Paul Mags
@pmagsco.bsky.social
Getting out as much as I can..which is never enough!
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Web - PMags.com | bio.link/paulmagn
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Web - PMags.com | bio.link/paulmagn
What started years ago as a parody of “Top 10" lists turned into a look at how shelter choices have evolved across seasons, trips, & life changes. Solo, together, backpacking, winter trips, even car camping w the same core idea throughout: gear is a tool, not an identity.
pmags.com/top-ten-back...
pmags.com/top-ten-back...
The Quiver – Top Shelters of all time!
What began as a parody of “top ten” gear lists has grown into a reflection on how real shelter choices evolve with trips, partners, seasons, and the simple goal of sleeping well and walking on. Upd…
pmags.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:40 PM
What started years ago as a parody of “Top 10" lists turned into a look at how shelter choices have evolved across seasons, trips, & life changes. Solo, together, backpacking, winter trips, even car camping w the same core idea throughout: gear is a tool, not an identity.
pmags.com/top-ten-back...
pmags.com/top-ten-back...
New gear we liked for 2025: reliable tools that kept Joan and me warm, fed, and comfortable from the desert to the mountains. A mix of DIY, cottage, high-end, and budget picks — just the things that actually worked for two people who spend a lot of time outside.
pmags.com/gear-we-like...
pmags.com/gear-we-like...
Gear we liked for 2025
Our annual roundup of the simple, effective gear that served Joan and me well in 2025 — from shelters and stoves to daypacks, pans, and a few DIY touches.
pmags.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:05 AM
New gear we liked for 2025: reliable tools that kept Joan and me warm, fed, and comfortable from the desert to the mountains. A mix of DIY, cottage, high-end, and budget picks — just the things that actually worked for two people who spend a lot of time outside.
pmags.com/gear-we-like...
pmags.com/gear-we-like...
Joan and I squeezed in a local hike before heading off to see family. Red rocks, ancient images, and the La Sals dusted with snow in the distance; a perfect send-off.
#hiking #Moab #Utah #moabutah #petroglyphs
#hiking #Moab #Utah #moabutah #petroglyphs
November 23, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Joan and I squeezed in a local hike before heading off to see family. Red rocks, ancient images, and the La Sals dusted with snow in the distance; a perfect send-off.
#hiking #Moab #Utah #moabutah #petroglyphs
#hiking #Moab #Utah #moabutah #petroglyphs
What you do regularly matters more than what you do spectacularly. Hiking after 50 isn’t about slowing down—it’s about living a life where movement is ordinary, not exceptional.
pmags.com/outdoors-aft...
pmags.com/outdoors-aft...
Outdoors after 50
What you do regularly matters more than what you do spectacularly. Hiking after 50 isn’t about slowing down, it’s about living a life where movement is ordinary, not exceptional.
pmags.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:09 PM
What you do regularly matters more than what you do spectacularly. Hiking after 50 isn’t about slowing down—it’s about living a life where movement is ordinary, not exceptional.
pmags.com/outdoors-aft...
pmags.com/outdoors-aft...
A 500-mile walk gave me time to think: thru-hike, long-distance hike, or something in between?
pmags.com/one-step-at-...
#hiking #backpacking #thruhiking
pmags.com/one-step-at-...
#hiking #backpacking #thruhiking
One step at a time, differently – Long Distance hiking vs. Thru-hiking
Not every long journey on foot is a thru-hike and not every long-distance hike needs to be one. Some musings on the difference.
pmags.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:25 AM
A 500-mile walk gave me time to think: thru-hike, long-distance hike, or something in between?
pmags.com/one-step-at-...
#hiking #backpacking #thruhiking
pmags.com/one-step-at-...
#hiking #backpacking #thruhiking
Updated my no‑frills Colorado Trail End‑to‑End Guide—first written in 2005 and still handy if you like offline, practical info in one place. If it helps, consider donating to The Colorado Trail Foundation.
pmags.com/colorado-tra...
pmags.com/colorado-tra...
The Colorado Trail “End to End” Guide
A guide for planning long hikes on The Colorado Trail. Town info, resupply, alt routes, logistics, and general info. Revised regularly and updated Nov 2025.
pmags.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Updated my no‑frills Colorado Trail End‑to‑End Guide—first written in 2005 and still handy if you like offline, practical info in one place. If it helps, consider donating to The Colorado Trail Foundation.
pmags.com/colorado-tra...
pmags.com/colorado-tra...
After some time back East in Oct & plenty of backpacking in Utah this Nov, it felt like a good time to revisit an article I first wrote back in 2011.
You’ll often hear “shoulder season” thrown around in hiking and camping circles—but rarely with much context.
Here’s some.
pmags.com/shoulder-sea...
You’ll often hear “shoulder season” thrown around in hiking and camping circles—but rarely with much context.
Here’s some.
pmags.com/shoulder-sea...
Shoulder Season – The Time in Between
You’ll often see publications and experienced outdoors people talk about “shoulder season.” What is it? And what adjustments do you need to make?
pmags.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:04 PM
After some time back East in Oct & plenty of backpacking in Utah this Nov, it felt like a good time to revisit an article I first wrote back in 2011.
You’ll often hear “shoulder season” thrown around in hiking and camping circles—but rarely with much context.
Here’s some.
pmags.com/shoulder-sea...
You’ll often hear “shoulder season” thrown around in hiking and camping circles—but rarely with much context.
Here’s some.
pmags.com/shoulder-sea...
A $70 Yeti utility bucket and lid is cool… but it’s not “repurposed yellow kitty litter bucket in the back of your truck” cool.
pmags.com/quick-tip-ki...
pmags.com/quick-tip-ki...
Quick Tip – Kitty litter bucket for camping and river
A humble kitty litter bucket beats a $70 “utility bucket” any day—stronger, square, easier to pack, and endlessly useful on river and camp trips.
pmags.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:06 PM
A $70 Yeti utility bucket and lid is cool… but it’s not “repurposed yellow kitty litter bucket in the back of your truck” cool.
pmags.com/quick-tip-ki...
pmags.com/quick-tip-ki...
Some time in the desert with friends. Katie's first desert backpacking trip set a high bar!
pmags.com/desert-quartet
#hiking #backpacking #utah #camping
pmags.com/desert-quartet
#hiking #backpacking #utah #camping
Desert Quartet
A backpacking trip to another remote desert location with some friends.
pmags.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Some time in the desert with friends. Katie's first desert backpacking trip set a high bar!
pmags.com/desert-quartet
#hiking #backpacking #utah #camping
pmags.com/desert-quartet
#hiking #backpacking #utah #camping
We did some structured rambling - No more than a mile from camp, but eight hours of hiking. Scrambled ledges, thrashed through willows, found ancient structures, and sherds. As Whitman said: “I believe that much unseen is also here.”
#hiking #backpacking #camping #utah #pictographs #petroglyphs
#hiking #backpacking #camping #utah #pictographs #petroglyphs
November 16, 2025 at 5:44 AM
We did some structured rambling - No more than a mile from camp, but eight hours of hiking. Scrambled ledges, thrashed through willows, found ancient structures, and sherds. As Whitman said: “I believe that much unseen is also here.”
#hiking #backpacking #camping #utah #pictographs #petroglyphs
#hiking #backpacking #camping #utah #pictographs #petroglyphs
A bonus post from my Walk Across New England: part post‑walk history tour, part wool‑gathering expedition.
For the oddball who loves colonial and early‑US history and late‑19th/early‑20th‑century mill & labor heritage and long‑distance hiking. Think it's just me?? ;)
pmags.com/wane-bonus-p...
For the oddball who loves colonial and early‑US history and late‑19th/early‑20th‑century mill & labor heritage and long‑distance hiking. Think it's just me?? ;)
pmags.com/wane-bonus-p...
WANE Bonus : A Post-Hike History Tour
A “bonus” entry from my New England Walk where I took in colonial, early US, and early 20th century era history.
pmags.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:35 AM
A bonus post from my Walk Across New England: part post‑walk history tour, part wool‑gathering expedition.
For the oddball who loves colonial and early‑US history and late‑19th/early‑20th‑century mill & labor heritage and long‑distance hiking. Think it's just me?? ;)
pmags.com/wane-bonus-p...
For the oddball who loves colonial and early‑US history and late‑19th/early‑20th‑century mill & labor heritage and long‑distance hiking. Think it's just me?? ;)
pmags.com/wane-bonus-p...
A variation on a route I did about six weeks ago—this time with Joan and our friends. It was Mike’s first visit to the area, and Kate’s first desert backpacking trip!
This is a place I never tire of and still count among my favorites.
#hiking #backpacking #utah #camping #pictographs #petroglyphs
This is a place I never tire of and still count among my favorites.
#hiking #backpacking #utah #camping #pictographs #petroglyphs
November 11, 2025 at 11:35 PM
A variation on a route I did about six weeks ago—this time with Joan and our friends. It was Mike’s first visit to the area, and Kate’s first desert backpacking trip!
This is a place I never tire of and still count among my favorites.
#hiking #backpacking #utah #camping #pictographs #petroglyphs
This is a place I never tire of and still count among my favorites.
#hiking #backpacking #utah #camping #pictographs #petroglyphs
After 500 miles or so of backpacking, what better way to catch up with Joan than to go backpacking? But of course!
We went to familiar places, saw places we have not seen in a while, and poked around a bit to look at places new to us.
#utah #hiking #backpacking #pictrographs #petroglyphs #camping
We went to familiar places, saw places we have not seen in a while, and poked around a bit to look at places new to us.
#utah #hiking #backpacking #pictrographs #petroglyphs #camping
November 7, 2025 at 12:47 AM
After 500 miles or so of backpacking, what better way to catch up with Joan than to go backpacking? But of course!
We went to familiar places, saw places we have not seen in a while, and poked around a bit to look at places new to us.
#utah #hiking #backpacking #pictrographs #petroglyphs #camping
We went to familiar places, saw places we have not seen in a while, and poked around a bit to look at places new to us.
#utah #hiking #backpacking #pictrographs #petroglyphs #camping
The wrap-up post about my 500-mile walk through New England from the Canadian border to the Atlantic Ocean.
pmags.com/a-walk-acros...
pmags.com/a-walk-acros...
A Walk Across New England (WANE) – Overall Thoughts
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” — T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding On the mor…
pmags.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:51 AM
The wrap-up post about my 500-mile walk through New England from the Canadian border to the Atlantic Ocean.
pmags.com/a-walk-acros...
pmags.com/a-walk-acros...
Fitting close to my New England journey. I am looking north from the plane window, Boston on the horizon, and Providence at the head of Narragansett Bay. From up here, I can see the landscape I walked through and the place where this journey began, in more ways than one.
#NewEngland #RhodeIsland
#NewEngland #RhodeIsland
November 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Fitting close to my New England journey. I am looking north from the plane window, Boston on the horizon, and Providence at the head of Narragansett Bay. From up here, I can see the landscape I walked through and the place where this journey began, in more ways than one.
#NewEngland #RhodeIsland
#NewEngland #RhodeIsland
The final chapter in this walk. I'll do a follow-up post in a week or so.
pmags.com/at-the-atlan...
#wane #newengland #rhodeisland #northsouthtrail #hiking #backpacking #thruhiking
pmags.com/at-the-atlan...
#wane #newengland #rhodeisland #northsouthtrail #hiking #backpacking #thruhiking
At the Atlantic shore
I reached the ocean and concluded my 500-mile walk through a New England autumn.
pmags.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:17 AM
The final chapter in this walk. I'll do a follow-up post in a week or so.
pmags.com/at-the-atlan...
#wane #newengland #rhodeisland #northsouthtrail #hiking #backpacking #thruhiking
pmags.com/at-the-atlan...
#wane #newengland #rhodeisland #northsouthtrail #hiking #backpacking #thruhiking
I continue my walk to the ocean as I pass Mondanock and walk through the rolling hills of southern New England.
Https://pmags.com/into-southern-new-england
Https://pmags.com/into-southern-new-england
October 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I continue my walk to the ocean as I pass Mondanock and walk through the rolling hills of southern New England.
Https://pmags.com/into-southern-new-england
Https://pmags.com/into-southern-new-england
Continuing my New England pilgrimage to the ocean as I walk between Moosilauke and Monadnock. And with a visit from my youngest brother
pmags.com/the-lands-in...
#newengland #newhampshire #hiking #backpacking #camping #thruhiking
pmags.com/the-lands-in...
#newengland #newhampshire #hiking #backpacking #camping #thruhiking
The Lands In-Between; Moosilauke to Monadnock
My walk continues with the lands between Moosilauke and Mondnock
pmags.com
October 19, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Continuing my New England pilgrimage to the ocean as I walk between Moosilauke and Monadnock. And with a visit from my youngest brother
pmags.com/the-lands-in...
#newengland #newhampshire #hiking #backpacking #camping #thruhiking
pmags.com/the-lands-in...
#newengland #newhampshire #hiking #backpacking #camping #thruhiking
Return to the Whites
Going back to where my outdoor life started.
pmags.com
October 12, 2025 at 7:24 PM
In the North Country
My first 100 miles or so on my walk across New England.
pmags.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Back in New England. The foliage may be past peak, but still vibrant. This native turned desert rat is soaking up the crunch of leaves, crisp air, and that unmistakable fall smell.
#cohostrail #NewEngland #WANE #whitemountains #thruhiking #hiking #backpacking #newhampshire
#cohostrail #NewEngland #WANE #whitemountains #thruhiking #hiking #backpacking #newhampshire
October 2, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Back in New England. The foliage may be past peak, but still vibrant. This native turned desert rat is soaking up the crunch of leaves, crisp air, and that unmistakable fall smell.
#cohostrail #NewEngland #WANE #whitemountains #thruhiking #hiking #backpacking #newhampshire
#cohostrail #NewEngland #WANE #whitemountains #thruhiking #hiking #backpacking #newhampshire
And one last pertinent article update, as I packed my gear for flying in a few days.
pmags.com/packing-gear...
pmags.com/packing-gear...
Flying with backpacking gear
Some tips, pointers, ideas, and caveats about packing backpacking gear when you’ll arrive by plane, train, or bus.
pmags.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:42 PM
And one last pertinent article update, as I packed my gear for flying in a few days.
pmags.com/packing-gear...
pmags.com/packing-gear...
Some final waxing of the purple about the desert before I trade them for the reds, oranges, and yellows of a New England autumn.
pmags.com/remote-and-c...
(For better or worse, I suddenly have the energy to write a bit more again!)
#hiking #backpacking #camping #utah
pmags.com/remote-and-c...
(For better or worse, I suddenly have the energy to write a bit more again!)
#hiking #backpacking #camping #utah
Remote and Connected
A last-minute trip to a favorite area.
pmags.com
September 24, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Some final waxing of the purple about the desert before I trade them for the reds, oranges, and yellows of a New England autumn.
pmags.com/remote-and-c...
(For better or worse, I suddenly have the energy to write a bit more again!)
#hiking #backpacking #camping #utah
pmags.com/remote-and-c...
(For better or worse, I suddenly have the energy to write a bit more again!)
#hiking #backpacking #camping #utah
'Tis the (blaze orange or pink) season -
pmags.com/a-properly-a...
I have some packed for the start of my trip next month.
pmags.com/a-properly-a...
I have some packed for the start of my trip next month.
A properly attired hiker: Blaze orange in hunting season
Different options for the wearing of blaze orange while hiking during hunting season.
pmags.com
September 23, 2025 at 8:51 PM
'Tis the (blaze orange or pink) season -
pmags.com/a-properly-a...
I have some packed for the start of my trip next month.
pmags.com/a-properly-a...
I have some packed for the start of my trip next month.