THE GUIDE
HOW TO TAKE THE GREATEST PHOTO IN THE WORLD  
Add the secrets of our very best photographers to your bag of tricks.

LAST VOYAGE OF THE CÚLIN  
Retired carpenter John Long had planned to sail from San Francisco to Ireland, but his battered body was discovered off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico, instead. Tragic accident—or something far darker? David Vann investigates.

THE NEW AMERICAN LIFE LIST  
Some cranks call America one big parking lot, but they've got their heads in the cement. Behold, 50 pristine peaks, remote rivers, concealed cabins, and more, all of them off the radar. Until now. PLUS: Harrison Ford on how to get lost in an overwired world.

THEY SHOOT TRIATHLETES, DON'T THEY?
Critics say controversial coach Brett Sutton, locked away in a compound in the Philippines, pushes his elite athletes to the brink. But no one is arguing with the results.
By T. J. Murphy

THE CABIN OF MY DREAMS
In which Patrick Symmes pursues that Arcadian ideal, a faraway hideout in the manner of Thoreau's shack (but forgets to take into account the Latin sense of time, group dynamics, and volcanoes).

DEPARTMENTS
DISPATCHES
»  First Look: DC Shoes co-founder Ken Block gets behind the rally-racing wheel    
»  News from the Field: Bradford Washburn's camera blasts into orbit
»  The Drawing Board: In the zoo of tomorrow, the humans will be stuck behind bars
»  Epics: The descendants of Shackleton's crew try to take care of unfinished business
»  Books: Thomas Friedman dishes on just how screwed up our energy policy is; a look inside ski star Kye Petersen's toughest run
»  Media: Original castaway Robinson Crusoe hits prime time

DESTINATIONS
»  Spot On: Steamboat Springs, Colorado—the next big fishing getaway?
»  Get Lost: Food trip! Dig in (literally) to the harvest season's best eats, from the Cascades to the Maine coast.
»  The Weekend Plan: Adventure travel can be hard. Here's how to cheat. Plus: Ben Harper's guide to Austin City Limits.

STYLE
Walk softly with comfortable, rugged kicks for the backyard or office

THE ESSENTIALS
Cars: Automakers are being forced to smarten up and slim down. It's about time. We pick the best of the new lot.

BODYWORK
The Master Plan: Skiing and snowboarding. All the exercises, gear, and tricks you need for your best winter yet.

COLUMNS
THE BIG IDEA
The case for American motorcycle taxis
By Matthew Fishbane

CODE GREEN  
The government is opening up our western wilderness for oil and gas drilling at an unprecedented rate. Will McCain or Obama stop the bleeding?
By Elizabeth Hightower

THE LAB RAT
Is this parkour craze for real? Our man goes off the wall to find out.
By Nick Heil