Sommaire pour Fall 2020 de Sunset

The camping issue is one of our favorites to produce every year, and judging by your letters it’s also one of your favorites to read. So this year, we kicked things up a notch or two: We went to Mars. Well, we went to a Hipcamp site called “Mars on Earth,” anyway. They filmed an episode of Star Trek there once and for being so close to Los Angeles you might as well be on a martian buggy. Once the driveway ends, you’re blasting over a series of sandstone boulders with otherworldly vistas. The whole point, beyond satisfying a latent curiosity for this Hollywood connection, was to roam near home. This was out of necessity: We needed a spot close enough to a major city that we could all pull…

Years before Matt Horn served brisket so tender and perfectly ringed with the pink stain of oak smoke that it inspired people to happily wait in line for 45 minutes, the barbecue chef would drive three hours from Los Angeles to Fresno to hone his craft—without an instruction manual, a mentor, or even a thermometer. Horn taught himself the art of slow and low on his grandfather's old pit, so beat up that smoke would billow out its sides, a wad of foil jammed into a hole where the thermometer used to be. It was in this cooker Horn put his hand to get a feel for the proper heat and learned to intuit temperature, time, and transformation. “I’d be standing there with my eyes closed,” Horn remembers. “My wife…

It was two months into lockdown and Kendra Anderson wanted a vacation badly. The owner of Denver’s Bar Helix had, as many bar and restaurant owners in the pandemic, pivoted her business model twice only to have to shut it down when it turned out not to be sustainable. Bar Helix was a rarity in Denver, as well as in the American cocktail industry: opened in 2017, it was the only bar outside of New York city dedicated to the Italian cocktail the Negroni; and it was owned by a Black woman, nearly as rare in the male-dominated field. Bar Helix had won awards—and won over Denverites. When it shut down, Anderson was discouraged but undeterred. A restorative planning trip to Tulum with her staff was the dream. Travel restrictions…

On Friday, May 29, four days after the murder of George Floyd, and the morning after Minneapolis exploded, I stood barefoot on a blonde beach in Southern California and gazed toward a gathering of common dolphins. First a few dorsal fins appeared, then there were a dozen and then hundreds. Suddenly, it was a stampede, a migration. Babies leapt from the water, clearing the ocean from nose to tail. Adults charged with velocity, surfed three-foot swells and their own wake. The super pod stretched from end to end for more than a mile. The night before I’d watched a police precinct, and the surrounding blocks burn on television. Smoke gathered over and around livid protesters like a grief inferno. Justifiable rage would soon be unleashed like rubber bullets and batons,…

Robust mountain ranges, lush glades fed by sky-high waterfalls, farm-to-table feasts and unbeatable breweries, cider makers, and distilleries mean that Central Oregon is one of the best bets for an action-packed weekend. And while there’s uncertainty around COVID-19 on everyone’s mind, one thing remains the same--the wide open spaces and natural phenomena there remain rock solid for recreation. Here’s your checklist for the ultimate agenda. Fool a fish, or be fooled by a fish Fly fishing in Central Oregon means gorgeous streams, wily trout, and wonderful local experts like the Bend Fly Shop just north of brewery row in Bend. Stop in for a consult and Chris and Cairn will steer you toward your new favorite stretch of water—literally, if you opt for a guided session. bendflyshop.com Witness the standing…

RULE 1 Leave the glass at home. Even if you're car camping, lugging breakables can be dangerous. We love the 6-piece nesting Stanley set shown above ($30, stanley-pmi.com) which includes two cups, a jigger, a juicer, a shaker, and a strainer. RULE 2 Prep mixers before you go. Pour off small plastic bottles of simple syrup; ask for Angostura Bitters minis at the liquor store, toss a can of seltzer or two in the bottom of your bag. RULE 3 Lean on fruit and citrus. Peaches and strawberries; blueberries and mint; lemons and limes: sure, they might get smashed a bit in your pack—even if you layer them on the top—but that's pre-muddled in our book. RULE 4 Mix it up. Many drinks use the ratio 2:1:1 Liquor:Tart:Sweet. We build…

TAKE A TRAIL WITH A REWARD AND INDULGE THEIR CURIOSITY Keep the kids motivated by letting them know that you actually have a goal, such as a waterfall or view. Stay spontaneous. When something grabs the kids’ attention, follow their lead. SET A REASONABLE PACE Frequent stops for drinks and snacks will reduce the risk of burnout. KEEP EVERYONE TOGETHER There are the unlikely megahazards—mountain lions and bears—but also a whole host of lesser dangers that can ruin a hike: cactus spines, poison oak, and skunks. Don’t let the kids run ahead or fall too far behind. Give them a whistle to blow in case you get separated. HIKING TIP: GO WITH A RANGER National and state parks often conduct outings led by rangers. Sometimes just being part of a…

A Toast to the Coast How a top garden designer helped transform a mid-century home into the ultimate coastal retreat After decades of visiting his relatives near San Diego, William T. Georgis felt the call of the West Coast. Living in New York City, Georgis and his late husband Richard Marshall longed for the humbler, quieter counterpoint of Southern California. “Coming here as a child in the dead of winter and seeing fruiting citrus trees was revelatory. I have a Greek background and the Mediterranean feel resonated within my blood.” The couple found a mid-century modern house slated to be demolished by a developer. When it went into foreclosure, Georgis saw the good bones, the indoor-outdoor quality, and the appeal of the lot situated 45 feet above sea level and…

Kelsey Sheofsky is no stranger to enjoying the great outdoors in beautiful ways—in fact it’s both her profession and personal passion. In 2012 she and her husband founded Shelter Co., the Bay Area-based luxury tent and pop-up event company. Even while busy running their own company, the couple always made it a point to get outside. “We lived in San Francisco for 15 years,” says Sheofsky. “But we always spent a lot of time in the Russian River area to escape from the city and get back to nature.” That love for a more bucolic environment was only furthered when the couple accidentally stumbled upon a listing on Craigslist for a home in Russian River. “It seemed like a crazy idea to use a rental house as a vacation home…

DRAGON ALLIANCE ARIA The first female-specific frame from this long-time lensmaker is built from plant-based resin—castor plants, to be specific. We love the lumalens technology, which cuts glare, amplifies light, and intensifies clarity for a high def world view. $129, dragonalliance.com MAHO POSITANO With the angles of a wayfarer and the metal temple of an aviator, this frame flatters any face. Vacation? Stay-cation? We’re wearing these either way. $170, mahoshades.com SMITH PREP A classic in the Smith line since 1988, these frames are timeless. The only update: the carbonic lens, which is impact resistant, and the range of colors to choose from. $139, smithoptics.com SPY OPTIC SPRITZER Grab some attention while you’re catching rays with this bright pair of beamblockers. The “Grilamid” construction will help them last longer—but at the…

One of the most amazing places I've ever visited is Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Islands. The majority of the land is managed by The Ounalashka Corporation, the tribal organization there. So it's the first place to stop to get a land use permit be - fore hiking. The island is spotted with WWII bunkers, amazing fishing, snow melt waterfalls, bald eagles, and foxes. In the summer, nights are short and everything turns green in about a week. Cotton flowers, edible lilies, and other wildflowers pop out among the tufts of grass. I remember it smelling like damp earth and wormwood. It is the first place I ever experienced how soft the spongy plants of the tundra really are. One night, I fell asleep in the dusky light of midnight…

I’m a big fan of nostalgia, and I can usually tell when I’m in a time and place that will evoke it in the future. Sometimes it’s about what you’re doing or where you are, but it’s almost a guarantee in the rare times when one of my kids (now teenagers) wants to tag along with their old man. There’s a chain of lakes only an hour and a half drive from VSSL HQ in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The first of the four lakes is easy to access, but the portage between the lakes makes the other three really remote. The unmarked camp spots along the last lake are about as good as you’ll ever get. But it’s the work that it takes to get there that keeps it remote…

WASHINGTON Inn at the Market This long-time staff favorite overlooks the iconic waterfront and stands alone as a boutique property. Ask for a third floor room with a water view and the floor-to-ceiling expanse of the bay will have you floating when you draw back the curtains each morning. You’re also within fish-tossing distance of some of our favorites on that side of town: Sushi Kashiba and the cocktail classic the Tip Top Cafe just down the stairs, and for shopping there’s the Fjallraven store just across the street. Pop into Storyville Coffee in the Pike Place market for an architectural and espresso experience not to be missed. Up the street, check in to the craft beer scene at Cloudburst Brewing or trek just a bit north to visit Holy…

MAKING KINDLING To cut wood into thin, flammable pieces, lay the edge of the hatchet or ax on the end of the wood, parallel to the grain, then strike them against your chopping block. THE TEPEE Begin with crumpled newspaper or tinder, then lay on plenty of kindling. Start your tepee by forming a tripod with three stout sticks and then fill it in, leaving a gap to allow wind to enter and circulate. THE LOG CABIN Start with a generous amount of crumpled newspaper and kindling, making sure it will burn the wood. Once the fire’s established, add one or two of your largest chunks of wood. Remember: Never leave a campfire unattended. PUT IT OUT Stop adding fuel at least an hour before you plan to leave camp.…

Quench Your Thirst Unless you've been living like a sasquatch, you're familiar with the brawny, vacuum-insulated brand and its long-haul chilling abilities. This stainless-sided wonder takes the tech to the next level, adding hours of insulation and durability to boot. The machined clasp is a classy swap for the stretchy rubber closures on its brethren. Pricey, but so is dysentery.$800, yeti.com What We're Drinking Pack your cooler with the finest. Shown here: beers from Modern Times (moderntimes.com; locations up and down the coast); Humble Sea Brewing (humbleseabrewing.com; Santa Cruz); a Willammette Valley Chardonnay from Walter Scott (walterscottwine.com) a Brut Rose sparkler from Napa's Inman Family Wines (inmanfamilywines.com); and a Pinot Gris from Chehalem Winery (chehalemwines.com). Oh, and Pacifico, of course.…

On the eastern shore of Washington’s Hood Canal, architect Matt Wittman and his team at Wittman Estes found themselves facing a daunting project: a 1940s beach house was in major need of updates and the homeowners wanted to keep the delicate landscape and ecosystem around the home intact—while also making it large enough to house both themselves and their multi-generational family. With help of Jack Colgrove Construction as the builder, Wittman and his team worked on a plan to double the livable area without harming the sensitive shore that surrounds the property. The solution was minimalist in both design and impact: two shifting wings that provide additional living space now hover over the hillside and beach, supported by thin steel columns and pin piles to keep the footprint of the…

With its lush scenery and storied history, the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast in British Columbia, Canada, remains one of the best camping sites in the west. What’s great about this region is that explorers can hike over centuries old, horse-packed trails that follow the natural contours of the mountains, forest and meadows. The landscape is never-ending and ever-changing, and regardless of where you choose to set up camp, you’ll be nestled amidst a backdrop of jagged, rocky peaks and crystal-clear mountain lakes. The area transports you back to simpler times, wh ere you can immerse yourself fully in nature’s beauty and thoroughly enjoy the camping experience. If you’re keen on exploring the Chilcotins, Arc’teryx Trips has developed an itinerary that will take participants on a running tour of the South Chilcotin…

BEST EVERYDAY BOOT Vasque Breeze LT GTX The mark of an everyday hiker is how much you want to wear it—even when you’re not on the trail. We’ve found ourselves stepping into this boot for grocery runs: It’s comfy, and it looks great, so why not rock it as a daily? $180, vasque.com BEST CASUAL HIKER Teva Women’s Gateway Mid Water resistant and surefooted thanks to the rubberized sole, this around town boot is great for road trips and day hikes alike. $110, teva.com BEST ADVENTURE SANDAL Birkenstock Atacama One of the most comfortable sandals comes with an achilles heel: the cork footbed can be damaged by rubble on the trail. That’s why Birkenstock created this line of adventure sandals. Thanks to the burly protective layer underneath, the cork stays…

Buy small, packaged items to conserve space Assemble a camping box with utensils, matches, a cutting board, and other necessities Pack food frozen so it acts as ice and keeps fresh longer Buy vacuum-sealed meat to prevent leaks or use zip-lock plastic bags Choose sturdy produce (cabbage stays fresh longer than lettuce; apples keep better than strawberries) Purchase bagged vegetables to save time Choose quick-cooking items like rice noodles to save fuel; cut other items into small pieces so they cook quickly Cook once, eat twice. Leftovers are tomorrow’s food When you’re ready to clean up, choose environmentally friendly cleaners and follow directions for disposal DOWNLOAD THE Sunset APP FOR EXCLUSIVE CAMPING CONTENT Camp Kitchen Basics; Amazing (and easy!) Recipes; Packing a Cooler; Camp Grill Basics; Caring for Cast Iron; DIY trail snacks;…

First, always check with rangers or administrators about seasonal water flow before heading out. Understand tidal flow and the impact of recent or expected rain on water level surges. Ask about any problem areas. For proper gear, bring spare footwear that may get soaked. Walking through a shallow stream may be safer than tightroping across a wet log. Pack a lightweight micro-fiber towel to dry your feet, and use trekking poles to create added stability and test water depth. Additionally, convertible, zip-off pants help avoid extra drag during and after crossing water. Assess the current. Throw a branch into the stream to determine its speed and inspect to see if debris, such as logs, are surging with the current. Never attempt to cross a fast moving stream. The best spots…