Adventurer Spotlight #19 and WinterFest Returns for 2024

Hey there!

Here’s what is just ahead in this edition of the newsletter:

• Adventurer Spotlight #19

• WinterFest Returns for 2024

• Quick Hit Items in the Wrap-Up

🔥 Adventurer Spotlight #19 with @dino.trk

Welcome to the Adventurer Spotlight, an interview series with Adventurers from our newsletter about their life with their Subaru. Here, we learn more about the person behind the wheel and get inspired to embark on new adventures.

Before we get to this month’s feature, I’d like to thank Jason / @socialsubaru again for being in our previous Spotlight! Remember that all Spotlights are available on subieadventures.com, so if you’ve just joined recently, you can read the previous features there. Now, here’s our newest!

Introduction

Hi! My name's Chaz, I go by @dino.trk on Instagram.

Which Subaru do you own? What do you like most about it?

This is my 2022 Subaru Crosstrek; we enjoy many adventures together from off-roading, road tripping, camping, hiking, rock climbing, skiing, kayaking, anything to keep me outdoors. No matter what I want to tackle, the Crosstrek is very fitting for my active lifestyle.

Why did you choose a Subaru? How many have you owned?

I "upgraded" from a 2019 Subaru WRX. The WRX served as a daily driver for my 2001 Wrangler TJ on tons and 37s. I traded them both towards the Crosstrek, which felt like a good compromise between the two vehicles. I have the comfort of an every day vehicle with the potential to still get my tires dirty when I want. While I do wish the Crosstrek came with the same power as my WRX, at least I got to keep the stick shift. Someday, I aspire to swap the drivetrain in my Trek.

Have you made any modifications?

I had to special order to get the Base 6MT in the color I wanted and I waited almost 4 months for it to be delivered. In that 4 months I accumulated a lot of parts for my new car and it actually never left the dealership in stock form. Rolled off the trailer and onto the lift for new wheels and tires, and a list of Subaru OEM upgrades (floor mats, LED fog lights, sport grille). Then I drove it straight home and got straight to work!

Literally the same day I swapped out the headlights for custom retrofits and the next day was spent on my modular Spider Rack. I removed the back seat and made a custom sleeping & storage platform, with space for my fridge, second battery system and added outlets around the car, and weBoost and Midland radio for constant communications off grid. I was getting geared up for a road trip. A big road trip!

I run a full set of Asfir Skid Plates (engine, trans, differential). My only suspension modifications so far are Rallitek overload coils (with 0.5" lift in the rear) and both sway bars deleted. 15" Sparco Terra rims wrapped in 215/75r15 BFG KO2s, Mishimoto aluminum lug nuts. My modular Spider Rack has has a few "forms"; my most recent and best including a 102L 23Zero case, 180° Peregrine awning and shower stall also by 23Zero, an 8 gallon water tank/shower from TheWaterPort, and Bunker Industries traction boards. I have custom rotopax wing mounts on the sides, and a weBoost and Midland GMRS antennas as well.

I am working on some better lighting for the rack, but have previously had a CaliRaised 40" light bar. I bought LED headlights off a Limited trim Crosstrek and removed the lenses to make a few modifications, these are by far one of my favorite modifications. Also LED fog lights from a Limited trim Crosstrek. I have a modified factory "sport" grille and I removed some of the mesh and painted gloss black. I also added 4 raptor lights (these were orange, but recently switched them for white), Diode Dynamics ss1s put into the rear reflectors, EcoHitch stealth hitch with a Factor55 recovery point. I've wrapped the hood and few other pieces on the car gloss black.

The interior has a full patch headliner (89 and counting and most are from National Parks and places I visit), custom shift boots, shift knob and e-brake handle. I put a Ram Mount rail on the dash for radio mic, GoPro mount, and phone, and have OrbisOverlanding center console molle, and JBL speakers in the doors.

What would you like to add to your setup?

I've owned the Trek for a short 18 months, and I definitely don't foresee getting rid of it anytime soon. Keeping that in mind, I'm just getting started and I foresee custom tube bumpers, rock sliders, vinyl wrap, full solar/second battery power setup, and hopefully a full STI drivetrain swap in its future..

Favorite road trip? Or favorite thing to do in your Subaru?

I chose not to renew my seasonal work contract for the Summer in hopes of traveling around the US. I am not much of a planner, but I knew I wanted to see as many National Parks as I could and I would have until the Winter work season started to cram them in. So in about 18 weeks, we averaged 1,000 miles a week for a total of 18,250 miles, and hit 38 National Parks, 7 National Monuments, and every place in between. We saw a lot within that short time.

Some highlights would include:

• Moab - Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, camped along the Colorado River and traversed Potash Road to Shaeffer Canyon and also Gemini Bridges.

• SoCal (Mojave desert) - Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, spent a lot of time in Mojave National Preserve too. The Trek completed the Mojave Trail, a Jeep Badge of Honor, as well as several other unnamed trails in the Preserve.

• Washington State - Snoqualmie pass, Mount Rainier National park, camped on the bank of the Hoh River, Hoh rainforest in Olympic National Park. Driving along the lost coast was for sure one of my favorite drives!

• Yellowstone & the Tetons - Remote camping in Montana near Yellowstone had some incredible views, campsite outside of the Tetons also boasted a perfect view of the entire range. Was in Yellowstone for the 100th anniversary too, so that was pretty special (as a National Park Geek).

Have a favorite picture of your car?

This one!

What, if anything, would you do differently, or change, about your Subie?

46,000 miles into my Trek now and I am incredibly happy with the vehicle. Aside from oil changes & tire rotations every 3,000 miles and routine maintenance, I haven't put a penny into fixing the car. It runs and drives great, does everything I need it to do and more. Couldn't be happier with my Subaru!

Thank you Chaz for being in the Spotlight and sharing your Subie story with us!

🏂️ WinterFest 2024 Announced

Subaru of America is bringing back its annual mountain tour, Subaru WinterFest, starting in February in Vermont. Live music from bands, including Cold War Kids, will be featured at each event, and also gear demos and the WinterFest village.

Subaru owners will also receive VIP parking and gifts while supplies last. Here’s the full schedule:

Feb 2-4 Killington Ski Resort, VT

Feb 23-25 Copper Mountain Resort, CO

Mar 2-3 Eldora Mountain Resort, CO

Mar 23-24 Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA

Apr 5-7 Snowbird Ski Resort, UT

Apr 12-14 Mt. Bachelor, OR

Get all the details on the WinterFest site at https://www.subaru.com/winterfest.html.

Bonus: The WinterFest image makes a sweet wallpaper for your iPad/tablet or Mac/PC! You can get the full-size image on Subaru’s media site.

🎁 The Wrap-Up

⚙️ What is Subaru X-Mode? Find out the details in this explainer from Subaru.

📺️ 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness - POV Off-Road Driving Impressions from TheTopher.

🏎️ It Took a Subaru Rally Team to Turn the Ferrari 550 Into an Icon from Road & Track.

That’s it for this edition!

Tom Anderson
Subie Adventures