We had the good fortune of connecting with Ahmed Pierstorff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ahmed, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
We don’t endorse hustle culture. It’s not sustainable. We are invigorated by purpose and reigned in by responsibility. Growing an idea or a community or a business is wonderful, but not if we lose ourselves in the process. If we are going without sleep, eating the wrong things, missing out on family time, or otherwise proving remiss in the fulfillment of our obligations, our aspiration has devolved into distraction. Within the parameters of extant responsibilities, we build. And we do our best to remain focused on process over results. It’s counterintuitive, but results will only tell you if what your are doing has commercial viability. Results will not tell you if you’ve lost your integrity in the process. By remaining mindful of our process we stay true to our intention and any results are taken as a kind of grace.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Dust and Tribe curates unique expeditionary experiences and offers peer support for the rootless wanderers of the world. Through persistent invitations to get outside and into adventure, we have over the last nine years evolved into a very small but enthusiastic community of wilderness enthusiasts. For many of them, a Dust and Tribe adventure was their first experience with outdoor recreation. Leveraging our affiliation with the Islamic community, a faith-tradition characterized by spectacular ethnic diversity, we foster a warm and culturally-sensitive environment that allows women and men to participate in activities they may have previously felt excluded from. Open to all creeds, all of our events are alcohol-free and an atmosphere of humility and modesty is encouraged. Time is set aside for ritual prayers. Our time outside is framed as a kind of essential refreshment, a way of reestablishing our relationship with the wider world and deriving purpose from that invigorated connection. We’re not here for adrenaline junkies. We don’t encourage braggarts or bravado. We are here for the seekers. We host events that build confidence and strengthen bonds. Through novel practices like co-creation and clan work, a Dust and Tribe adventure is transformed into a shared enterprise that everyone can feel good about and build on long after returning home. Whether kayak camping, llama trekking, backpacking, rock-climbing, or learning how to hunt or surf, our mandate is to engage body, heart, mind, and spirit. We consistently create exciting opportunities to engage the wilderness while providing the support and mentorship to fully prepare participants for the experience. Learning that Dust and Tribe is not for everybody is an ongoing lesson. There are those for whom the wilderness remains something to be “conquered.” There are those looking for the ultimate backdrop for their social media feed. There are those who prefer to encounter the wilderness alone as a personal test of their strength and fortitude. And while we appreciate the different perspectives and goals people may have, our greatest challenge is to identify the latent spirit of adventure in those individuals who may not see themselves as risk-takers. Reminding our audience that we are all in this wild world together is one way to invite others to join us and share in that risk.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Our first stop (more likely the first of many repeat stops) would be the Pura Vida Halal Mexican diner in Carson. Within 20-30 minutes from LAX, there is no better place to eat after a long flight. A scenic drive through the Palos Verdes peninsula is a wonderful and oft-neglected warm-up excursion with plenty of opportunities for impromptu hikes and beach-combing. Watching the sunset from the overlook at Del Cerro park is a breezy finish. Dust and Tribe is all about the outdoors, so the rest of the week would be built around the numerous trekking opportunities through the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Gabriel Mountains, the hills and valleys of the Inland Empire, the San Bernardino Mountains, and the Seussian landscape of Joshua Tree National Park. If the day’s trails have us passing through the South Orange County area, a morning pit-stop at Kéan Coffee is a must, as would be an evening bonfire at Corona Del Mar State Beach. And if we happen to adventuring near the San Fernando Valley, there is no better start than coffee and baked goods from North Hollywood’s Republic of Pie and no better dinner than a Neapolitan-style pizza from 786 Degrees in Sun Valley. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Holding fast to principles over profits is certainly a holdover from my skater-punk days and years of listening to Minor Threat, Fugazi, and Ian MacKaye interviews. And all of that has only been reinforced through 12-step spirituality and my Islamic faith community. My four daughters are without a doubt the basis for launching a wilderness adventure community. I knew that I didn’t want them growing up on TV and trash-pop. I wanted them outside and I wanted them to have loads of friends to share those experiences with.

Website: https://dustandtribe.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustandtribe/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsi_xHm6XQY7qOv3iT3ibgw

Image Credits
Mediha DiMartino Todd Gallinger

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.