'The great outdoors strips away your mask - you cannot fake it'

Mountain guide and founder of Adventurati Outdoor Fadi Hachicho on finding himself way outside his comfort zone - and embracing a new self

The number one 'item' on your wish list.
After experiencing the Alaskan wilderness while working on my guide qualification two years ago, I spent two months backpacking across the mountains and glaciers. Since then, I have been dreaming of disconnecting again for a month or two in a remote mountain range destination to go back to the wilderness. 
If you could move to any place in the world, what place would that be?  
Oh, that's easy - any outdoor enthusiast would jump to tell you: New Zealand or Patagonia. There are such majestic raw vibes to these two countries that draw you to go out and explore your physical and mental potential. They are also very unique and remote, offering an experience no other destination can.  
The biggest learning point in your life.
The mountains have taught me a lot. It might sound like a cliché but it's the truth. Who I was pre-Alaska is very different to who I became after it. Spending two months in that raw wilderness, self-dependent and disconnected from the real world, really opened my mind. I have learned to be patient. I came to discover what makes me happy and content, stripped from all the unnecessary collaterals we think are priority when they are not. Being surrounded by mountain peaks and glaciers reminds us to stay humble. We are but a speck in this world and if we are to make a difference for ourselves, we need to find our sense of direction and work towards it. The great outdoors strips away your mask. You cannot fake it. You are who you are. Stepping outside your comfort zone helps you acknowledge that and find your sense of direction, putting you in touch with what makes you truly content. 
If you won a million bucks tomorrow, what would you do with the money? 
Funny you ask. As a mountain guide, I get to meet a lot of people from all walks of life. Through the course of hikes and trails, they get to know of my shift from a corporate career to one making a living out of his passion. One of the many themes we discuss is life choices and how one can discover what their passion is. I always say, it's simple. What is one thing you are willing to do for the rest of your life if money was not a concern? Once you discover that, that is what you need to be doing. Follow your passion and the money will follow. It is not a job when you're doing what you love! For me, guiding on the mountains and connecting with like-minded people is what inspires me to grow. If I win a million bucks I will continue doing what I am doing today and worry less about my next bill. I would also be crazy not to spend that money in travelling the world and exploring my mental and physical potential. So, when can I cash this cheque, please? 
What advice would you give your younger self? 
I think this is a question we should all reflect upon every once in a while. I would advise my younger self to admire life from a different perspective. We get carried away, running behind the next best thing, and forget to live in the moment. Health and self-awakening come first. Without it, we will forever be chasing a better tomorrow when, in fact, living a better today will help us plan a better tomorrow that is more in line with what we need, not what we want. 
The most interesting app you've come across.
The most interesting app is the one I use on a regular basis that allows me to connect with other outdoor enthusiasts. Wikiloc is an app that allows you to discover and share the best outdoor trails for hiking, cycling and many other outdoor activities. I personally use it to share routes I have discovered myself and explore routes discovered by others. It is a great app to be in touch with the outdoor community locally and worldwide. 
If you could trade lives with one person for a day, who would it be and why? 
Mike Horn. He is globally acknowledged as the world's greatest modern-day explorer - from swimming the Amazon solo and unsupported, to accomplishing an unmotorised circumnavigation of the globe at the Equator. I admire his dedication as an explorer and his strength to keep himself motivated. One of my favourite quotes from him is "The impossible exists only until we find a way to make it possible." Something to live by! Challenge everything until you achieve your goal. It would be an honour to live a day in that man's life.
Favourite fictional character?
This brings out the geek in me. I am a big Marvel fan, and my favourite character is Wolverine. The animal itself is known to challenge other wild animals - often up to three times its size - and win. It has a survival attitude - something I admire. Which brings us to Wolverine, the fictional character. The ability to self-heal and live on is the ultimate power, in my opinion. Staying in good health and exploring the endless ends of this majestic world, while surviving harsh conditions, is an ability I wouldn't mind having. 
The best thing you've ever bought yourself?
I think the best thing I ever bought myself is an experience. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was a turning point in my life (a major milestone, to be precise), and one that changed my life for the better. It was after successfully summiting Kilimanjaro a few years back that I decided to quit the corporate world and climb mountains for the rest of my life.  
If you could pick a superpower, what would it be?
Too many to choose from. But if I had to narrow it down, I would choose not to feel altitude sickness, as I'd love to experience the difference in my performance. It could also be the power of invisibly crossing country borders, so I can go on climbing mountains across the world without having to worry about visas!  
- Staff Reporter