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Home » Archive for  Musings (Page 2)

Category: Musings

My views on life, the universe, and everything.

2020: COVID, disappointment, and giving fewer f****

Posted onDecember 23, 2020October 12, 2021AuthorPaul Mags10 Comments

My year in review. A year I found disappointment but also much happiness. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, PMags NewsTagsyear in review

Thoughts on gatekeeping

Posted onNovember 19, 2020January 3, 2021AuthorPaul Mags20 Comments

What is gatekeeping? And is withholding specific location information a form of it? Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsfavorite, gatekeeping, Wilderness Ethics

Gifts for yourself: A practical gift guide

Posted onNovember 9, 2020September 22, 2021AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Here are some gift ideas that an outdoors person can get for themselves. And they can be used in all seasons and in the coming years ahead. Updated for 2020. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsgift guide, gifts, holidays

Signs of the outdoors – Part 2

Posted onOctober 28, 2020October 28, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

More signs I found amusing over my years of wilderness travel. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagshumor, signs

Back to the 1920s – Thoughts on outdoor rec

Posted onOctober 22, 2020April 12, 2022AuthorPaul Mags15 Comments

Thoughts on the state of outdoor recreation in our modern times. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsfavorite, National Parks, time bank, Wildness

Signs of the Outdoors – Part 1

Posted onOctober 20, 2020October 28, 2020AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

A collection of signs I found amusing from my (mainly) outdoor travels. Part 1. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagshumor, signs

The politics of blaze orange and COVID masks

Posted onOctober 8, 2020November 10, 2020AuthorPaul Mags9 Comments

People on either side of the political divide are often more alike than different. They both eschew practicality and safety for political statements. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsCOVID, LNT, Wilderness Ethics

Small, good things.

Posted onSeptember 30, 2020January 3, 2021AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A recent social media post made me think about shorter hikes and how they add up to a collective whole; much like a collection of well-crafted short stories. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsfavorite, gift of time

How to make staying local into a #epicadventure

Posted onSeptember 15, 2020October 8, 2020AuthorJoan2 Comments

Joan shares five tips on how to find joy in the local areas. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagscovid 19, Joan West, keep it local, Wilderness Ethics

Green friendly, consumerism, and minimalism – Some thoughts

Posted onSeptember 14, 2020January 3, 2021AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

Thinking (virtually) out loud about some ideas on the green-friendly movement, consumerism, and minimalism as it pertains to the outdoors. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsconsuerism, favorite, green friendly

An ode to the USPS

Posted onAugust 19, 2020August 22, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Why the US Postal System holds so much importance during my outdoor travels. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsmaildrops, postal service, USPS

How to get ultralight?

Posted onJuly 30, 2020August 3, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Going ultralight with your gear is a Holy Grail of sorts for many new to backpacking. Here are some thoughts on achieving that goal. Read More …

CategoriesGear, Getting Started, MusingsTagsultralight

On being an amateur professional

Posted onJune 26, 2020January 3, 2021AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

What is a professional outdoors person? Who knows for sure. But I am an avowed amateur. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsfavorite, time bank

RIP Kia Sorento, 2005 – 2020

Posted onJune 25, 2020June 25, 2020AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

The Kia Sorento died this past Sunday. Long live the Kia Sorento. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsKia Sorento

How did I get Joan into backpacking ???

Posted onJune 8, 2020June 10, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Another “Tales from the trail” as I answer the odd question of how I convinced Joan to backpack. 😉 Read More …

CategoriesMusings, VideosTagsvideos

The Onion, 2014

Posted onJune 4, 2020June 4, 2020AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

A classic of sorts written six years ago. Read More …

CategoriesMusings

Thoughts on the Seventh Principle of Leave No Trace

Posted onMay 22, 2020January 3, 2021AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

Some thoughts about the Seventh Principle of Leave No Trace: “Be Considerate of Other Visitors.” Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagscommunity, favorite, LNT, Wilderness Ethics

Outdoor pursuits and the greater community

Posted onMay 1, 2020January 3, 2021AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

The priority of self vs. the community in outdoor pursuits. And when thinking of the community, you help yourself in the long run. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagscovid19, favorite, giving back

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Red Rock & Golden Leaves ... We decided to stay lo Red Rock & Golden Leaves ... We decided to stay local this weekend with rains, storms, flash flood warnings, and potentially dicey back roads. As we had guests in town, it all worked well. .. Fall colors up high and the red rock desert below. An excellent autumn weekend in Moab. ... #Moab #Utah #moabutah #hiking #lasalmountains
Red and gold leaves in the Abajo Mountains with th Red and gold leaves in the Abajo Mountains with the red rocks and canyons below. ... #hiking #backpacking #camping #Utah #Abajos #AbajoMountains #BlueMountains
On our recent trip to the La Sal Mountains, the SC On our recent trip to the La Sal Mountains, the SCAs borrowed some camping gear with a cold weather focus. ... Both SCAs marveled when I discussed the price of these warm and practical pieces of equipment. ... One of the SCAs kiddingly (??) said that a list with links to all these nifty, warm, and inexpensive items they borrowed for the weekend would be beneficial. .. And of this discussion came this more curated list. Though my site contains many articles about practical budget gear items, I do not have one list of the more popular picks. .. Here’s the list of the many items from trips where people borrowed and enjoyed gear that works effectively without costing much money. ... 🏕️ Link in profile 🎒 #hiking #camping #backpacking #budgetgear
Highlights of Arches .... In the high desert town Highlights of Arches .... In the high desert town I call home, we receive over 3 million visitors a year. A large number of visitors for sure. But of those visitors, over 1.8 million go to Arches National Park. With over 2000 arches, red rock delights, and nearly 120 square miles (190 sq km) in size, a lot to see and do. However, most visitors stay on paved roads that add up to ~45 miles (~70 km) of out-and-back driving. And that’s the highlights many people, including friends visiting from out of town, want to see. Between guiding, taking friends for visits, and the hikes Joan and I did in the park, I’ve curated a variation of some “Arches Highlights.” A way to see some of the more well-known places in the park and works for the person who wants to do some light hiking of about ~5 miles (~8km) total and wishes to spend ~4 hrs or so to see the park. I don’t claim this particular tour is the definitive one, the best, or one suited to everyone’s taste. I do know many people I’ve taken on this tour or suggested to like it quite a bit. With all this in mind, I present a suggested way to see the highlights of this national park. You miss my colorful anecdotes, hand motions, and the remnants of my “RhoDyeluhn” accent, but that’s a potential plus! ... 🥾 Link in profile 🥾 .. #hiking #arches #archesnationalpark #moab #utah #nationalpark #nps #moabutah
Twice a year, @ramblinghemlock and I bring the SCA Twice a year, @ramblinghemlock and I bring the SCA (park interns) in her group out for a camping trip. A chance to introduce them to a part of Moab not typically seen. In this case, the La Sal Mountains. .. With 90F temps below, we enjoyed crisp weather, hot drinks, and a touch of the start of autumn up at 10k and more feet. ... #hiking #camping #lasalmountains #moab #utah #moabutah
A quick weekend in the San Juans. The side trail i A quick weekend in the San Juans. The side trail is not one we hiked before and required a little sleuthing to find. ... No signs indicating the trail until we reached the end of the jeep road not found on the usual map layer suspects. .. But well worth finding this trail for access to the early autumn splendor of the San Juans. .. #hiking #backpacking #Colorado #sanjuanmountains
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  • Ramblings
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    • 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
    • Other Outdoor Jaunts
      • Utah
      • Colorado
      • New Mexico
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      • California
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      • Clothing and related
      • Footwear
      • Packs
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      • Stoves, cooking, and related
      • Water containers
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