Tag: people

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AWIU #012 – Brett Cifaldi

Every week, we ask an Adventurist Who Inspires Us (AWIU) the same three questions. How much do we have in common?

Brett Cifaldi
Cover: Instructor and Guide
Location: Corona, CA, USA

MODALITY / SPECIALIZATIONS
Truck, OHV, Hike

OVERVIEW

What makes an adventure truly remarkable or meaningful, and why do you seek that? In other words, why must you go?

For me it’s never been about the destination but the experience, however I didn’t always understand that. I spent 8 years in the Air Force and I’d been all over the world, from Alaska to McMurdo Station in Antarctica. I always enjoyed the travel so when I got out I tried to duplicate that to the best of my ability. There were a lot of solo adventures, sadly they always lacked something. It took me a long time to figure out what exactly it was that was lacking. I finally figured out that it was people to share the experience with. Now it’s always about the company I keep and who I share those memories and experiences with.

STRENGTHS

When are you most confident while on your adventures and what makes that possible?

My thirst for knowledge, always researching how things are done and then applying those tools, adapting them to work for me as well as being able to teach others so it works for them. I am a firm believer everyone should know how to do every role on a trip. Whether it be trip planning, spotter over rough terrain or something as simple as showing someone how to pack up their gear properly for safe storage, these task are all important and should be treated as such.

I am the point man for this year’s big winter trip, I was either volunteered or voluntold (still unsure) but to me it tells me that the group is confident in my ability to do that task and I feel it’s for the reasons I stated above but I’m also just as comfortable that when I am not point I can casually take a step back and assist in any way needed.

WEAKNESSES

Be honest, now, where do you feel least confident?

I feel my biggest weakness has to do with the mechanics of and possible repair of the truck if something catastrophic should happen. I have always felt this way and it’s a constant underlying concern. I don’t have enough personal experience diagnosing and repairing what’s wrong with vehicles to feel that beyond a shadow of a doubt that if something broke I could necessarily get it up and moving again. That’s not as critical on a day trip but its severe on some of these longer interior type trips we do.

KNOWN LOCATIONS (most recent 3 adventures)

  • 07/16: Pioneer Town, CA to Big Bear, CA via Heartbreak Ridge, Pontiac Sluice through Burns Canyon to Jacoby Canyon and pop out at Holcomb dropping us down into Big Bear itself, leading a pack of 8 other trucks who had never done that set of trails. That’s always an adventure.
  • 05/16: Overland Expo West: My first Overland Expo! Met some new friends and generally just had fun.
  • 12/15: American Adventurist Death Valley Expedition – DVX15, the first half of that trip report is featured in Adventurist Life and the second half should be dropping soon.
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AWIU #008 – Richard Soohoo

Every week, we ask an Adventurist Who Inspires Us (AWIU) the same three questions. How much do we have in common?

Richard Soohoo
Cover: Industrial Designer
Location: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, USA

MODALITY / SPECIALIZATIONS
Truck, hiking, soon-to-be ADV Moto

SITE: AmericanAdventurist.com

OVERVIEW

What makes an adventure truly remarkable or meaningful, and why do you seek that? In other words, why must you go?

Living to work? Or working to live? It’s a question which constantly brings me back from the tunnel vision of society.

Having to deal with the hustle and bustle of urban life every single day really puts things into perspective. It gives me the sense that there is much more on this Earth for us to take in and enjoy while we are living and breathing on our short stint of life. The even better aspect is being able to share it with my fiancee, Deanna. She’s never been out of the Los Angeles bubble, not until she met me and we began our adventures together. For myself, I’ve always been camping with family ever since I was a little boy and it’s stuck to me since. Being able to show Deanna what truly is out there beyond the county lines really gives both of us the satisfaction of being among nature and all of its wonders. Then it hit both of us that you really don’t need much to live a great life.

STRENGTHS

When are you most confident while on your adventures and what makes that possible?

I thoroughly enjoy trip planning. Laying out locations, distances, itineraries, timelines, etc., gives me goosebumps. Call it weird but there is a joy to compiling information and laying out a plan. Even though I create these plans for us to use, sometimes the plans go out the window from unforeseen circumstances and the ability to adapt and improvise on the fly kicks in. Having that set schedule, yet having it able to adjust itself makes it fun.

After being on a number of trips, I was able to organize my gear a lot better, and throw out all the unnecessary bloatware that didn’t need to be there, yet obtain necessary efficient items that did need to stay. With all the necessary organization, my self-sufficiency increased a number of times. I’m at a point where all I need to do is go shopping for food, throw it in the truck, and off I go.

WEAKNESSES

Be honest, now, where do you feel least confident?

I feel least confident in self-recovery because of my limited knowledge and skills. I have not been in a situation where I have gotten that stuck that I needed a combination of tools. Even my recovery bag only allows for one other rig to be available to pull me out should the situation arise. A pair of TREDs, which I’ve got, can be great, but only go so far… where a winch can be more versatile, which I have yet to get.

A big limiting factor of my trips is the vehicle itself. Open diffs, no skid plates, little power really keeps me on the more tamer trails. Even though I’ve got pretty darn good ground clearance, I still worry about the underside. Skids and a winch are definitely on the list.

KNOWN LOCATIONS (most recent 3 adventures)

  • 05-2016 – OXW15 – 3-day 2-night: Trip to Mormon Lake, AZ for Overland Expo.
  • 02/2016 – DRV16 – 3-day 2-night: An American Adventurist hosted event in the desert of Anza Borrego, CA.
  • 12/2015 – DVX15 – 5-day 4-night adventure in Death Valley with a number of other rigs, multiple campsite location nightly (featured on Adventurist Life).