Adventurer Spotlight #4

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

New Spotlights are posted on a regular basis; follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my free newsletter to stay up-to-date.

👋 Introduction

Hi!

My name is Betsy, and my Instagram handle is @basaltic_outback. I am currently a Subaru Ambassador.

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

I own 2 Subarus, a 2014 Outback 2.5i Limited/Special Appearance Package (OG Touring) named Basalt and a 2020 Legacy Touring XT named Ria. For this feature, I will be discussing my Outback which is on the unique side. I love both of my Subarus, but my Outback is my most versatile of the two Subarus whether it is overlanding, hauling stuff, or volunteering at rallies.

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

I got involved with Subaru back in 1999 while I was attending college at CU-Boulder due to needing a reliable form of transportation to go to the barn to attend to my horse no matter what the weather was. I am sure that many Subaru owners are aware that there are a ton of Subarus in Colorado. After graduating my Bachelor’s degree, I moved to Oregon which is another Subaru dominated state. In all, I have owned 5 Subarus (2 Outbacks and 3 Legacies).

🔧 Have you made any modifications?

My Outback has a nice blend of Subaru accessories and aftermarket parts so that I could become an overlander. Most of the aftermarket modifications are from Rallitek, the car’s sponsor. In fact, it has most if not all the available modifications for this generation from Rallitek. The rest of the modifications come from Rally Innovations, Diode Dynamics, Rally Armor, just to name a few. Some of the accents include the overlays from Accentrek and Hope Orsini. The most recognizable feature of the car is its topographic map and Pacific Northwest inspired design on its side.

➕ What would you like to add to your setup?

The next modifications are adding a tow hitch and bike rack. If I wanted to be really ambitious, I would love to add a winch on the front bumper which I believe would complete the whole overlanding look.

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

Favorite road trip? Hmm…most of my journeys have been wonderful with this special vehicle. I tend to car camp in the Outback with my Luno setup. However, one adventure was not enjoyable at all. In a nutshell, I accidentally hit a stump and had to limp my lifted Outback home. I had to adapt to the situation, but it proved how capable and reliable the Outback is. My highlight with the vehicle was when it was showcased at Overland Expo Mtn West 2022 with the more well-known overlanding vehicles.

🥰 What’s your favorite picture of your car?

My favorite picture of my overlanding Outback is hard to pick…

🎁 Wrap Up

Thank you Betsy for being in the Spotlight and sharing your Subie story with us! Your Outback looks great and you’re definitely living the Subaru lifestyle. Be sure to follow Betsy on Instagram @basaltic_outback to keep up with future adventures.

There will be another Spotlight in January, and if you’d like to be featured in a future edition, reach out to me! Keep in mind features are exclusive to subscribers of the free Subie Adventures newsletter. Not yet subscribed? You can do that today!

🖼️ Image Gallery

Images are copyright Betsy (@basaltic_outback), used by permission. New Spotlights are posted on a regular basis; follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my free newsletter to stay up to date.