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JAN/FEB 2021 Vol. 30, No. 1
4 AWESOME WHISKEYS 5 BEERS 6 LUXURY HIDEOUTS
DIY GYM +
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CHANGE YOUR LIFE LESS AGGRO, MORE MONEY, BETTER SEX
2021 GEAR GUIDE!
WORKOUTS, POLITICS & THE MEANING OF LIVIN’
Letter From the Editor hew, made it! For all of us who lived through the hell of 2020, it’s time to look ahead. Better days are out there, from coast to coast and around the world. In Ecuador a little-known surf town called Mompiche offers warm waters and uncrowded breaks that welcome anyone who tests negative for you-knowwhat 10 days before arrival. It’s the perfect place not just to decompress, but to enjoy the simple pleasures of adventure travel, namely good bars, good food and dirt-cheap massages on the beach. If you’re looking for something more luxe, our Lodge in Place photo feature will transport you to places like the otherworldly outpost in the Kaokoland desert in Namibia, where all manner of exotic game is just outside the “camp,” which just happens to have a deluxe lap pool. How about fly-fishing in Chile? Or whitewater rafting in Costa Rica? There’s no better way to reset priorities than taking a deep breath of fresh jungle air without a mask on. Back home in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, motorheads are hopping into UTVs and trampling all over the graves of the Hatfields & McCoys. The trail system there, named after the feuding families, boasts hundreds of miles of off-roading danger zones. But fear not, ATVs have been replaced by caged
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side-by-sides powered by 150plus horses that allow you to tear it up without all that serious risk of injury or death mumbo jumbo. California, Colorado, New Hampshire—whether you’re after scenic beauty, a technical challenge or just some serious fun in the mud, The Fast and the Dirtiest on p. 52 will point you in the right direction. Notice a theme here? After months of being cooped up inside, it seems everyone is suffering a form of collective Stockholm syndrome whereby you, me, and Uncle Bob are passively accepting our own imprisonment. We can play it safe, but we have to play, have to plan that next uncharted course. That’s what Matthew McConaughey is currently doing. The Oscar winner has spent his downtime writing Greenlights, a meditative book that expounds upon the meaning of life. For Matthew, that’s living your life on your terms. Of course, to do that, you’re first gonna need an ax and a bottle of quality whiskey (keep turning the pages). The rest will come naturally.
JAMES HEIDENRY Editorial Director
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16 NOTEBOOK
12 Auto
GEAR L AB
24 Motorcycles
Say hello to Tesla’s competition: the Lucid Motors Air, the Rivian R1T pickup, and a very serious German.
Four advanced throttle rockets that highlight advances in safety features, motor, and EV technology. And insane speed.
14 Outdoors China’s great leap into the national parks game.
16 Competition After 2020, obstacle course racing faces its biggest challenge.
18 Media No Time to Die: Daniel Craig’s last shot as 007 hits theaters.
30 Tailgate Essentials In a ski season with social distance, set up your ride right and you’ll never miss the lodge.
31 Winter Bike Commute A few key pieces can make all the difference for maintaining miles during darker days.
32 Stream Machines 20 We’re With Her The star of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Jane Levy, on RV road trips, scary movies, and good music. 6
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Get an unsolicited credit card in the mail? Upgrade your home movie night with these best options in next-level picture and sound. MEN’S JOURNAL
96 THE BLUEPRINT
86 Fitness Work your body in a new way with this creative dumbbell routine.
92 Health News The latest science on milk for workout recovery, a better sleep solution, and tasty Chinese food!
94 Drinks From Lagunitas to Sam Adams, breweries deliver on delicious new non-alcoholic suds.
L AST WORD
96 Bob Odenkirk The Better Call Saul actor discusses his new film Nobody, writing for SNL, and how to react the next time you’re jumped by ninjas.
D I S PAT C H E S F R O M A W I L D W O R L D
Before becoming a surfing hotspot, Montañita was a hippie destination in the ’60s. 8
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NEXT PAGE: Where to sleep, eat & party
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Notebook
DISP ATC H
Left: Casa Surf. Right: That dude ain’t just your surf instructor, he’s the incomparable Sol Funk, chef at Casa Surf.
Ecuador Essentials Think it’s all about the Galápagos? One of South America’s least-visited countries has plenty of other places to explore.
t’s raw and rugged. But what the Ecuador coast lacks in five-star amenities, it makes up for in a laid-back attitude and lack of crowds. “Selecting a surf destination can be daunting. There are so many incredible ones around the globe,” says Brian McCutcheon, who traveled the world to look at plenty of spots before dropping his Casa Surf operation in Mompiche.
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picks you up for the scenic ride to Mompiche. Check-in time is predetermined, because Casa Surf has literal surfer street cred—cars can reach it only at low tide. On stilts 12 feet above the sand, the palm-thatch-and-bamboo beach house offers Mompiche’s sweetest oceanfront rooms, including walk-in showers and balconies with front-row Pacific views. After your beach hang, the best way to get reacquainted with the 21st century is with a few extra days back in Quito.
MOMPICHE’S APRÈS-SURF SCENE IS DEFINED BY FISH IN COCONUT SAUCE, BEACH FIRES AND CHEAP MASSAGES. “I look for warm waters, uncrowded breaks, and consistent swell. Staying on the beach is best, as it adds to the simplicity of surfing. It’s just you and the ocean, and away you go.” Here’s how we like to do Ecuador.
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CONSUME Along with local meat, produce, and fruit, Casa Surf ’s surf instructor/chef, a local legend named Sol Funk, whips up the best fish tacos in Ecuador. Barely a mile away in town, a big lunch might set you back $3.50 at the few funky cafes and watering holes catering to surfers and MEN’S JOURNAL
EXPLORE Activities and day trips away from Mompiche include horseback riding, deep-sea fishing, rain forest tours, and OD’ing on dirt-cheap massages. Usually done as a day trip from Quito into the Andes Mountains, Quilotoa Lagoon is a turquoise lake inside a massive volcanic caldera. An outstanding 6.3-mile hike around the rim of the crater reaches elevations of more than 12,000 feet. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS American travelers to Ecuador are currently required to have a negative PCR COVID-19 test result taken no more than 10 days prior to arrival, or can be tested upon entry at the airport. Check the U.S. State Department for the latest health and travel advisories at travel.state.gov. Q
CASA SURF
CRASH Upon arrival in the capital city of Quito (population 1.8 million), Casa Surf arranges your transfer from the airport to a hotel (luxury, business, or budget, your choice). On day two, their driver
Party in the La Mariscal neighborhood but stay at Casa Gangotena, a restored mansion with 31 rooms in the more walkable Old Town.
stray travelers. Pescado encocado ( fish with coconut sauce) is an Ecuadorian coast staple. The capital has plenty of nightlife, but you can’t brag about seeing Quito if you don’t hit Bungalow 6, a three-floor nightclub legendary on the global traveler circuit for its DJs, dancing, darts, pool tables, outdoor patio, lots of craft beers, and Ecuador’s best burger.
THE ORIGINAL PLANT-BASED PROTEIN
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The best protein is grown, not bred. With six grams in every serving, W∂ nderful Pistachios is a tasty, healthy snack—and your plant-based protein powerhouse.
Notebook
AUTO
Rebel charge: Lucid Air (left), Porsche Taycan (above), Rivian R1T pickup (below)
A handful of car companies are rolling out major challenges to Tesla’s EV primacy in 2021.
S FAR as punchlines go, it
was a quirky one: $69,420. Delivered by CEO Elon Musk on Oct. 14, that’s the new price of Tesla’s Model S. Whether or not you get the joke depends on how in touch you are with the high-stakes battle currently underway for supremacy in the U.S. electric car market. While the yuks were on-brand—Musk’s humor runs from geeky to subversive to whoopee cushion—the unexpected price cut indicated that, for once, Musk is taking one of Tesla’s rivals seriously. Earlier Lucid Motors had announced its debut, an electric car called the Air, would sell for $69,900 ( factoring in a $7,500 federal EV tax credit), at the time undercutting the price of the Model S. With a more luxurious cabin, Lucid claims its base-model Air can cover 406 EPA-cycle
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miles on a single charge—more than the highest-range Model S. Also based in the Bay Area, Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson is a former chief engineer at Tesla—he oversaw development of the original Model S a decade ago. The company’s brain trust has the battery and propulsion smarts needed to pack loads of performance and range in electric cars without packing them to the brim with battery cells and excess weight. Far pricier versions of the Air promise 517 miles of range, 1,080 horsepower and quarter-mile acceleration times of 9.9 seconds. Lucid is readying for a production start at its own factory in Arizona early this year. Rivian is the other well-funded EV company set to emerge in 2021. Also stocked with Tesla refugees—it’s been accused by Tesla of stealing trade secrets—Rivian is based in California and Michigan, but plans
THE AIR PROMISES 517 MILES OF RANGE, 1,080 HP AND QUARTER-MILE ACCELERATION OF 9.9 SECONDS. 12
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to start building rather technical-looking pickups and SUVs at a former Mitsubishi plant in Illinois. With investments from Amazon and Ford, Rivian is homing in on a part of the market that hasn’t yet gone electric—vehicles for the great outdoors. Its fully-electric R1T pickup and R1S SUV are clean-cut alter egos of the proposed Tesla Cybertruck. They’ll start at $60,000 and $62,500, respectively (with tax credits), and include options like capability for the trucks to power campsites. Porsche’s Taycan arrived last year with 800-volt tech that set the model up to be the biggest threat yet to Tesla’s preeminence. It’s no surprise that German engineering pedigree produced a different idea of what an electric car should be—and while it might meet the Model S in performance and solidly beat it in jaw-dropping looks and driving enjoyment, it so far fails to measure up on one of the key bragging points for any kind of EV: range. The term “Tesla killer” is bandied about each time an EV arrives from an established brand, like the Jaguar I-Pace or Audi E-Tron. By now the term deserves an eye roll—no presumptive rivals have slowed Tesla’s growth. But Rivian, Lucid and others will likely narrow the gap between EV makers, if not this year then in the near future. It’s a long game for everyone, but it’s not rocket science. Q
Notebook
OUTDOORS
ART ON THE HORIZON New exhibit reroutes museum closures by taking works outside. by CH UCK THOM PSON
WO TYPES OF des-
ert travelers: those who appreciate its austere beauty and those who consider it a necessary evil on the drive to Vegas. Unlike most things in our increasingly binary society, the third presentation of Desert X will appeal to both. Featuring large-scale installations from a roster of international artists, the outdoor art exhibition runs Feb. 6 to April 11 at sites spanning 40 miles across Southern California’s Coachella Valley. Organizers say the exhibition provides artists a rare opportunity to present work at a time when many museums are closed. Works for 2021 weren’t unveiled at press time, but past highlights include a series of billboards displaying images by Chemehuevi Indian artist Cara Romero, whose visceral representations of Indigenous cultural memory and modern experience inspired thousands of roadside selfies. Q
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billboards into a gallery.
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Five years in the making, China is launching a national parks system to rival the United States’. Or so they say...
ACTORIES. Smog. Sur-
veillance. Not things normally associated with backcountry sojourns. But beyond that reality, China also is home to some of the world’s most rugged mountains, vast deserts, and epic sweeps of otherworldly scenery. Since 2015, the country, which is roughly the same size as the United States, has been planning a national parks system with a belated eye toward conserving its natural wonders. After COVID-19 disrupted rollout plans, the government’s ambitious scheme is back on track, with the first of 10 pilot parks to be approved by the end of 2020. Even if a little late, China is coming big to the parks party. According to Chinese sources, the inaugural parks cover a combined 85,000 square miles— about the size of Utah—and span 12 provinces. Su Yang, a researcher with the State Council, expects the system to protect high-profile tourist attractions, such as the Yellow Mountains, which he’s rightly called “unique and irreplaceable” on the world stage. More glorious, or at least less crowded, the Shennongjia Nature Reserve is home to the mysterious “yeren,” China’s answer to Bigfoot. Northeast Siberian Tiger and Leopard National Park near Russia is a frosty reserve for endangered big cats. The colossal
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The Qilian Mountains (above) and golden monkeys of Shennongjia will become parts of a national system.
Giant Panda National Park is said to be twice the size of Yellowstone. Hainan Tropical Rainforest Park protects an even more precious species, the last 30 Hainan gibbons on the planet. After six years in-country, conservation photographer Kyle Obermann is most geeked about Qilian Mountains National Park, which straddles the border of Gansu and Qinghai provinces and forms part of the Tibetan Plateau. “From glaciers to desert and snow leopards, the Qilian Mountains have it all,” says the 28-year-old Texan. In terms of accessible wilderness experiences, China can’t yet match the United States, but if the new system expands as planned, it one day could.
BILLBOARD: LANCE GERBER/DESERT X
Romero’s Kiyanni helped turn
The People’s Parks
COMPETITION
Huge Hurdle After a lost year, obstacle course racing is picking itself back up. by JORDAN R AN E
BSTACLE COURSE racing
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of an industry that accounts for 50,000 running, triathlon, cycling, and obstacle course events in the United States each year would cease to exist. OCR evolved from boot camp–inspired races that test physical limits without marathon monotony, and ’80s-era Tough Guy pain-fests in England. Spartan’s earliest races were fringe affairs held on De Sena’s Vermont farm, but quickly grew to encompass hundreds of entry-level 5K and all-day events at large outdoor venues around the world. Hit with a pandemic that doesn’t take kindly to mobs of pumped, face-painted, battle-crying competitors piling together to push past their comfort zones, OCR’s greatest challenge yet is reemerging for battle in 2021—with 2020 hindsight. “I think numbers purposefully will
“WE KNOW IT’S SAFER THAN ANYTHING INDOORS, LIKE GROCERY SHOPPING.” MEN’S JOURNAL
SPARTAN
was the endurance-sports juggernaut of last decade. That came to a bruising halt with COVID-19. “Last year could not have been any worse for us,” says Joe De Sena, CEO and founder of Spartan, the largest OCR company in an industry of weekend-warrior brands like Tough Mudder, Rugged Maniac, Savage Race, Bonefrog Challenge and Conquer the Gauntlet. “We bring people together—in 45 countries now. In 2020, we suddenly weren’t allowed to do that. We were totally shut down.” By last June, De Sena was forced to cancel Spartan’s remaining events and furlough three-quarters of his staff of 500. Smaller companies were in even tougher shape. “COVID-19 is crushing the industry,” Tough Mudder CEO Kyle McLaughlin stated last summer in a press release from the Endurance Sports Coalition, which warned that without further support from Congress, more than 80 percent
be down awhile, and slowly but surely as the world gets back to normal we’ll be seeing a steady recovery of the OCR industry,” says Matt B. Davis, founder of Obstacle Racing Media and an inveterate racer with more than 200 obstacle course events under his belt. “We won’t be seeing those mass starts of 300 people. Wave sizes are going to be smaller and socially distanced. But it’s an outdoor event, which we know is far safer than anything indoors, like for example, grocery shopping. We know people are ready for real races to get going again—not those virtual ones we’ve been living through in 2020.” More than 70 Spartan and Tough Mudder events in the United States are scheduled for 2021—including the iconic 24-hour World’s Toughest Mudder (Nov. 13–14, Laughlin, NV) and several Stadion-branded events held at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., Citi Field in New York City, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, and Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana, among others.
1- M I N U T E O P I N I O N
DO COVID TITLES COUNT? If a team wins Game 7 and no one is around to cheer and highfive, is it still the champ? by JORDAN BU RCH ET TE
ID YOU HEAR the one
that goes: What do the Dodgers and Lakers have in common with Joe Biden? They probably wouldn’t have won without COVID-19, either. The NBA shutdown last March heralded the full-court disruption of many, many pleasures taken for granted in American life. But while barbershops were shuttered and concert halls converted to pandemic hospitals, the NBA and its co-leagues dutifully shouted “Game back on!” and bravely forged on in their essential role as bellwethers of the collective morale. We’re kidding, of course. The compacted seasons were played to force TV networks into upholding contracts they’d inked with leagues for billions in ad revenues. Committed to its show-mustgo-on principles, the NBA expanded its playoff format to make up missed games. MLB began play after what would have been the 100-game mark in any normal baseball season. And amid a succession of COVID-induced cancellations, the SEC passed off a No. 5 vs. No. 8 matchup featuring football
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Playing dirty: Following a grim season, OCR athletes, who compete
ETIENNE LAURENT/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK
solo and as teams, want a do-over.
Rugged Maniac, which calls its 5K obstacle courses “recess for grown-ups— except our playground has a three-story waterslide and a fire jump,” is back with a 2021 roster of 30 events across the United States and Canada. Savage Race, specializing in 6-milers and a 3-mile “Blitz” stuffed with some of the more inventive obstacles in the business, is back with more than a dozen events on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Bonefrog Challenge, billed as “the world’s only Navy SEAL Obstacle Course Race,” plans to run 10 events this year. Competitors can expect new protocols, including temperature testing, reduced crowd sizes (by up to 70 percent), dedicated lanes, touch-point sanitization, and not much post-race partying. “I’m the eternal optimist, but I believe as the world opens up, events like ours are where people will go to finally get out of the cage,” says De Sena. “They’re going to migrate outdoors, getting dirty, and doing all the things they haven’t been able to do. So we’re going for it. We gotta make this work.” Q photograph by PHOTOGRAPHER
MEN’S JOURNAL
teams with a combined record of 7–2… in November. Along with canned crowd noise to compensate for empty stadiums, all the TV-driven shenanigans have upset purists, with some caterwauling about illegitimate titles. Yet nine years after a lockout shortened the 2011–12 NBA season, few remember that all schedules that year were reduced to the number of games played last year by teams that didn’t even make the league’s bubble. Yet no one questions the Miami Heat’s O’Brien Trophy. Fewer recall that in the strikemarred 1987 season, NFL teams played just 12 games using the same rosters with which they started the season—one week was canceled, three were played using scabs. But anyone conscious at the time remembers that the Washington TBD Football Club glue-factoried the Denver Broncos, 42–10. Winners write history—and America’s major sports leagues are always the winners. Besides, if the Houston Astros’ cheating-marred 2017 World Series win can stand asteriskless, 2020’s COVID-19 champions deserve their own feel-good Disney movies. Q
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Notebook
MEDIA
Overseas Action We’re not the only country with binge-worthy spies and cops. These TV imports are worth the subtitles.
Fauda
by SEAN CUNNINGHAM
Fauda From: Israel Summary: An Israeli agent un-retires to find a Hamas terrorist he thought he’d already killed, casting us into a world where tense showdowns set up super-tense showdowns. Why watch: Sometimes you need a break from the stress in your life by watching a show that’s insanely stressful.
Trapped
Trapped From: Iceland Summary: Police find a dismembered body, exposing a sinister side of the country the tourism board doesn’t promote. Why watch: It out-Fargos Fargo: more snow, more gruesome, more deadpan.
Deutschland 89 From: Germany Summary: Check in on East German agent Martin Rauch as his side of the Berlin Wall nears collapse in 1989. Why watch: QAnon? Ha! Revisit a time when everyone was legitimately paranoid.
Deutschland 89
BOND STIRS AGAIN Daniel Craig’s final bow as 007 hits theaters April 2. by CHARLES THORP
No Time to Die, the 25th installment of the apparently immortal James Bond franchise, kicks off on the beaches of Jamaica. Bond (Craig) has retired from MI6 and is enjoying the good life when pesky CIA buddy Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Say it one more time, mate.
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Wright) turns up asking for, what else, a world-saving favor. The mission brings Bond face-to-face with a dangerous new masked villain named Safin (Rami Malek). Reluctant flame Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) and nemesis Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) return, and new face Lashana Lynch enters as heir to the 007 mantle.
TRENDS
Manhattan Motorcars The coolest dealership in New York displays some of the world’s most badass cars in its showroom. Looking for a $3.8 million Bugatti Chiron Sport? How about a Bentley Continental GT Pikes Peak Edition (pictured) with an MSRP of $363,773? Good luck tracking down the other 14 of these rarities. manhattanmotorcars.com
Fi Series 2 Dog Collar From the swamp to the mountains, you’ll never lose your pooch with this smart collar that syncs to your phone using WiFi and GPS. It includes an LED light for when Ol’ Red runs off to scout for action at night. Choose among four colors and sizes. $149; shop.tryfi.com
HOT Stuff
Nike ZoomX Invincible Run FK You’ll want to increase your 2021 fitness goals when you slip on Nike’s newest sneakers. The ZoomX foam cushioning provides maximum energy return to help propel your every stride. Nike says the shoe is also designed to address injury prevention and improve running economy. $180; nike.com
The Talent War
BENTLEY PHOTO BY MICHAEL LUMENTUT
Paradero Todos Santos Just up the coast from Cabo in Todos Santos, Baja California’s trendiest oasis just got cooler. With an approach described as “high-design landscaping,” suites at the new Paradero Todos Santos hotel are built to blend into nature. Starts at $550/night; paraderohotels.com
Co-authored by U.S. Navy SEAL Mike Sarraille, The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Organizations Win on Talent draws on battlefield lessons to argue the business world needs to rethink how it recruits staff. Every company’s secret weapon? Its people. The Amazon bestseller is gaining C-suite traction. $26; amazon.com SEPT/OCT 2020
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Careful! She knows what you’re thinking.
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WE’RE WITH HER
Jane Levy On the Emmy-winning Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist she plays a computer programmer with special powers. In real life she’s mastered insomnia and RV maintenance. by RIAN N S M ITH
On Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, you can hear people’s thoughts through big musical numbers. If you could have that superpower in a romantic relationship, would you? No, absolutely not! In a romantic relationship I think it’s especially important to have your own experiences, your own life separate than your partner. I think that’s the healthiest way to be. Hearing other people’s thoughts, seeing them emotionally naked at any moment, might not be that great. It’s like, go to couples therapy. You have an hour a week where you can decide to be open with each other and be prepared for that kind of vulnerability, but getting hit involuntarily by other people’s desires would make life quite lonely, I think. What superpower would you want? To sleep at the snap of my fingers. I’m really hyper, which is why this show is so suited to me, because there are very long days. No wonder you nail Zoey’s dance scenes. Being on your high school’s hip-hop dance team must’ve helped. I love dancing but I’m not technically that good at it, though I’m getting better because of the show. Actually, yesterday we shot for 15 hours and I was the only actor
on set and it was a dance number the entire time. So I’m in bed still. My body has left the building.
THE BASICS Age
Rio Grande, the landscapes in Wyoming and South Dakota, they’re all incredible.
Jane’s Extraordinary Playlist
You and your boyfriend Thomas McDonell did the cross-country RV thing las t summer. Thumbs-up? It was so fun to get out of t he house. Like many others, we’d been confined to our home for many months and were about to move to Canada, where I shoot this show. Tom’s family and my dad live on the East Coast, and we hadn’t seen them because of the pandemic. We thought, let’s drive as safely as we can, get tested, and quarantine in New York so we can say hi before we leave and won’t see them for a long time. So we drove for a month and became RV people. We stayed at trailer parks, learned how to pump black water, spent many days not showering, and became very good cooks. We’d sleep under the stars. It was the first time I’d been to many states and there’s such beauty. The Spiral Jetty in Utah, the natural hot springs in the
“I CAN’T IMAGINE EVER WANTING TO BE WITH SOMEONE WHO’S NOT FUNNY.” MEN’S JOURNAL
You once had a pretty big crush on Jimmy Fallon. What is it about funny men? My friends and I got really into sketch comedy as 12-year-olds and thought Jimmy Fallon was so funny but also obviously so handsome, so it was a 12-year-old crush. But yeah, funny men…I can’t imagine ever wanting to be with someone who’s not funny. If he takes something seriously all the time, your nervous system’s gonna be…I don’t know. Laughing is relaxing, laughing is connection. It makes you feel like you’re experiencing something with the person next to you. We always forget that’s what we really want as human beings.
Given your scream queen résumé: favorite scary movie? Silence of the Lambs. It was filmed beautifully. Meanwhile, that’s what I’m going to do after this interview, lay in bed and watch horror films. Maybe Hannibal Lecter will help you fall asleep. Oh, my God! Maybe that’s it. Maybe t hat’s what I’ve been missing. JAN/FEB 2021
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ED M IS
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O R OMP
Building knowledge and support of our public lands Our public lands should be enjoyed responsibly and preserved unequivocally. Introducing Lands Uncompromised, a cause-marketing campaign driving awareness, support, pride and passion for our public lands.
Go to MensJournal.com/LandsUncompromised to follow, support and engage.
M E N’S J O U R N A L
ES SE NTIAL S FOR THE WE LL- EQUIPPE D MAN
PAN AMERICA
Harley-Davidson
Harley’s off-road-ready Pan America is tough enough for Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa, pictured, is the bike’s official ambassador), but also gentle on the wallet at $19K. 24
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MOTORCYCLES
rottle Rockets Production delays aside, the past year has revved advances in motor and EV technology, customizable electronics, and high-tech safety features. The result: These new iron horses that practically beg you to hop in the saddle. by E RIC H E N DRIK X ROCKET 3
Triumph emoth that comes in a GT or an R version with , the Rocket 3 roars with siasm thanks in part to its formed exhaust headers. Conide modes, adjustable Showa on, and all the horsepower and in the world make for an excepal ride. Ignore the conventional wisdom that says less is more; for the rider seeking a Harley-belittling beast, more is more. $22,600; triumphmotorcycles.com
SR/S
Zero This avant-garde electric bike has a 123mile range on a full charge, instant torque that delivers near-sport performance, and first-rate components—Bosch ABS, Showa suspension, J.Juan brakes—that make the $20,000 price tag palatable. Its intuitive app and dash interface allow the rider to customize performance through programmable modes. Zero is leading the way in e-motorcycle tech, and U.S. and Canadian buyers get a tax credit for making such an unselfish, eco-conscious purchase. zeromotorcycles.com LUNA
Tarform These innovative, electric café racer/ scramblers were devised using a simple, Swedish-inspired formula: technology, modularity, and environmental respect. The 41kW, air-cooled, permanent-magnet electric motor boasts 120 miles of range with a claimed 95 mph top speed and 55 horsepower. Tarform makes heady design sustainable with biodegradable composites in the body panels, recycled aluminum, and even a vegan “leather” seat. $24,000; tarform.com
photograph by HARLEY-DAVIDSON
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PUFFY JACKETS
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BEST FOR: TOUGH OUTDOOR TASKS
BEST FOR: CARVING COLD TURNS
BEST FOR: LIGHT, FAST ALPINE STRIKES
BEST FOR: URBAN EXPLORING
1. Down Cruiser
2. Impulse
Filson This modernized classic utilizes traditional materials, like an oil-finished cotton shell, to keep the 650-fill down dry. The rugged exterior covers a wool-lined collar and pockets, plus a smooth nylon interior. $450; filson.com
Spyder The Impulse looks traditional, but four-way-stretch Gore-Tex lines the torso for maximum movement. Sealed seams keep water out (and 700-fill down from sogging), and underarm vents dump heat. $650; spyder.com
3. Summit L3 50/50 Down Hoodie
4. Photics Thermo Bomber
The North Face This hyper-light puffer packs small and features a unique 50-50 construction with rows of 800-fill goose down—any high-output athlete will appreciate the high permeability. $475; thenorthface.com
Mammut For nights on which you’ll trade a slimmer profile for max loft, this one provides. Laser-welded baffles prevent slumping and less heat from escaping the waterproof shell. $700; mammut.com
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BLADES
Built from lessons learned on the battlefield. hen Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical found that honing steel helped military veterans cope with post-traumatic stress, he and Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) launched the Forged by War program to train bladesmithing vets, who draw on combat experience to craft the mission-ready tools they once needed. Veteran-run manufacturers have long produced high-quality blades, producing a roster of notable new offerings built from the hardest-earned knowledge.
FREYR
DEMO
OPERATOR
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RYP Design
COURTESY CRKT
When Green Beret Billy Waugh arrived in Southeast Asia in 1961 with his Special Forces A-Team, his Army-issued, knockoff Swiss Army knife barely served its purpose. Robert Young Pelton, noted
war journalist and knife designer, took its poor quality to task, honoring Waugh’s legendary service with an upgrade. This beefy folder has a 4-inch steel blade and a wicked marlinspike for loosening knots, poking fuse holes in C4, or silencing an enemy behind lines. $438; ryp.design
CRKT Elmer Roush, a Vietnam veteran and 50-year blacksmith, created this tactical ax drawing upon hand-to-hand combat experience and a deep knowledge of ancient Norse
Winkler Knives Master bladesmith Daniel Winkler collaborated with vet Kevin Holland, who served on both the Navy’s SEAL Team 6 and the Army’s Delta Force, for this rugged, multi-use knife. Function is key. It acts
MEN’S JOURNAL
weapons. The Viking belt ax is as useful on the homestead as the battlefield. Choke up on the Tennessee hickory handle; the deep beard of the carbon-steel head provides fine control with wood, or a useful way to disarm an opponent. $100; crkt.com
as a dagger in close combat, but incorporates the utility of a light cutting drag to slice when needed. Though carried by Holland on several high-level missions, the Operator is compact enough for personal protection, hunting, or everyday carry. $350; winklerknives.com
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CAMERAS
Time to Focus Reconsider the assumption that your phone can do it all. From pocket-size to pro, pixel-cranking cameras have never been so accessible.
EOS R6 Canon
Z5 Nikon
X100V Fujifilm
Hero 9 Black GoPro
ZV-1 Sony
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Launching, hosting, quick warmups, grilling burgers and après beers with the gang — rig your pickup right and you’ll never miss the day lodge.
1. GOAT’s Hub 70 is more than a high-performance cooler— it’s a base station. Corners house detachable containers you can order pre-loaded for adventure readiness, such as with a fire-starter kit. From $500; goatboxco.com 2. Ignik’s butt-size Heated Seat Cover adds comfort to any cold tailgate via carbonfiber wires that radiate 20 watts of warmth, heating your keister to core. $60; ignik.com 3. Full Tilt’s grippy, waterresistant Après Bootie 2.0 handles any parking terrain 30
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while the insulation and footbed warm your piggies with heat-moldable Intuition foam. $80; fulltiltboots.com 4. Rumpl x Snow Peak’s NanoLoft Takibi Blanket matches a fire-resistant ripstop outer with recycled, synthetic insulation that traps heat like down, only easier to clean. $300; rumpl.com 5. Meanwhile, the four flat sides of Snow Peak’s Collapsible Coffee Drip origami together with functional pourover simplicity to top any mug. $30; snowpeak.com MEN’S JOURNAL
6. Starting from briefcase size, fold out the GCI Outdoor Compact Camp Table 25 for a sturdy, heat-resistant, aluminum surface that can hold a hibachi, or accommodate four eaters in a pinch. $50; gcioutdoor.com
trunk. HitchFire’s two-burner, 15,000-Btu Forge 15 mounts on a 2-inch trailer hitch and swings open like a bike rack. Dual 16-ounce propane tanks heat a sizable surface capable of feeding a gondola-size crew. $449; hitchfire.com
7. Seal lunch inside Stanley’s insulated Adventure Stay Hot Camp Crock. Its double walls can keep three quarts of grub hot for 12 hours. $65; stanley1913.com
9. The Stargaze betters any seat in the lodge. Nemo’s portable recliner sets up in a minute with the high back cradling weary bodies, stable enough to rock and recline in rutted lots. It tilts almost flat when you’re ready for that sun-soaked siesta. $220; nemoequipment.com
8. Cook your own fancy, fire-licked burger without lugging a greasy grill in the
photograph by CHRIS WELLHAUSEN
PICTURED: CHEVY’S 2021 COLORADO ZR2 BISON OFF-ROAD COLLAB WITH AMERICAN EXPEDITION VEHICLES (AEV)
by RYAN STUART
Commute A few key pieces can make all the difference for maintaining miles during darker days, or converting new bike commuters into year-round riders. by ADAM BIBLE
RECON STEALTH PANTS
Velocio Don’t bother with protective over-pants; instead opt for a capable, water-resistant layer. These stretchy, durable, cool-weather pants have three zippered pockets for security in the saddle, plus reflective strips on the hems for extra visibility. $249; velocio.cc COMMUTER-DAYPACK HIGH VISIBILITY
Ortlieb
DOGGLER / CITY
Winter warriors needing to protect their valuables can rely on this rugged, waterproof Cordura-fabric pack woven with reflective threads. Ventilated back padding and a removable laptop organizer seal the deal. $285; ortlieb.com
Hudski This versatile urban cruiser—featuring the same aluminum frame and carbon fork as Hudski’s other two Doggler models, designed for gravel and mountain riding—more than covers a bike commuter’s needs. The Sausalito, CA, startup brand loads it with technical riding components, a dropper seat post, and mounts galore for fenders, racks, and bottles. $1,999; hudskibikes.com URBANIZE HELMET
Lazer
COURTESY VELOCIO
If wearing a helmet feels dorky, a rad lid goes a long way. This MIPS helmet offers stylish protection (leather straps, LED taillight), plus a removable lens that reattaches via magnet. A winter kit plugs generous vents and provides over-the-ear warmth. $150; lazersport.us photograph by PHOTOGRAPHER
DZR
H2O Clip-clopping around in cycling shoes is never fun. Step into these full-grain leather sneakers instead, 100 percent waterproof with a reflective heel badge. The soles are compatible with SPD cleats, though gummy enough to stick to flat pedals. $189; dzrshoes.com MEN’S JOURNAL
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S H IRTS / H O M E T HEATER
Technical Flannels
A post-grunge breed of long-sleeve adventure shirts integrates features that give you the warm fuzzies without sacrificing style. Mountain Hardwear
California Cowboy
Stream Machines Upgrade movie night with next-level picture and sound. by SAL VAG LICA Smart OLED TV with AI ThinQ LG This less-than-inch-thick TV doesn’t come with legs, so hang it like artwork. With easy voice control of Alexa or Google Assistant, the dashboard smartly manages all your connected home devices. The TV’s optimized processor renders a better streaming picture, and as an OLED, delivers crisp contrast, vivid colors, and solid black rendering. From $2,100; lg.com 32
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Portable Projector Anker At just bigger than a baseball, the Astro’s super-convenient portability trumps its limited 854x480 (non-HD) resolution. Powered by a 2.5-hour battery, it can beam your favorite movies across a 100-inch screen. $280; anker.com
photograph by CHRIS WELLHAUSEN
Howler Brothers
Helly Hansen
Simms
Bar 9.1 True Wireless Surround with Dolby Atmos JBL What’s TV without surround sound? The Bar replicates the enveloping experience of a theater with Dolby Atmos, using two rechargeable speakers that dock on either end. Pop them off to space around seating for immersive sound, or to simultaneously stream the same song in multiple rooms. $1,000; jbl.com
Sony Full-array LEDs deliver an 8K quality experience at a 4K price: deeper blacks, sharper details, and
Bowers & Wilkins A stylish soundbar that’s not an eyesore, the Formation’s geometric mesh face hides nine drivers that broadcast sound around you, and a center-firing channel so you
that feels local to the action onscreen, the XBR also makes a strong case for
streams music with Bluetooth, AirPlay, and Spotify. $1,200; bowerswilkins.com
skipping a soundbar. From $6,000; sony.com
photograph by PHOTOGRAPHER
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WORKOUT ESSENTIALS TO CRUSH YOUR 2021 FITNESS GOALS
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MISSION POSSIBLE: TOP PRODUCTS FOR 2021 Performance Socks Designed with their VaporActive heat-release technology and built-in cooling channels, these socks are a must-have for keeping your feet dry and cool -even through the sweatiest workouts. $17.99 for Pair. $29.99 for 3 Pack Available at MISSION.com
d Performance Hat what they say: Look good, tter. Style meets function with N Vented Cooling Performance with UPF 50 cooling fabric 98% of the sun’s harmful UV aturing a structured brim for ction, the Vented Cooling ce Hat is perfect for taking your utdoors. ailable at MISSION.com
Whether you’re running, spinning or deep in downward dog, the Dual-Action Fitness towel will help keep y both dry and cool ts ultra-absorbent te side and its cooling
Multi-Layered Adjus Sport Mask Not your average mask, this MIS with their new VaporActive brea sweat-managing fabric. In addit to providing necessary protectio it’s also adjustable for maximum comfort. A must-have for any workout.
$24.99 Available at MISSION.com and Academy Sports
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Multi-Layered Adjustable Gaiter f you’re looking for a comfy alternative to a mask, MISSION’s Multi-Layered Adjustable Gaiter is your best bet. This gaiter features multiple layers and is built with heat-release technology to release heat and moisture build-up. $19.99 Available at MISSION.com, The Home Depot and Walmart
Helmet Liner Whether you’re working on the job or in the gym, the Cooling Helmet Liner keeps you cool and comfortable even under bulky helmets or hats. It cools instantly and stays cool for up to two hours, helping you power through anything. $14.99 Available at MISSION.com and The Home Depot
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Just Keep Livin’ In the new year, Matthew McConaughey is looking beyond the pandemic—and movies—toward a much bigger picture. Could politics be his next frame?
BY JESSE WILL PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAMILA ALVES MCCONAUGHEY & LEVI ALVES MCCONAUGHEY
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Apocalypse Now? “Begin with the end in mind,” advises the actor.
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HE OTHER NIGHT, Matthew McConaughey dragged a couple of Djembe drums out. Pulled out some congas, too. “Didn’t have anything the next day until, like, noon,” says the actor. “Went late, another cocktail, sure.” After the Magic Mike actor beat the drums—and the quarantine blues—for a bit, he says, he dialed up the volume of his speakers—“concertsize,” emphasis on the Z—played some tunes, and danced until sweat soaked the floor. “Got my cardi-ooo, heh, heh, heh…I woke up the next morning with my hands completely swollen. I’m on a proper-tee where I ain’t waking the neighbors…and I’m pretty sure no one called the cops.”
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So…you are not alone, reader. McConaughey is also going through it, dancing through the darkness, trying to make the best of a pandemic year when just keep livin’ —the actor’s most treasured piece of advice, seems of fresh, literal import. As in…try not to die. And that is just what the actor is doing, posting up with his multigenerational family — three kids, his wife, Camilla, and his 88-year-old mother, Kay, on an eight-acre spread on a hilltop outside of Austin, Texas. Tonight,
he’s on the other end of a Zoom call, fingers stretching a rubber band, legs kicked up, eyes peering through a pair of clear frames. Scheming, sipping his Longbranch whiskey, intonating. Tonight the 51-year-old Oscar winner is celebrating a first: He’s now the author of a New York Times No. 1 best-seller. For those who want to get on the McConaughey level—er, find his frequency—well, Greenlights is your guide. The Texas-bred actor’s autobiography combines memoir, aphorisms, poems,
“I HOPE WE’RE GONNA LOOK BACK AT 2020 AS THE YEAR WE CLEANED UP OUR VISION QUITE A BIT.”
Matthew McConaughey
and advice, all culled from journals that date back as far as age 14. You’ll find the pillars of McConaughey myth, from a retelling of the actor’s infamous naked 1999 bongo-ing arrest, to his career reinvention with films like Dallas Buyers Club during the “McConnaissance”—a phrase the actor admits in the book to inventing and seeding in interviews. But the most revealing stories in the
book date from before McConaughey was a star. There’s the night at age 12 his mother waved a chef ’s knife at his father, and the two tussled until they made love on the kitchen floor; the time he saw his brother Mike swing a twoby-four at his dad’s head; the morning his father died while having sex with his mother, while Matthew filmed Dazed and Confused, his first picture. It’s raw, bracing stuff.
“I always saw them as beautiful stories of how hard my mom and dad loved—the physicality of how they communicated—although on paper, the facts might make people cover their mouth. Or think I need psychiatric help,” McConaughey says. At Camilla’s urging, McConaughey took a trunk of his old journals out to the West Texas desert, and re-read them while writing the book in isolation.
McConaughey’s Favorite Workouts 1. RUN FROM HOME “Like any mammal, we’re always gonna make it back home. I like to run 20 minutes out, turn around, and drop and do 20 pushups ten times during the run back.” 2. DANCE ALL NIGHT “I could and should probably do it more often. It’s my favorite cardio. I don’t mind having a cocktail during some of my workouts.” 3. SEX “The original exercise,” McConaughey writes in Greenlights. “It makes our companion see us in a more flattering light, which psychologically makes us feel like we look better.” 4. WRESTLING “I love it, but blew my ACL during a match. So now I spend a lot of time on the elliptical instead.” 5. JUST SCHEDULE IT “You don’t have to actually work out, just plan on it, that’s enough.” JAN/FEB 2021
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Matthew McConaughey
The Marshall plan: McConaughey has dialed back his Hollywood commitments from 11 as he plots his next move.
“I found consistencies. I am still interested in the same things at 51 that I was at 14. I’m still asking those existential questions. Who am I? What are we doing here? What’s my relationship with the world? What’s it all mean?” While McConaughey searches for answers to some of those questions lately, one particular pre-pandemic memory comes to mind: back in November 2019, when the actor turned 50 and celebrated with a long weekend out at El Cosmico, the teepee-and-trailer resort out in Marfa, with a carefully-selected guest list of 90. “Those three nights are probably the antithesis of what I’m not doing now. Friends, midnight, music, arms around each other, kisses, sweat, laughing in each other’s face.” A few months later, of course, COVID hit. “Well, 2020 sure jackknifed things, didn’t it?” says McConaughey, laughing. Early in the pandemic, McConaughey filmed pro-mask PSAs, and interviewed Dr. Anthony Fauci on Instagram; lately 40
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he’s been lamenting how politicized mask-wearing has been made by both sides of the spectrum. “It became apparent that there was no plan. Our leaders were scrambling.” “I hope we’re gonna look back at 2020 as the year where we cleared up our vision quite a bit. Everybody, to some extent, has been reminded that hey—this is liiiiivvvve, man. Just when we thought we had things figured out.” Ripping “December 2020” off the calendar won’t make things magically better, McConaughey says. “With the new year people will certainly reenergize in certain ways. But it’s foolish to think, oh, tomorrow we can go back to how it was. There is no more ‘how it was.’ So we got to turn the page.” And what’s on McConaughey’s next one? “I mean, I’ve got some ideas I’m open to looking at. How can I be useful in a leadership role? I don’t know what that category is for me at this point. Not necessarily in film and TV, right?”
For a few days prior to our virtual happy hour, the actor’s name popped up on social media feeds with news that he seemed open to considering a run for governor of Texas, an office up for grabs come 2022. When asked by conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt whether he’d consider a bid, McConaughey replied that “It would be up to the people more than it would me.” Two days later, appearing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, McConaughey clarified: “I have no plans to do that right now.” I had dismissed the news as clickbait, but here McConaughey is, Zooming in the same wood-paneled room that he appeared in on Colbert—except this evening, a tall, gold-fringed American flag stood behind his shoulder. I ask, “So, you’re really not going to run for Texas governor?” “I said, I have no plans to,” McConaughey replies, sipping. “OK, so what about the White House?” I chuckle; McConaughey doesn’t.
“IT’S A CHALLENGE. YOU COME THIS WAY, I’LL COME YOUR WAY. THAT’S HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS.” “Listen, I think everybody should at least entertain the idea. It’s a form of actually defining your values: ‘What if I was president of the whole world?’ You’re forced to consider your priorities.” Just hypothetically speaking, I say, what would his campaign slogan be? “Ha, ha, ha. Oh, I get sent a lot of ’em. I love it. There was one I really liked: ‘Make America All Right, All Right, All Right, Again.’ That’s a fun one.” “But for me…” he pauses a second. “It’s ‘Meet Me in the Middle—I Dare You.’ ” He held up his thumbs and forefingers, and mimicked reading the campaign slogan on a bumper sticker. It’s the same type of social pragmatism that fills his book: When facing any crisis, I’ve found that a good plan is to first recognize the problem, then stabilize the situation, organize the response, then respond. (Folks, he’s running.) “You can’t have unity without confrontation. And to have confrontation, you have to at least validate the other’s
position. We don’t even do that. So I’d say, I’ll meet you in the middle. I dare you. It’s a challenge, a radical move. You come this way, I’ll come your way. That’s how democracy works.” After batting the idea around, McConaughey demurs. “Really I don’t know if politics is my category to be the most useful. I’m not interested in goin’ and puttin’ a bunch of Band-Aids on things.” McConaughey takes a sip of his Longbranch. Shadows move quickly across the louvered doors behind him, his kids horsing around. Dad’s about to join them. So, if it’s not the campaign trail, is he headed to a movie set in 2021? “Nothing’s set in stone. I’m circling a couple projects, but it’s gonna have to be really tasty to get me to quit playing the character I’m playing right now. Twenty-four seven, man. ‘Action’ was called one time: November the fourth, nineteen-sixty-nine. ‘Cut’ will be called one time, the day I die. I’m really liking the tape.” Q
The Wisdom of Greenlights A selection of life advice from the book of the “redneck Buddha.” “The first step that leads us to our identity in life is usually not I know who I am, but rather I know who I’m not. Process of elimination. When we eliminate the options that don’t feed us, we eventually, almost accidentally have more options in front of us that do. Knowing who we are is hard. Eliminate who we’re not first, and we’ll find ourselves where we need to be.” “The sooner we become less impressed with our life, our accomplishments, our career, our relationships, the prospects in front of us—the sooner we become less impressed and more involved with these things—the sooner we get better at them. We must be more than just happy to be here.” “Man is never more masculine than after the birth of his first child. Not macho. Masculine. After his firstborn, a new father’s head, heart, and gut are more aligned than they have ever been…. He should engrave any instinct he has for the next six months—personal, financial, spiritual or career…. Bet it all and sweep the board.” “When mortal rewards are no longer enough to pay his rent, man becomes legend. Fish for yourself. Self-ish.” JAN/FEB 2021
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ILLUSTRATIONS BY KAGAN MCLEOD 42
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of every aspect of life.
AUSTIN, TX, life coach Bryan Daigle helps people see big life changes more clearly—from career jumps to relationship overhauls. Here’s some of his sage advice—free of charge.
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IDENTIFY YOUR MOTIVATION FOR CHANGE “There are two types of energy,” Daigle says. “The energy to move away from something, and the energy to move toward something else.” Say you want to relocate across the country because your wife just filed for divorce. Is this a catalyst for change you’ve been too complacent to act on, or are you running away?
What things seem so important now that are actually inconsequential?” This can shuffle your priorities in a big way.
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KNOW IT’S NEVER TOO LATE “You’re capable of more change than you think, but that voice in your head inspiring a revolution will get only quieter the more you suppress it.” Heed that internal monologue, and don’t shy from shifting gears. Give yourself permission to ditch your current track to pursue your real passion, or reconnect with someone with whom you’ve lost touch.
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THINK BACK FROM YOUR FUTURE Not to get too morbid, but think about your life from your deathbed. “What decisions will you be most proud of ? What will you wish you had done?
NAME YOUR EMOTIONS Fear is one of the biggest roadblocks to change. “By naming it and putting it in front of you, it can’t sabotage you from behind. Afraid of not making as much money in a new career? Say it out loud, then you can assess it.”
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STEP OUTSIDE YOURSELF When making a big decision, you want to be in the right frame of mind. “Sometimes that means going into nature or embarking on a road trip. Find something that grounds you, so you’re not coming from a place of high emotionality.” —JESSE WILL
BY NAMING YOUR FEAR, IT CAN’T SABOTAGE YOU FROM BEHIND. MEN’S JOURNAL
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EMEMBER IN March when we thought that working from home would give us the opportunity to learn an instrument, get super fit, or renovate the basement? Yeah…most people are apt to dawdle away gained time. “The biggest mistake is not having a plan,” says Craig Jarrow, founder of Time Management Ninja. The foundation of time management is a to-do list. That’s not some 50-task monster checklist. Every day, try to home in on your top five priorities. “What stops people from being productive isn’t that they’re not doing enough, it’s that they’re trying to do too much,” says productivity
coach Grace Marshall. Instead of giving anything 100 percent, you’re giving everything 10 percent. A paper to-do list is super visible, and gives you the satisfaction of crossing things off, says Jarrow. “But apps have superpowers paper does not.” Apple’s Things app lets you create individual tasks (like errands), or larger projects with sub-tasks (like vacation planning), and assign deadlines; then it integrates your calendar to show you what’s on deck. Just note, “if you overestimate how much you can get done in a day, you can underestimate how much you can do in a year,” says Marshall. That’s how fitness, self-care,
and time with friends and family fall by the wayside. Plan for those up front by scheduling vacation time in the beginning of the year, or penciling in workouts every other day. “People see stopping in the moment as a waste of time, but making space for these things over the course of the year actually makes
STOPPING IN THE MOMENT ACTUALLY MAKES YOU MORE PRODUCTIVE.
—ASHLEY MATEO 44
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MEN’S JOURNAL
JARREN VINK
you more productive, because it prevents burnout,” Marshall explains. It can also make you more accountable. Maybe you have a coworker you check in with every morning to share your plan for the day, or a running buddy you text every time you pound the pavement. Even a free app like Habit List can track healthy behaviors (like reading daily) so you can build momentum and get that same sense of accomplishment as crossing something off a to-do list. The most important thing: Stop living in your email, says Jarrow. Tools like Sanebox can filter your inbox so you stop experiencing that Pavlovian response to react to every single notification the second it pings. “Try only checking it three times a day,” he says. You’ll be shocked how quickly you forget what it’s like to be chained to that “new message” alert.
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NEW YEAR
self-guided and taught virtually. To narrow down the offerings, use Class Central.
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ith each year, your habits, beliefs, hell, even your vocabulary can seem to grow stagnant. But with a little effort, you can keep your mind malleable. Try these strategies and apps.
1
BREAK OUT OF YOUR BUBBLE
“We’ve become strangers to each other in sadly dangerous ways,” says learning and development consultant Paula Green. “Set aside time to talk to someone who voted differently or who lives a different lifestyle
from you, and really listen. Ask them, ‘What’s important to you?’ Be curious, not cajoling. You might find that your needs are not that different from theirs.”
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VOLUNTEER
Lend your energy and expertise to those who need it, and you’ll pull back the curtain on a different slice of life— and feel valued for your efforts. Luckily, it’s easier than ever to find a volunteer opportunity that suits your availability and expertise: Peruse sites like VolunteerMatch,
Catchafire, and HandsOn Connect.
3
KEEP LEARNING
Your dorm days might be in the rear view, but that doesn’t mean you need to rely on a stash of edibles for mind expansion. Thousands of college courses are available for free online—including over 500 from Ivy League schools like Harvard, Cornell, and Princeton. Whether you’re looking to learn coding, go deep on Bitcoin, or tackle Shakespeare again, you’ll likely find a lesson plan for you. Bonus: Most are
SET ASIDE TIME TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO LIVES A DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE—AND REALLY LISTEN. 46
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Stop the mindless scrolling and bolster your brain with this trio of apps: Climb makes it easy to expand your vocabulary via fun, personalized quizzes with clues that include animated GIFs. Lumosity trains your brain through memory, multitasking, and focus challenges, sharpening skills that have real-world applications. And Memrise is like TikTok for learning a second language. Instead of memorizing awkward, outdated textbook phrases, you learn common phrases and slang from native speakers in snacksize videos. —JW
SAM KAPLAN/TRUNK ARCHIVE
HOW TO GET SMARTER
SHARPEN YOUR SCREEN TIME
NEW YEAR
HOW TO
BE A BETTER PARTNER
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else, including the brain. “The brain is an erogenous zone, and without the ability to access those intimacy tools, the desire, sex drive, and an ability to function with your partner in a loving way flies out the window,” says McNeil. But strong emotional intimacy is crucial to mental health, because it’s what helps us feel safe when we’re stressed, adds Jenni Skyler, Ph.D., director of The Intimacy Institute in Boulder, CO. What’s more, studies show a lack of intimacy is one of the top causes of divorce. Skip your instincts for
—RACHAEL SCHULTZ
WITHOUT INTIMACY, DESIRE FLIES OUT THE WINDOW. MEN’S JOURNAL
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F MONTHS of working, eating, breathing, and spiraling into pits of despair with your partner has left you feeling more like roommates than lovers, you might need to zero in on your intimacy, says Dana McNeil, licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of The Relationship Place. Sexual and emotional intimacy is what lets you feel connected to another person; it’s how we gauge if we’re in a satisfying relationship. Without it, you can feel alone, unsupported, or like your sex life has lost its spark. It’s normal to experience an ebb and flow, especially considering the dumpster fire that was 2020. When you’re stressed, your body focuses its energy on handling that threat, shunting power from everything
now: Men often initiate sex as a way to feel emotionally connected; but, in a hetero relationship, if a woman doesn’t feel that bond, she won’t want to be physically vulnerable, McNeil explains. This leaves everyone feeling more alone. Instead, normalize listening and sexual intimacy will follow. Skyler suggests playing “mad, sad, glad,” where you both share one thing that stirs up each of those emotions. It can be a sentence or a rant. Just keep in mind that while men are very solution-oriented in conversations, your partner might just need someone to listen—so ask what they need. Either way, finish with what you’re happy about—studies show expressing gratitude boosts relationship connection and satisfaction.
that watching others work through hardships helps them figure out their own tribulations, Kazez says. She adds that if you’re looking to process a specific trauma or want a place where you can talk non-stop, then personal sessions might be more beneficial. But a group can act as a bridge if you’re not quite ready to divulge your biggest qualms one-on-one yet. (Bonus: It’s usually cheaper, too.) Of course, it’s all about finding the right one, Kazez adds. The attendees and leaders set the tone, so shop around until you find a good fit. There are great virtual sessions offered by online platforms like EVRYMAN and Hims & Hers. If you want the option to meet in person, ask local clinics or therapists about groups currently meeting remotely. Don’t know where to start? Tap a service like Kazez’s All Along or MyWellbeing, which emails personalized matches, to help you navigate and narrow down the possibilities. —RS
GROUP THERAPY—LIKE HAVING A BEER WITH FRIENDS, EXCEPT SOME TALK ABOUT FEELINGS.
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Y NOW, every guy knows that talking about the things you’re going through—be it a divorce, job loss, or plain ol’ unexplainable anxiety—can help with processing emotions. But that doesn’t have to look like chatting one-on-one from a couch: Group therapy is a great option for men who aren’t comfortable talking about themselves, who like to learn from listening and observing others, or who are currently missing that feeling of community support, says Rachel Kazez, therapist and founder of All Along, a consulting
firm that pairs people with therapists. Group therapy may be the most approachable form of talk therapy. Without any of the personal pressure, it’s like having a beer with your buddies, except some people talk about their feelings. These days, group support often looks like anywhere from four to 15 people (all men, if you like) hopping on a Zoom call, talking through current struggles and recent wins. These sessions are usually led by a licensed counselor or therapist, and there’s no need to share if you don’t want to. But many people find MEN’S JOURNAL
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HOW TO
CONFLICT 1. DROP YOUR EGO
NEW YEAR
“If you’re having a tough discussion, especially around politics—and you want to be constructive—let go of the old paradigm of winning and losing,” Puiman says. When you’re not arguing to win, but rather to explore the intricacies of another’s perspective, it lowers the stakes.
PERHAPS YOU HAD a few conversations in the past year you regret. Maybe your friend, neighbor, or family member went apocalyptic, and you matched the intensity. Rosalie Puiman, leadership coach and author of The Mindful Guide to Conflict Resolution, says that doesn’t have to be the case.
2. BE CURIOUS “A great way in is to ask what the other person’s experienc-
HOW TO
1
LEAN INTO DISCOMFORT
“Often we react too early and rob urselves of an opportunity to grow and dapt,” Magness says. Instead of quitting nd reacting rashly, give yourself a block f time—like 24 hours—to process if
3. TAP INTO UNSAID EMOTIONS Polarizing issues can automatically trigger anxiety and defensiveness. “The other person might be scared, angry, hurt, or they don’t feel seen. Identify that and say: ‘Wow, I sense so much pain in your words.’ ” Empathy can steer dialogue into neutral territory.
4. KNOW WHEN TO WALK It’s okay to cut bait when things aren’t going well. “Say, ‘I think we’re touching on subjects we absolutely disagree on, and I don’t think it’s helpful to our relationship if we continue this.’ ” Changing the topic isn’t copping out. —JW
you’re really hitting your limit, or if you can persevere.
DEAL WITH ADVERSITY 2 ADVENTURE RACER Jason Magness ttests that certain wilderness survival kills are applicable to the everyman, oo. You might not be faced with extreme hysical stress or life-threatening conitions, but these tips will serve you just he same.
es have been. Be sincere, and share yours, too.” When you disclose something personal and make yourself vulnerable, it can make a divisive topic feel like less of a debate on moral mandates of right and wrong.
CELEBRATE SMALL SUCCESSES
“You have to see yourself winning.” It becomes a driving mental force that makes you unstoppable. With each new accomplishment, you set the expectation that you’ll find a way to finish the overall endeavor.
3
WRITE YOUR OWN EPIC
In any hero’s tale, people overcome overwhelming odds. Look at obstacles as part of your character development. “When I survive something, I let it become larger than life in my mind. Those are the moments you want to imprint on your soul. It’s empowering to choose your own narrative.” —JOE POTOCZAK
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MEN’S JOURNAL
JARREN VINK
YOU HAVE TO SEE YOURSELF WINNING.
Intimate getaways in remote spaces make for the perfect respite.
HOW TO
MAKE YOUR GREAT ESCAPE
COURTESY OF URBAN COWBOY LODGE, CATSKILLS
T
HANKS TO COVID-19, we saw the return of the great American road trip. Eighty percent of travel this fall was by car, an AAA Travel survey found. Outdoor destinations draw the most drivers, whether that’s Keystone, SD (home to Mount Rushmore), or Colorado Springs, CO (both debuted on AAA’s top 10 road trip hot spots). Places near lakes and rivers—like Emory, TX; Slade, KY; and Mannford, OK—saw an uptick in popularity, too. And with so many people still working from home (82 percent of companies surveyed by Gartner plan to offer remote work postpandemic), extended vacations are becoming increasingly popular. Airbnb found travelers are seeking stays of more than 28 nights in low-density areas, from western Maine and Vermont to Virginia’s
Shenandoah National Park and Whitefish, MT. The key to travel in 2021: remote and socially distanced spaces. Cabins and cottages have replaced villas and townhouses as the ideal rental space, Airbnb found. In general, short-term rentals have done better than hotels during the pandemic. What better way to hunker down and reset for the new year than in your own “home” away from home? Our top picks: SAN DIEGO, CA To escape for the long haul this winter, three hotels in the always-temperate San Diego area—the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, and the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay—offer Hyatt’s new Work From Hyatt extended-stay package for remote workers. Good luck expensing it, though!
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO For vacationers seeking socially distanced outdoor recreation, Colorado is a must. Skip the crowds in Steamboat in favor of Bluebird Backcountry, the first and only in-bounds backcountry ski area in the U.S., which just opened for its first season. BIG INDIAN, NY Northeastern city folk are fleeing to the woods, even for short escapes. At the newly opened Urban Cowboy lodge in Big Indian, NY, rooms are available in five stand-alone buildings set on 68 acres, with guided hikes, outdoor-only dining, and open-air soaking tubs. —AM
2021 TRAVEL TREND: THE COZIER, THE BETTER MEN’S JOURNAL
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The latest, greatest off-road machines storm onto West Virginia’s Hatfield-McCoy Trails—and beyond. BY STEVE RUSSELL
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O OUR MUD-SPATTERED mini-convoy
—a trio of aggressive, high-powered sport UTVs—has been tearing through these dense backwoods since first light. Behind the wheel of a machine that boasts more horsepower than the car that brought me to the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, I’m hustling to keep sight of our local trail sherpa as he blazes across narrow ridgelines and around an endless succession of gritty switchbacks. So I’m somewhat relieved when he eases off the accelerator on a rare level stretch. As he suddenly swerves, though, it becomes apparent that he was simply pausing to locate the gap of a narrow side trail. Unlike the mapped, sprawling Hatfield-McCoy Trails system we’ve been navigating, this new path isn’t marked, and zags up a rise at a neck-popping angle—steeper than anything we’ve so far tackled.
Go ahead, charge that puddle! But
A BRIEF PRIMER: These ain’t ATVs,
beware the backsplash.
the off-road four-wheelers ridden like motorcycles. UTVs have steering wheels and place a passenger next to the driver in a rollbar-protected cockpit. (Hence why they’re also called side-by-sides.) And don’t mistake them for their boxier, landscaper-toting cousins. Sport UTVs branched off in 2007 when Polaris introduced the RZR, a brawny, nimble model with racing-inspired looks. Ever since, rival manufacturers have pushed to outdo each other in power, suspension, and design. Along the way, sales
“If you’re not already in low gear, I highly recommend it,” a voice crackles from the walkie currently ricocheting around my floorboard. Even if my harness would allow me to lean over far enough to retrieve the walkie, my reply would be drowned out by engine roar as he guns up the rutty, rocky incline. Okay then, this is it. Enter the Outlaw Trails.
I WANT MY UTV!
Choosing the right sport side-by-side depends on your terrain, driving style, and wallet. Consider this lineup.
Polaris RZR PRO XP Ultimate $28,499 Our head-turning, Hatfield-McCoy Trails– tested UTV crams all the freshest tech, like GPS and Rockford Fosgate audio, into a sleek, driver-coddling design. 54
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Can-Am Maverick Sport $15,299 Not the sexiest beast, but with enough power and suspension to tame the HMT, it shows that an affordable, base-model UTV can be the right tool for the job.
Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 Special Edition $22,599 Combining a 999cc powerplant, 68-inch width, and massive wheel travel, this one is built for the desert, the woods, or the nearest Monster Jam.
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Can-Am Maverick X3 Max X MR Turbo RR $29,099 Need to give three friends a lift into the apocalypse? This four-seater version of the X3 rocks 195 horses and zombie-squashing tires.
CFMOTO ZForce 950 Sport $12,999 Don’t expect cutting-edge engineering, but at a bargain price that includes what other brands upsell as options (e.g. winch, roof), could it be a RZR disruptor?
T H E FAST A N D T H E D I RT I E ST
TRAIL BLING Want to spend more money on your UTV? Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize!
have exploded to a demographic akin to boat owners. If the craze has a flagship, it’s the top-selling Polaris RZR XP 1000, which wraps 110 horsepower in a chassis styled like it’s charging forward even when parked. But in a UTV culture obsessed with performance, there’s always somebody bigger, badder, and faster than you. So for our multi-vehicle assault on the Hatfield-McCoy Trails (HMT), neither Polaris nor Can-Am (basically the Ford vs. Chevy of UTVs) risks delivering the menos macho machine. That’s why we
trailhead, where we’re immediately swallowed by swaths of oak, maple, and hickory. Maps show this is a green section of trail, the “easiest” rating, but it’s pretty damn technical—every flat stretch soon leads to loose-rock uphill, mudslick downhill, or whippy switchback. Passing junctures marked by black-diamond icons, I ponder the wisdom of attempting those most-hazardous trails. I also notice gaps marked NO ENTRY, and recall overhearing rider-talk about “outlaw trails,” non-approved routes that surround and intersect the official map. After some seat swapping, the consensus is that both of our loaners are beasts. The RZR’s suspension absorbs a silly amount of uneven terrain at full gallop, while the X3 shudders a bit over rocky ascents. The trade-off ? The X3 provides more driver feedback and
COURTESY VISIT MERCER COUNTY CVB
RIVAL UTV MANUFACTURERS HAVE PUSHED TO OUTDO EACH OTHER IN POWER, SUSPENSION, AND DESIGN. arrive at WV ATV Resort, our base atop Cherokee Mountain in Rock, West Virginia, to find owner Rick Bailey happily minding the keys to a Can-Am Maverick X3 DS Turbo R (172 horsepower) and a Polaris RZR Pro XP Ultimate (181 horsepower). Model variations are endless—this alphabet salad basically spells out that we’ve got a pair of king-of-thehill skullfuckers at our disposal. Since our third guy balks at riding shotgun, we also rent a Maverick Sport and hope its relatively paltry 79 horses can hang. Itching for action, we race for the
handles steadier. (To be fair, both have adjustable suspensions; we’re just too giddy to bother fiddling with them.) Notably, while the Sport doesn’t attack with the same breakneck fury, it never surrenders, and its narrower width is a plus in tight turns. Named for the infamous feuding clans that bloodied these environs in the 1800s, the HMT was created 20 years ago to prop up the declining fortunes of coal country. It was a whopping success. By this spring, the system will comprise 10 distinct trails, some connected, MEN’S JOURNAL
Bumpers Vehicles made for off-road craziness should come with bumpers standard, but that’s how the dealer runs up your tab. Go full frontal to make your UTV as impenetrable as a supermax. Sound Bars Because your old boombox will rattle to tiny pieces, and you absolutely have to crank “Ride of the Valkyries” while bombing through the backwoods. Winches You’ll probably skip this utilitarian accessory—and kick yourself when you inevitably get buried up to your axles in swamp mud. Lights Look at me, I have a UTV! Nothing bridges the gap between off-roaders and compact-car modders quite like garish LED underglow and pulsing whip lights.
snaking nearly 900 miles across seven rural counties—the country’s largest such system. To handle 60,000 riders a year, an entire local economy, and infrastructure, has been born. Dozens of UTV-centric “resorts” border the trails, offering shelter ranging from crew-friendly bunkhouses to well-appointed cabins. And local laws have been bent to let UTVs drive into small towns eager to supply gas, burgers, and beer. JAN/FEB 2021
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UTVs are welcome in towns along the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, making for plenty of muddy lunch runs.
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BEFORE THE HMT, local off-roaders utilized an existing labyrinth of routes hacked out of the forests for mining, logging, and gas pipelines. The HMT
ize that the gauntlet has been thrown down to me and my RZR. Swallowing hard, I mash the accelerator and hold on tight. I can feel one wheel spinning while the others valiantly maintain traction, churning inexorably upward. At the crest my left front tire caroms off a beachball-size boulder and I kick out toward a sheer drop-off on the right, but somehow clamber past. Good boy, RZR, good boy! And the X3 is right behind. We jostle along a rocky trail slanted at a disconcerting angle, then burst onto a graded coal-company road in an
WE STAY ON THE ACCELERATORS, MAKING THE MACHINES SKIM OVER THE TOPS OF JAGGED PATCHES. absorbed some of those, improved accessibility, and widened trails when UTVs eclipsed ATVs as the weapon of choice. But hundreds of miles of nonmarked trails still coil through these parts, irresistibly luring a certain sort of UTV enthusiast. Apparently, that certain sort is us. We left the rental behind this morning, but Rick himself drives a Maverick Sport, albeit a model with upgraded horsepower, shocks, and tires. When he disappears over the gnarly rise marking the border with outlaw territory, I realMEN’S JOURNAL
area more open than anything we’ve encountered. After climbing to a bald lookout, I grasp why. We’re gazing over a coal operation actively scraping the peak off a neighboring mountain, just as it removed the former summit of this one. None of the trails out here are marked, and without Rick, who confirms that we’ve been conquering some black-diamond terrain, we’d be hilariously lost. Still, people figure it out. Cutting through a skinny hollow, a sign identifies a motley collection of cabins and trailers as Rider’s Paradise. All is
PHOTO: STEVE RUSSELL
So after we cut from the Indian Ridge section over to Pinnacle Creek, a sprawling trail that winds up an exposed ridgeline and down along a sycamore-dappled trout stream, we cruise into Pineville, population 668. Plenty of UTVs are buzzing the main drag, and we seize lunchtime parking at Pinnacle Drive-In. Luckily, our carhop doesn’t blink at serving mucky recreational vehicles. We wolf down chili dogs and onion rings while fellow riders take note of our big-budget rides. Until, that is, the collective gaze swivels to a passing Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 Trail Edition, a jacked-up mountain-chewer styled like Mad Max’s weekend ride and tricked out with a blaring sound system and twin LED whip lights. Because in a UTV culture obsessed with mods and accessories, there is always somebody bigger, badder, and peacockier than you. For the return trip, we stay on the accelerators, making the machines skim over the tops of jagged patches. We’re in the zone, blurring peaks into valleys, hyper-focused—then I round a switchback to witness a dirt bike headed straight at me. Fast. I grind to a halt and brace as the biker locks up and slides. He stops about four inches from my
grill. We regard each other through dirty goggles until Rural Knievel shrugs and blasts off, rooster-tailing me with dirt. Back at WV ATV Resort, we powerwash our machines and ask Rick about the so-called Outlaw Trails. “Oh sure, my friends and I ride them practically all the way to Kentucky,” he replies casually. “I’ll take you out on them tomorrow.”
T H E FAST A N D T H E D I RT I E ST
quiet now, but this Outlaw Trails outpost may be the capital of UTV Nation on big weekends, when hundreds of raucous riders flock to its rustic bar and grill. Soon we’re precariously straddling yard-deep ruts. While a sport UTV’s yo-yo-like wheel travel performs wonders, every so often a weird angle dips you and—KAPANG!—you give thanks for the undercarriage skid plate. Especially when you hear anecdotes of downed tree limbs spearing through
non-shielded floorboards. Speaking of which, HMT infrastructure includes local fire departments that deploy their own rescue-equipped UTVs. But have a mishap in outlaw territory and word is that you’re on your own. Around a bend is the wettest trail yet. Drive a UTV for a while and you develop a second sense for whether a puddle is shallow enough to challenge full-throttle. But sometimes your second sense is complete shit and a huge wave
cascades back onto you. Whatever, you didn’t sign on for this to stay clean and dry, prissy pants. That said, as the sun dips, it feels good to circle back onto legit trails. Though outlaw territory offers intriguing challenges, I admit that I prefer the more-curated HMT, which despite being plenty wild and woolly, seems designed to usher me into that ideal driving state in which I’m always slightly scared and always having fun. At home base, tired and wired, we pass the bourbon and download offroad exploits around a blazing fire ring. Even hours later, though, I swear I can hear the telltale growls of UTVs echoing through hills and hollows all around—out there in the pitch dark. “Not supposed to ride at night, but people do it,” acknowledges Rick. “Especially on the Outlaw Trails.” Because when it comes to a UTV culture obsessed with the next thrill, there’s always somebody bigger, badder, and flat-out crazier than you. Q
RENT-A-RUSH Is the UTV life right for you? Polaris Adventures outfitters nationwide stand ready to put you in a RZR for one of these peak trail experiences. Silverton, Colorado Sixty-three miles of stunningly scenic, and sometimes technical, trail wind through two Rocky Mountains passes, high alpine streams, and even a remote ghost town. Sedona, Arizona Not here for Sedona’s New Age mysticism? Then instead maneuver over the area’s famous red rocks and speed to the tops of majestic buttes. Now that’s spiritual wellness!
UTV utopia: Ride until sunset at Ocotillo Wells, California.
Gorham, New Hampshire Explore more than 100 miles of off-road trails through Jericho Mountain State Park, complete with dense MEN’S JOURNAL
backwoods, birch-shaded waterfalls, wooden bridges, and—yes!—sandpits perfect for pulling 360s. Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota Experience the historic Black Hills on a trail that connects two waterfalls and climbs to a lookout so high the view sweeps four states. No, you can’t climb Mount Rushmore—yet. Ocotillo Wells, California Plunge into an 85,000-acre vehicular recreation area next to the Salton Sea and hone your Baja 500 racing skills across desert trails, steep climbs, and endless mini-dunes. JAN/FEB 2021
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KILL COUNTY inside a rural washington sheriff’s private war
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“In my opinion, we are right in the middle of the civil war.” Sheriff Bob Songer, out standing in his field.
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Catalyst: After this cougar was killed, the hunts began in earnest.
of only about 22,000 people. The sheriff, who wears a buzz cut and wire-frame glasses and speaks bluntly and breathlessly, testified to Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission in March 2020, explaining how his program works: He encourages citizens to call 911 to report cougar sightings, and if the sighting is credible, he authorizes a hound hunter to immediately track and kill the cougar. “I’m not here to ask you for permission to do something,” Songer said. “I’m doing it anyway.” His bold attitude is one of the reasons the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, a far-right organization, named Songer “Sheriff of the Year” in 2019. So-called “constitutional sheriffs” assert their right to protect Americans from gun restrictions, illegal immigrants, federal management of public lands, pandemic-related public health measures such
as mask mandates, and other perceived threats to individual liberty. Songer, who sometimes wears a hat proclaiming “God, Guns & Guts Made America,” may be the first constitutional sheriff to claim wildlife management as part of his portfolio. But he probably won’t be the last. DECLARATION OF WAR Until August 2019, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) responded to most cougar complaints in Klickitat County. WDFW employees confirmed sightings and determined whether a cougar had killed any livestock or domestic animals, or behaved in a way that threatened public safety—and prescribed the appropriate response, ranging from a cougar “removal” (that is, using dogs to tree the cougar and then shooting it) to simply talking with the property owner about ways to avoid conflicts with cougars. An Aug. 22, 2019, report of a cougar
ALICIA MCINTURFF
SHORTLY BEFORE noon on Jan. 25, 2020, Brian Ostenson called the sheriff ’s office in Goldendale, WA, to report he’d found a deer carcass near a tree about 30 yards from his house. The carcass wasn’t there yesterday, said Ostenson, a man in his early 70s who lives about 14 miles east of town in a sparsely populated rural area that has a mix of open fields and wooded streams. Ostenson told Deputy Sheriff Erik Beasley that even though he hadn’t seen a cougar, he believed one had killed the deer. The deer was partially buried beneath forest debris, which is how cougars—also known as mountain lions or pumas—often hide their kills so they can feed on them again later. Beasley called his boss, Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer, who advised him to call out a hound hunter. Shortly after arriving on the scene, hunter Lance Fields and his dogs treed a juvenile cougar and shot it. While continuing to search for the cougar’s mother for several more hours, Fields found a second juvenile cougar and killed it, too. He cut the ears off both animals, so they couldn’t be claimed as trophies, and took some photos. The two cougars killed by Fields are among at least 16 that Sheriff Songer, a blithe man in his 70s who was first elected sheriff in 2014, estimates his hound hunters have killed since he created a special program in 2019 to manage cougars, bobcats, and bears. Eight deputized hound hunters work unpaid for Songer as members of his 130-person volunteer posse in Klickitat County, an area of southern Washington that’s nearly the size of Delaware, but has a population
COPS VS. COUGARS
attacking a deer changed all that. Unlike the report called in by Ostenson, this incident five months earlier occurred within the city limits of Goldendale, the county seat, which has a population of about 3,500. By the time it was over, several law enforcement officers and a hound hunter had pursued the cougar around a residential neighborhood and shot it multiple times before killing it. Songer decided it was time to take matters into his own hands. Days later, he announced that his office, not the state wildlife agency, would provide the primary response to conflicts involving dangerous wildlife. He and his deputies would respond to all such reports in the county and would have the authority to use dogs to track down and kill animals deemed to be a threat to public safety. Songer had effectively declared war on cougars in Klickitat County. Hound hunting has been illegal in Washington since 1996. However, state law contains an exception that allows government employees and their agents to hunt cougars, bobcats, and bears “while acting in their official capacities for the purpose of protecting livestock, domestic animals, private property, or the public safety.” Unhelpfully, the law doesn’t bother to define “public safety” or what it means to “protect property.” Because of this loophole, state wildlife authorities have thus far been unable—or unwilling—to stop Songer’s program. Wildlife enthusiasts and local residents concerned about the number of cougars shot by hound hunters say these animals should not be harassed or dispatched simply because they have been spotted in an area where humans also live. “Most of the incidents really are not a safety risk,” says Wildlife Protection Manager Haley Stewart of the Humane Society of the United States. “These are sightings in areas where cougars are known to live…a cougar just being a cougar.” The Humane Society says the sheriff ’s program is undermining wildlife management and violating the ban on hound hunting. It’s called on Washington’s governor, wildlife director, and attorney general “to immediately end this illegal program.” So far, though, both the attorney general’s office and WDFW have maintained that the sheriff is acting within his rights. “It’s a legal gray area,” says Denise Peterson of the Mountain Lion Foundation, a California-based nonprofit group that
advocates for cougars. That leaves the sheriff free to use his own judgment, and in his view any cougar seen in a pasture or near a home warrants a lethal response. “My job is public safety,” he says. “Never on my watch do I want to have to come up to a house, knock on the door, and tell the parents that we found little Johnny down by the river, half-eaten by a cougar.” COUGAR CONFUSION The sheriff ’s policy relies on an assumption that cougar experts say is fundamentally wrong: that cougars have overpopulated during the past several years because regular hound hunting was outlawed. Never mind that hound hunting has been banned for 24 years. More important, the experts say, cougar populations have remained relatively stable during that time. In Washington, the statewide population is roughly estimated at 2,300 independent-aged animals. Fatal attacks by cougars are extremely rare. There have been only 17 documented
and every cougar population has two components: residents and transients. The resident population, composed of adults with established home ranges up to 200 square miles in size, tends to be very stable and predictable. The transient component of the cougar population is composed of adults (mostly males) and subadults (between 1 and 2 years old) trying to establish home ranges. Paradoxically, increased hunting of cougars actually can increase the risk of human-cougar conflicts by removing mature resident cougars, which creates a vacancy that younger migrants attempt to fill. “Instead of the one male, you might get two or three that are not old enough to practice territoriality and defend a home range,” says WDFW’s bear and cougar specialist, Rich Beausoleil. These animals may be more likely to run afoul of humans because they tend to be less familiar with the local landscape. If the sheriff ’s goal is to have fewer or better-behaved cougars, his program
“I’M NOT HERE TO ASK YOU FOR PERMISSION. I’M DOING IT ANYWAY.” —SHERIFF BOB SONGER
fatalities in the United States in the past 100 years, including one in Washington in 2018, the first fatal attack in the state since 1924. For comparison, domestic dogs kill 30 to 50 people per year, and deer-vehicle collisions kill about 200. Studies of collared, radio-tracked cougars show these animals spend a surprising amount of time on the fringes of human habitation. “They are very secretive,” says WDFW carnivore research scientist Brian Kertson. “They make their living staying out of sight.” In the past, a cougar passing through a field or prowling the woods adjacent to a residential neighborhood usually went unnoticed, but sightings have soared along with the use of trail cameras and home-surveillance systems. However, increased sightings do not correlate with increased population numbers, Kertson cautions. Nor, he says, do they correlate with increased livestock depredations or other human-cougar conflicts. Cougars are highly territorial animals,
is the wrong approach. And if the goal is to prevent cougars from ever going near people or their structures, that’s an impossible task. There is no place in Washington that is more than 13.6 miles from any human development, a distance easily covered by a male cougar on border patrol. Everyone agrees that cougars do, in some situations, attack livestock, pets and, on rare occasions, humans. However, science and the sheriff do not agree on what constitutes dangerous cougar behavior. “There is a misperception that seeing cougars in particular places at particular times correlates to abnormal behavior,” says Kertson. For example, some people wrongly believe it’s abnormal to see a cougar in broad daylight. Others wrongly believe there’s something amiss if a cougar doesn’t run away at the first sight of a human. Where the general public saw a cougar “stalking” a Utah hiker for six long minutes in a recent viral video, some JAN/FEB 2021
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COPS VS. COUGARS experts instead saw a protective mother more determined to evict the hiker than to harm him. When people see a cougar, they tend to interpret its behavior through a filter of fear. “People have an innate fear of cougars,” says Kertson. “They are big animals with big eyes.” In Klickitat County, where many residents display signs thanking the sheriff for protecting their liberty, Songer is “creating a hysteria around mountain lions and bears,” says Stephen Capra of the anti-trapping group Footloose Montana, who visited the county with Peterson last year to meet with residents who are upset about the cougar shootings. “He’s built an army to go kill them.” POWER OF THE COUNTY Songer, who has never killed a cougar himself but has eaten cougar burgers prepared by a friend (“kind of a sweet taste,” he recalls), is part of a quasi-political movement led by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA), which was founded in 2011 and claims a membership of 400, of which about 160 are currently in office. Sheriffs are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, but constitutional sheriffs believe they’re answerable only to the Constitution and voters. “The governor of the state of Washington is not my boss…or the feds,” Songer said in a speech at last year’s CSPOA convention. In November 2020, he announced that his deputies would not be enforcing any of the governor’s COVID-19 restrictions.
Songer, who has spent his entire 50-year career in law enforcement, is a darling of far-right groups. He makes frequent appearances at political rallies and on talk radio. He came to national attention in 2019 when he was a guest on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ InfoWars program along with Joey Gibson of Patriot Prayer. During the last election cycle, at a rally organized by the Klickitat County Republican Party, Songer called the Black Lives Matter movement a “Marxist, Socialist, Communist organization” and said it’s
PARADOXICALLY, INCREASED HUNTING OF COUGARS CAN ACTUALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF HUMAN-COUGAR CONFLICTS. tied to Antifa. “There’s a master plan to overthrow our government,” he said. Songer’s language echoes that of former Arizona sheriff and CSPOA founder Richard Mack, who has issued warnings about a “new world order” that sheriffs must stop. Mack has also served on the board of the anti-government militia organization Oath Keepers. CSPOA has its ideological roots in Posse Comitatus, a far-right movement that spread racist, anti-Semitic, and anti-government tropes and led to the formation of citizen militias in the 1980s, says Lindsay Schubiner of the Western States Center, an Oregon-based civil
CONSTITUTIONAL SHERIFFS: COUNTY FIRST
Three more lawmen who believe their power trumps federal and state law.
F— authority: Sheriff Mace
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posted Nichols, who gained notoriety after comparing Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ COVID-19 restrictions to Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.
trying to arrest or was it a kidnap attempt?” Leaf wondered. “It doesn’t say if you’re in elected office that you’re exempt from that arrest.”
Sheriff Dar Leaf Barry County, Michigan Leaf equivocated on the goons accused of plotting to kidnap and kill Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “A lot of people are angry with the governor and they want her arrested, so are they
Sheriff Tony Mace Cibola County, New Mexico At an anti–gun control rally, Mace declared his county a “Second Amendment sanctuary” after a countywide vote passed to disregard recent New Mexico gun control legislation.
than 1.7 million, or 43 percent, of the votes cast. Sheriff Mike Carpinelli, who endorsed Mack on a CSPOA website, is running for New York governor in 2022. GROWING PROBLEM Cougar advocates worry Songer’s program will spread to other counties. In an email to colleagues, WDFW cougar specialist Beausoleil expressed concern that Songer was killing more cougars than WDFW records showed, and noted that Songer “stated that if any other counties were interested in doing what he is doing, he would show them how—and this could become even more of a concern.” WDFW recently assembled a Cougar Safety Team with representatives from its wildlife, enforcement, and public affairs divisions to address public concerns. There’s talk of revising laws that govern public safety removals and adding local elected officials to the Cougar Safety Team. During a Fish and Wildlife Commission briefing and public comment session on cougar safety last summer, conducted on Zoom, a Klickitat County resident who has been active in a local effort to replace Songer posted a written question for the commissioners: “K.C. Sheriff is indiscriminately killing cougars. What are you going to do about that?” There was no reply. Dawn Stover is a writer based in White Salmon, Washington. A version of this story originally appeared on Columbia Insight, an environmental news website covering the Pacific Northwest’s Columbia River Basin.
MORGAN LEE/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK
Sheriff Scott Nichols Franklin County, Maine “(Sheriffs) do not have to abide by the political whims of municipal or state organizations,”
rights organization. Posse Comitatus— Latin for “power of the county”—refers to citizens mobilized to defend counties and suppress mayhem, usually with a sheriff as their leader and last line of defense against the federal government. Despite their lofty claims of power, some constitutional sheriffs aspire to even higher office. Loren Culp, who was named CSPOA’s “Police Chief of the Decade” last year, was the Washington Republican gubernatorial candidate in the 2020 general election and won more
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Lodge in Place The world’s most remote resorts offer an escape as we ease back into adventure travel—or at least keep dreaming about it... BY RYAN KROGH
Lower river levels in the springtime mean deeper forays into the surrounding wilds of Cambodia’s Southern Cardamom National Park. 64
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S O U T H E A S T A S I A’ S C O N S E RVAT I O N EDEN S h i n t a M a n i Wi l d CA M B O D I A
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COURTESY NARAYA TENTED CAMP / BRICE FERRE STUDIO
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From terraced, clifftop tents, breakfast in the canopy opens up views of the iconic (and active) Arenal Volcano.
A RAIN FORE ST HIDEAWAY N a y a r a Te n t e d C a m p C O S TA R I C A
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T R AV E L
A F R I C A’ S W I L D BARRENS BASE H o a n i b Va l l e y C a m p NA M I B I A TO HELP YOU EXPERIENCE remote Africa (think
rolling sand dunes, jagged mountains, rocky plains), this desert outpost provides a launching pad into the rugged Kaokoland territory. Track endangered rhinos, desert elephants, and giraffes before retiring to one of six canvas tents outfitted with furniture carved by native carpenters—the low-impact “camp” is a joint venture between an indigenous community organization and a wildlife foundation. From roughly $1,200 per night ROAM FREE: Visit with the nomadic Himba tribe, which has traversed this landscape for generations.
COURTESY HOANIB VALLEY CAMP
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T H E U L T I M AT E A DV E N T U R E R E T R E AT Ri o Pal e n a L o d g e CHILE
COURTESY ELEVEN EXPERIENCE
FIRST OFF, there’s no better place in South
America to hook into a fat, wild brown trout. That’s because the latest Eleven Experience lodge is set amid a unique confluence of rivers and lakes chock-full of huge fish. There’s also world-class whitewater rafting on the Rio Futaleufú and mountain biking on an expanding trail network. Afterward, if you can leave the wood-fired hot tubs, the lodge will set up a traditional asado barbecue under the stars. $17,800 per night ( for full lodge, up to 14 guests) FIRST DESCENT: In the winter, Rio Palena offers heli-skiing to rarely ridden peaks—if they’ve ever been skied at all. JAN/FEB 2021
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Rebel
HetďŹ eld; Blackened master distiller Rob Dietrich; drummer Lars Ulrich signals for a Blackened encore.
Distillers HOW A GROUP OF WHISKEY MAKERS ARE BREAKING ALL THE RULES—ONE ROGUE DRAM AT A TIME BY RYAN KROGH
BATCH #1
BLACKENED AMERICAN WHISKEY Ultimate Heavy Metal Mash-up
DANNY CLINCH
I
MAGINE A GLASS of water sitting next to a giant speaker and convulsing with the thump of each beat—doomph, doomph, doomph. That movement is, essentially, the idea behind Blackened American Whiskey, a collaboration between metal masters Metallica and the late master distiller Dave Pickerell. The company calls the process Black Noise. It’s a way to enhance the aging process of its whiskey through what’s called “acoustic cavitation,” wherein low-frequency soundwaves—emanating in this case from custom-designed Meyer Sound subwoofers—lead to the formation of tiny, air-filled cavities in the whiskey that subsequently implode. When that happens against the side of a barrel, it allows the whiskey to penetrate the charred insides like tiny liquid needles, artificially accelerating the aging process. It may sound like a gimmick, but the results for Blackened are deep, dark, and delicious. “Any time there’s extreme innovation in an industry that honors tradition, there’s always going to be skepticism,” says master distiller and blender Rob Dietrich, who took over for Pickerell in 2018. “But when I came onboard and looked at a barrel that had been treated and one that hadn’t, I could see the difference, and the taste just blew me away.”
Each batch that undergoes the patent-pending Black Noise treatment is blasted with a playlist chosen by one of the members of Metallica, and you can listen to the same music (we’re imagining “Fade to Black”) while sipping the whiskey. Last year, the company came out with a caskstrength version. For the band’s 40th anniversary this year, they’re working on a special release. “Metallica has such a heavy-hitting, bass-forward sound,” Dietrich says. “I can’t imagine a better band for this type of whiskey collaboration.” MEN’S JOURNAL
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Peak experience: From sky to sea, Zoeller will age his product anywhere.
BATCH #2
JEFFERSON’S BOURBON Whiskey World’s Weatherbeaten Wonder
M
ONTANA’S John Long Mountains aren’t an ideal place for aging a barrel of premium whiskey—at least by traditional measures. The bare peaks spend much of the year caked in snow, and the summer sun beats on the hillsides like a cosmic broiler. Yet here I am, anxiously awaiting Trey Zoeller, the founder of Jefferson’s Bourbon, to tap into a weathered, 53-gallon oak barrel that’s been resting atop a rolling foothill for the last 18 months. The cracked wood is discolored and the steel rings are covered in rust. It’s a miracle the whiskey hasn’t leaked out onto the
wildflower-covered slopes below. “Well, let’s see if the juice is any good!” Zoeller says as he taps into the barrel with a cordless drill. The barrel is sitting on the 6,600-acre Ranch at Rock Creek, a big-buckle dude ranch 90 minutes southeast of Missoula. The reason for placing it up here in these extreme conditions, as Zoeller readily admits, is that the Ranch at Rock Creek is a damn nice place to visit, complete with horseback riding, fly-fishing, and broad Rocky Mountain vistas. But Zoeller also has a mad scientist’s curiosity for experimenting with barrel-aging to see how the
different local conditions affect the whiskey’s maturation process. “There’s no real terroir in whiskey,” Zoeller says. “The process of distilling grains burns off most of the flavor, so the only way you can dramatically change the profile is by changing the aging process.” Among other places, Zoeller has barrels “resting” in a duck blind in Louisiana, a winery in California, and an upland bird-hunting plantation in Georgia. What begins as the same clear whiskey ends as a dramatically different aged spirit in each location. “You honestly never know what you’re going to get,” Zoeller tells me as we hike up to the Montana barrel. Zoeller, who lives in Louisville, Kentucky, grew Jefferson’s Bourbon into an industry darling through exactly this type of experimentation. One of the company’s best-selling products is Jefferson’s Ocean, a bourbon that’s aged at sea for 18 months. Zoeller got the idea when he was hanging out
BATCH #3
BESPOKEN SPIRITS Two Guys in a Hurry to Grow Old
MEN’S JOURNAL
set out to devise a method that could be repeated and measured to ensure accuracy. The result is Bespoken Spirits, a company that claims to be able to create 17 billion unique combinations of flavor and aroma in whiskeys (and other spirits). The process involves toasting and charring microstaves, essentially a barrel that’s
deconstructed into toothpick-like pieces, then adding those to whiskey in what the company calls its ACTivator (a portmanteau of aroma, color, and taste). In the machine, Bespoken controls temperature, pressure, and churn rate, among other variables, to produce the equivalent of a decade-old whiskey in just 72 hours.
LEFT: COURTESY OF RANCH AT ROCK CREEK; RIGHT: JEFFERSON’S BELOW: BESPOKEN SPIRITS
Bespoken founders Aaron and Martin rushing toward greatness.
AGING WHISKEY in charred oak barrels is a fickle pursuit, full of unforeseen variations that can turn a batch from superior to swill without warning. Three years ago, materials scientist Martin Janousek became convinced there was a better way. With colleague Stu Aaron, and investors including Derek Jeter, he
COURTESY OF TIMBER CREEK DISTILLERY
Rebel Distillers with his friend Chris Fischer, a shark biologist and founder of Ocearch, an organization that tags great whites. The Ocearch team regularly heads out on tagging expeditions and Zoeller wondered what might happen to the whiskey if it was sloshing around in the tropical heat for a few months. So he convinced Fischer to let him strap three barrels on the deck of Ocearch’s 124-foot ship. What came back was a young whiskey, in terms of its actual age, but one that tasted far older and more complex, full of caramel notes and a briny sweetness like aged rum. It was delicious. Zoeller soon figured out a way to commercialize the process by putting dozens of barrels on cargo ships with routes that cross the equator during their months-long journeys. Today, Jefferson’s has 13 products in its lineup, including a bourbon rested in French oak barrels that previously held cabernet wine and a barrel-aged Manhattan cocktail. Jefferson’s Ocean, however, is still the company’s most popular whiskey. “When you have a story to tell about why it tastes the way it does, drinkers get it,” Zoeller says. “It just gives more meaning to it.” Creating a story through whiskey is the allure that drew the Ranch at Rock Creek to Jefferson’s Bourbon. Zoeller had some informal connections to the resort and after a visit he found himself shipping two full whiskey barrels to the property (there’s another tucked into a stagecoach used for tours). After Zoeller taps the hilltop barrel, whiskey starts pouring out in a tiny stream, dark and viscous. When we sample it, Zoeller seems surprised. “It did exactly the opposite of what I thought it would do,” he says. “Because it was stationary and cold for so long, I didn’t think it would do much.” There’s a spiciness to it, but it’s not harsh. Zoeller attributes the accelerated maturation to the sometimes ferocious winds on the ridgeline. The gales may have hit the platform with enough consistent force to create
BATCH #4
TIMBER CREEK DISTILLERY Deconstructive Distillers Create Florida’s Finest
M
Perfect blend: Panhandle pals Barnes and Ford
a vibration that caused the whiskey inside to slowly turn over and react with charred insides of the barrel. The ranch has plans to grow its own rye this year, and create a sort of estate-grown whiskey. But this barrel will stay up here another year at least, until it reaches its peak, so to speak. The other barrels that Zoeller has stashed around the country will never
“WHEN YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL ABOUT WHY IT TASTES THE WAY IT DOES, DRINKERS GET IT. IT JUST GIVES MORE MEANING TO IT.” MEN’S JOURNAL
hit store shelves, but the lessons he draws from them will help him craft new whiskeys with unique flavors. “Ninety-eight percent of whiskey is maturation,” he says, “And maturation is not really a science, it’s an art, and that’s what’s fun for me. “That’s also why bourbon drinkers are so promiscuous, like wine drinkers. They don’t have one bottle, they have 10 or 20, and they want to be able to share the story behind them when they drink.” The wind blows. The barrel vibrates. Zoeller takes another sip of the rare mountaintop whiskey and then offers his final verdict: “And this is a good story.” JAN/FEB 2021
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M E N’S J O U R N A L
WORKOUT OF THE MONTH
Double Duty With just a pair of dumbbells, you can work your body in ways a barbell never could. by BRIT TANY SMITH
YOU MIGHT THINK access to a
full gym is a must to build mass, but you can thoroughly work every muscle with just a pair of dumbbells, says Joel Seedman, Ph.D., owner of Advanced Human Performance. Unlike the fixed patterns of machines and barbells, you can change the angle and positioning of dumbbells to account for injuries or immobility, and there’s a greater capacity to work unilaterally to address imbalances. Because of that, “you don’t have to go as heavy to create a strong intramuscular stimulus,” Seedman adds. That’s right: Even advanced lifters can light up their whole body with free weights. DIRECTIONS
PART 1: DUMBBELL SUPERSET A. Single-Arm Eccentric Push Press Stand with feet at shoulder width, holding a dumbbell in right hand with a neutral grip at shoulder height, elbow bent at 90 degrees. Lower into a quarter-squat, then 86
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explode up, driving through legs to press the dumbbell overhead. Pause, then slowly lower to start position. Complete 4–5 reps, then switch sides. photographs by MARIUS BUGGE
FITNESS
B. Single-Leg Renegade Row With Eccentric Isometrics Get in a plank with dumbbells under each hand. Activate your core and keep hips square as you extend left leg, foot flexed. Slowly row the dumbbell in your right hand toward rib cage; pause, then slowly lower toward the ground without letting it touch, maintaining constant tension. Complete 5–6 reps, then switch sides.
PART 2: DUMBBELL TRISET
B. Dumbbell Squeeze Press Lie on a bench, holding dumbbells at chest, palms facing each other. Squeeze weights together as hard as you can, then press up. Loop a resistance band under your back and around dumbbells for a greater challenge. Complete 8–10 reps.
C. Single-Leg Bridging Dumbbell Pullover A. Single-Leg Squat and Curl Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding dumbbells in both hands, elbows bent at 90 degrees with palms facing your face. Shift weight onto your left leg, lifting your right leg behind you, knee bent. Hinge at
hips to lower into a single-leg squat. Hold at the bottom, then lower the weights and curl twice before pushing through your heel to rise. Complete 2–3 reps, then switch sides. MEN’S JOURNAL
Line upper back against bench, and bridge hips up, holding dumbbells with palms facing each other. Lift left leg off floor— knee bent, foot flexed, hips level. Lower dumbbells to bench (pullover). Complete 4–5 reps, then switch sides. JAN/FEB 2021
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Last Good Hall of Fame quarterback TROY AIKMAN may have retired 20 years ago, but he’s still sharpening his game. Here’s how.
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RESOLUTION INTO
.COM 2021 is a fresh start, and it's time to reset without pain. Let Tommie Copper help you turn the pain of 2020 into the power of a new year, and a new, more comfortable you.
WELLNESS
Food to Boost Your Mood Make nutrition the first line of defense against depression. by R ACHAE L SCH U LTZ
N JUNE 2020, depression
and anxiety were up threefold across America compared to the same time last year, reports the CDC. The knee-jerk reaction is too often popping a pill. What if we looked at food more methodically to engineer homeostasis within? Eating healthier can improve symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and nausea, says psychiatrist Leela Magavi. Feeling more alert and energetic can domino into other mood-boosting behaviors like exercise and self-care. What’s more, a growing body of research suggests certain nutrients may help rein in anxious feelings and curb depression.
I
Fatten Up Your Diet
People who eat a Mediterranean-like diet—high in omega-3-rich fish, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains, but low in meat and dairy—are the least likely to develop anxiety. Healthy fats lower inflammation (linked to depressive symptoms) and boost production of a specific brain protein (BDNF) that influences neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new connections and communicate effectively, says Jody Bergeron, RN. Try it: Eat fatty fish, flaxseed, walnuts, chia seeds, and avocados, or take a supplement with EPA and DHA to get up to 2,000 milligrams of omega-3 per day.
Twelve key vitamins and minerals—including iron, omega-3s, magnesium, zinc, plus vitamin C, B6 and 12—help prevent and treat depressive disorders. An international meta-analysis concluded that ingesting 90
JAN/FEB 2021
HOW TO UPLIFT YOUR DAILY INTAKE BREAKFAST: Green tea, half a grapefruit, an omelet with sautéed veggies, fresh herbs, a small amount of cheese, and olive oil, plus a side of whole-grain toast. MID-MORNING SNACK: Cottage cheese and blueberries topped with honey crunch wheat germ. LUNCH: Mexican bowl with black beans, farro, corn, red cabbage, leafy greens, avocado, salsa, and cheese.
Ditch the Sugar
Men who consume a lot of sugar are nearly a quarter more likely to develop anxiety or depression over five years, while the low-sugar DASH diet helps older adults stave off depression. Too much sweet stuff creates insulin resistance, which increases inflammation and releases chronic stress hormones, Magavi explains. Higher glucose levels slow brain cell growth and lower overall connectivity. Try it: Cut back on added sugar, at least to the RDA of 6 percent of daily calories. MEN’S JOURNAL
AFTERNOON SNACK: A few squares of 60 percent dark chocolate with almonds. DINNER: Broiled wild sockeye salmon or steamed mussels with a side of brown rice and steamed asparagus or broccoli. DESSERT: Plain Greek yogurt topped with berries and whole-grain granola.
PHOTOGRAPH BY LINDA XIAO
The Whole of It
a full spectrum (30+) can ease mood dysregulation, ADHD, aggression, and anxiety. Your gut and brain have a direct line of communication, so micronutrients impact inflammation levels and mood, Bergeron says. Vegetables and whole grains keep your gut microbiome diverse and healthy—necessary since nearly 90 percent of the happiness hormone serotonin is produced in the GI tract, she adds. Try it: Every day, load up on leafy greens, fresh herbs, whole grains (oats, farro, wild rice), quinoa, beans, nuts, cruciferous vegetables (Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage), berries, and other colorful produce. Get more probiotic foods like miso, kimchi, kombucha, and yogurt, too.
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WELLNESS
Takeout Made Tastier
Health News WORTH THE WEIGHT
MILK IT
Restful sleep sounds like an oxymoron these days, but before you pop an Ambien, consider weighted blankets. People with clinical insomnia who hit the sack with a 17-pound weighted blanket were 26 times more likely to see a 50 percent or greater decrease in insomnia symptoms, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. The time it took subjects to fall asleep also dropped from 70 minutes to a half-hour. We like SensaCalm, Gravity Blanket, and BlanQuil Chill Cooling Weighted Blanket.
After huffing through a killer workout, your post-sweat fuel matters. You’re probably apt to grab a sports drink, but what if we said your muscles would be better served by milk? Athletes who drank skim milk after a tough evening workout burned more fat the following morning. Gatorade inhibits fat breakdown in muscle, whereas the calcium and protein in milk stimulates it. What’s more, Gatorade’s higher sugar content spikes glucose levels, bad for hypertension and diabetes; the higher protein in milk offsets this effect.
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MEN’S JOURNAL
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MEN’S JOURNAL (ISSN 1063-4651), is published 6 times a year in Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep/Oct, Nov/Dec by a360 Media, LLC., 4 New York Plaza, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10004. Periodical Rates Postage Paid
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DRINKS
About time! More breweries are now making non-alcoholic beers with more flavorful depths that taste remarkably close to the real thing. by JOS H UA M . BE RN STE IN VERDOING IT on beer was too easy
moderating intake. Luckily, that no longer means giving up great-tasting beer. “Shifts in drinker perceptions and advancements in brewing technology suggest we’re on the brink of a non-alcoholic beer renaissance,” says Jim Koch, chairman of Boston Beer Company, which makes Samuel Adams beers like Just the Haze (below). These brews prove that when it comes to flavor, nothing really is something.
last year. As the pandemic and pugnacious politics upended 2020, cold IPAs were accessible salves for frayed nerves. One could quickly lead to two, four, or more—today’s stress relief bringing tomorrow’s hangover. But in a world off axis, people are increasingly looking to assert control when it comes to drinking. There’s a real trend toward abstaining from alcohol and
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Blue Moon creator Keith Villa’s second act is Ceria, a Colorado brewery focused on non-alcoholic beers made with (and without) THC. Grainwave is a medium-bodied, Belgian-inspired witbier flavored with blood orange peel and coriander and just 77 calories per serving. THC-infused brews (5mg) are available at licensed dispensaries.
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Hundreds of yeast strains were tested to create this nonalcoholic hazy IPA (nationwide release early 2021). Wheat and oats amplify the body, while Citra, Mosaic, Sabro, and Cascade hops impart a fragrant profile of pineapple, peaches, and grapefruit. The head retention and gold color are similar to the brand’s New England IPA. How wicked is that?
Clever title, eh? These guys spent a year refining its first nonalcoholic brew, which was just released this December. Like its flagship IPA, this dank little number packs a pungent profile of citrus and pine trees, since it’s dry-hopped with several Pacific Northwest hops like Citra and Columbus from the Yakima Valley. It clocks in under 100 calories, to boot.
The Japanese ran through more than 400 formulas before cracking the code on All-Free, a beer-inspired refresher made with malt barley and hops. It’s reminiscent of a seltzer, full of strong carbonation and flavor, but with zero calories, sugar, and alcohol since they nixed the fermentation process altogether. What’s more, there are no artificial flavors or sweeteners.
Meet one of America’s fastest-growing non-alcoholic breweries, thanks to a proprietary brewing process that leads to boldly flavored bevs. Upside Dawn unites organic German and American malts in a floral, 50-calorie package that drinks light and easy. As such, it’s become popular among the adventure set.
photograph by CHRIS WELLHAUSEN
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The Last Word
Bob Odenkirk The actor best known as the criminally devious lawyer in Better Call Saul is trading his leisure suits for guns & ammo in the action flick Nobody.
How’d this movie with the John Wick guys come about? Well, I had the idea of a movie about a family man who’s hidden his true self. And then there’s these break-ins and he doesn’t know what to do with his rage. And I imagine that if this guy had done some military-style actions in his past then it would be even harder to swallow his anger and desire for vengeance. Derek Kolstad, who wrote the John Wick movies, heard my pitch and said, “I get it. I want to write that guy.” That’s a big departure from Saul. To be honest, it’s a personal movie. My family experienced two break-ins and one was particularly traumatic. I think I did the right thing—tried to keep things from escalating. You have a sense of, “If I’m supposed to help my family and society by sitting quietly on my hands, what the hell? What am I supposed to do?” Probably not pull out a gun and start shooting, but in a movie… Do you own a firearm? I do not, but I’d consider it for sure. After the experience of this movie, yeah, I mean they’re machines for killing, so you should get pretty good at it before taking one home.
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JAN/FEB 2021
Favorite emoji?
Advice to your younger self?
Favorite joke?
Sexiest actress ever?
What was it like being a writer on Saturday Night Live? I didn’t have a great time at SNL. I was very young when I got hired and there’s constant stress and pressure there. It’s especially hard if you’re young. And there was a certain amount of messing with your head that goes on that doesn’t seem meaningful or necessary. Best/worst memory? The best was I wrote the mot iv at ion a l s p e a ker skit for Chris Farley. The worst? When Steven Seagal hosted.
You’ve had a varied career—must be fun. Is Walter dead? Some pe ople don’t know me from any of the comedy that I’ve done. And then some people only know me from that, and then some What’s next after Nobody? people only know me from How I Met I’m working on many different projYour Mother, which is weird. That ects right now. My life is writing and show has some diehard fans. working out, and I love it. MEN’S JOURNAL
BY JOHN QUINN
Learn any emergency situational training while preparing for the film? Yes, if you have any option to leave, you leave. That’s number one, always. I also learned a lot about working out from Daniel Bernhardt, one of the best stunt guys in Hollywood— great actor, too. I wanted to do my own fighting scenes, so I trained to be able do it without getting hurt.
RE AL QUICK
What’s your daily routine like now? I usually do a halfhour of cardio, then I’ll make a circuit and do maybe 100 squats, 100 pushups, 100 situps. There are great v ideos on YouTube that show different core exercises that I like to mix in. Then stretching, stretching, stretching.
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