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Home » Archive for  Musings (Page 8)

Category: Musings

My views on life, the universe, and everything.

The Incredible Shrinking Monuments

Posted onDecember 7, 2017December 8, 2017AuthorPaul Mags9 Comments

Some thoughts on the recent announcement about the proposed reduction of National Monuments. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsNational Monuments, Wildness

WASU : Bonus music edition

Posted onNovember 19, 2017May 13, 2021AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

One last post for my Utah walk. Songs stuck in my head while being out by myself. Call it a bonus post. Read More …

CategoriesBooks and Media, Long Walks, MusingsTagsmusic, utah, wasu

National Park fee increase

Posted onOctober 27, 2017November 27, 2017AuthorPaul Mags21 Comments

Thoughts on the proposed NPS fee increases. Ad what it means for the wild and egalitarian nature of our parks. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsadvocacy, National Parks, Wildness

Turning the page

Posted onOctober 9, 2017October 9, 2017AuthorPaul Mags6 Comments

One chapter is ended. Time to start a new one. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagspartings, southern tier road trip, wasu

And now, a Triple Crown backpacking joke

Posted onOctober 2, 2017October 9, 2017AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

A joke I posted online recently that people seem to enjoy. Succinctly sums up each of the “Big Three” trails. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagshumor, Triple

Ghost Trails

Posted onSeptember 19, 2017November 17, 2023AuthorPaul Mags4 Comments

Find an old trail on a map or even stumble upon it? That’s a Ghost Trail. And it is an interesting way to walk a little bit of forgotten outdoor history. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, Trip PlanningTagsGhost Trails, off trail

NPS Campground privatization and other changes

Posted onSeptember 6, 2017July 19, 2019AuthorPaul Mags8 Comments

In the near future, most NPS campground will be privatized. And connected. Some thoughts on an ongoing trend. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsconnectivity, electronics, National Parks, Wildness

The ethics of off-trail hiking

Posted onSeptember 4, 2017September 25, 2019AuthorPaul Mags12 Comments

Is hiking off-trail ethical? And, assuming this type of hiking is ethical, what is the best way to preserve these ethics? Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsWilderness Ethics

New Fangled Ultralight Backpacking

Posted onAugust 2, 2017May 3, 2023AuthorPaul Mags46 Comments

This lightweight “backpacking fad” is not that new or a fad. Despite what some people may state. Read More …

CategoriesGear, MusingsTagsevolving, favorite, gear list, lightweight backpacking

Survival Coffee

Posted onJuly 26, 2017July 31, 2017AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

A socially acceptable chemical stimulant to increase my time bank funds when driving to a trailhead late at night. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagscoffee, food

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: $40 Utility bucket?

Posted onJuly 14, 2017February 4, 2026AuthorPaul Mags24 Comments

A new one even for me: A $40 plastic utility bucket being praised by an outdoor gear blog? Cripe. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsfavorite, humor, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

More musings on Whitman

Posted onJuly 12, 2017July 28, 2025AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment

Some later night woolgathering again on Whitman. The last for a while. 🙂 Read More …

CategoriesBooks and Media, MusingsTagspoetry, Whitman

Wonderful Wildflowers

Posted onJuly 11, 2017July 12, 2017AuthorPaul Mags2 Comments

The mountain landscapes are impressive. I still love me some wildflowers, though. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagswildflowers

The Colorado RV & Boat Show

Posted onJuly 10, 2017February 4, 2026AuthorPaul Mags14 Comments

A phenomenon that is becoming more common in Colorado. Read More …

CategoriesMusings, Trip PlanningTagscolorado-tip, crowds, traffic

How to do a fast hike

Posted onJuly 6, 2017July 9, 2017AuthorPaul Mags3 Comments

How to do a fast hike? The real question is how to hike all day consistently. And then repeat. Here are some ideas. Read More …

CategoriesGetting Started, MusingsTagsendurance, fast, thru hiking

Thoughts on this #EPIC PCT snow year

Posted onJune 29, 2017July 29, 2017AuthorPaul Mags11 Comments

Some thoughts about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in the current snow conditions. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsPacific Crest Trail, snow, thru hiking

Thoughts on Song of The Open Road

Posted onJune 14, 2017October 4, 2021AuthorPaul Mags5 Comments

Song of The Open Road is rightfully celebrated as a poem about the joy of the journey. But there are some key lines often overlooked about this poem. Read More …

CategoriesBooks and Media, MusingsTagsfavorite, poetry, wanderlust, Whitman

The Culture of Connectivity Continues

Posted onJune 8, 2017January 8, 2021AuthorPaul Mags9 Comments

Thoughts on how our connectivity culture is increasing. And its impact upon the wild spaces. Read More …

CategoriesMusingsTagsconnectivity, favorite, Wildness

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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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    • Thru Hikes, Long Walks, or Routes
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      • 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
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