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Home » Archive for  Musings (Page 4)

Category: Musings

My views on life, the universe, and everything.

Love letters from devoted readers

Posted onJanuary 6, 2021November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Feeling the love from the wonderful comments from over the years. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagshumor

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, 2020April 26, 2025AuthorPaul 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, gift of time, 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, 2020September 14, 2023AuthorPaul 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

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

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 Mags6 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, 2020April 27, 2025AuthorPaul 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

Outdoor Gear and Disaster Preparedness

Posted onMarch 24, 2020November 25, 2023AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

The recent flood in Boulder had me thinking: Being an outdoors person works well for disaster preparedness.
Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTags72 hours, car camping, gear, outdoors, preparedness, time bank

Why you should stay local for outdoors

Posted onMarch 16, 2020October 8, 2020AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

Hey folks, please don’t go to small tourist towns for outdoor recreation. It is irresponsible. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagscovid 19, economics, tourism, Wilderness Ethics

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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!

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  • REI: Shop Deal of the Day at REI Garage!
  • REI: Outlet 50% off deals
  • REI: Official Coupons and Rebates page
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PMags Instagram

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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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
    • 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
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  • About PMags.com
    • Who is Paul Mags?
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