream and @danielgarey
@ramblinghemlock and I changed our plans because our usual March haunts were already pushing 90°F. We headed higher to places we usually visit in May. The blooming paintbrush, greening plants, and the lack of snow on the 11,000+ foot peaks in the distance made me wonder what the coming fire season might bring.
@ramblinghemlock and I have had to do some adulting lately. A career transition and a 1956-era house will do that. It sometimes means skipping overnight trips.
We did some volunteer work for an organization we are active with on Saturday and Sunday, and made it into a local camping trip in between the assignments.
Some local hiking this weekend. I scouted a route for a possible packrafting trip later this month, and on Sunday, @ramblinghemlock and I meandered through a canyon we’ve been curious about for a while.
I can’t imagine this landscape with a wall.

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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
    • 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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