Story by Shelley Krehbiel, Photos provided by Nomad Rally
Every once in a while, you come across something that just screams, “This is for YOU!” The Nomad Rally is just that. An inclusive rally for everyone, no matter where you are. Last October, as Rebelle Rally competitor JoMarie Fecci was returning from her competition, she had plenty of time to talk to people on her way to her home in New York state. Most responses from friends that she told about the Rebelle were, “That’s so cool.” But then it was quickly followed up by other comments – it’s expensive, it’s so far, it’s so long, I have to work, I have a family, that’s not for me. Knowing what an experience the Rally was for her, JoMarie started brainstorming what a Virtual Rally could look like for others. Could they have a similar experience?
A competition that would push the competitor to try new things, to test their boundaries, to blur the lines of their comfort zones? While the Nomad Rally is virtual, it is also real. This isn’t a game played on your computer; this is a live rally done in your own territory. There are no specific trails to run or virtual checkpoints; no specific day to get everyone and the organizers together. Nope, the Nomad Rally is a 10-week competition done on your own time in your own area or anywhere else you’d like to travel.
The competition began on June 6 and will end on August 14. Available points are 5165 and are earned across the four pillars of the event. All teams have the same requirements; you must score
at least 1200 points throughout the competition to be ranked. Pillar 1 – Overland Stages. Overland stages are the core of the event; the primary goal of the Nomad Rally is to encourage travel and exploration. In other words, get outside and explore. Each stage is worth up to 100 points; 12 stages are available. Points are awarded for photos and emails submitted, and bonus points for social media posts. On a stage, you have two choices: go camping or drive a trail; those are the minimums, but how cool is it to drive a trail and go camping twelve times this summer! Pillar 2 – Activity Tasks.
Activity tasks are the skill-building section. Engaging with the outdoors is different in your driveway vs. in the woods. The activity tasks encourage competitors to explore different locations and terrain, learn about public and private lands available for exploration, be good stewards of the land, learn about the history, culture, and environmental factors affecting the landscape, and participate in various activities. Each stage has different requirements and different points to earn.
Activity tasks fall under different categories:
- Route planning and navigation
- Driving
- Visiting different locations and events
- Being a good steward of the land
- participating in backcountry adventures
Some are simple – like cooking outdoors; others require some work, like mapping a multi-leg journey. Of course, the points awarded reflect the difficulty levels.
The organizers provided a list of 150 photos to capture during the Rally. It’s likely the Photo Quest may decide the winner. It’s nearly impossible to acquire all the images required, because it would mean visiting some very different terrain. Cypress knees and Pine trees aren’t found in the same areas, just as you won’t find alligators and Big Horn Sheep together. The photos to capture fall under manmade and wild, everything from archeological sites to old cemeteries, from fluffy clouds to vehicles on the trail. The variety is fun to consider. In our travels over the years, I probably already have 95% of the pictures required, but those can’t be used. Photos must be taken during the rally period, and the rally organizers can ask for your camera roll to verify when they were taken. In addition, the pictures must be taken, not sourced, and, as if that isn’t hard enough, any animals must be wild and natural. My photo of Junior the Elk, behind his double fence, isn’t going to cut it!
Weekly Challenges. Each week, a quiz is prepared and made available to the competitors. The quizzes so far have included Winching techniques and stuck assessments, reading the weather, plotting a roadbook, and responsible land use. Each week, 100 points are on the line, and those quizzes aren’t easy! The organizers provide linked resources, and the quiz is open book, but I’ve yet to score the maximum on any weekly quiz.
The Nomad Rally is an “everyman’s” rally. Designed to challenge yourself right where you are. The first year has 42 competitors from 18 states and France, and the potential to grow. OnX Offroad and TreadLightly! are partners in this year’s events to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time while participating in the Rally within their level of skills. As with most new events, this is a test – start small and build, but I can tell you from experience that it’s a blast. I’ve always enjoyed being off-road, and now I have a mission while out there. It’s not about doing the hardest stuff; it’s more about leaning into my abilities and pushing those boundaries. So far, it’s the navigation that has been the most challenging, but if you know me, that shouldn’t surprise you at all.
Regardless of your time availability, if you regularly get outdoors, I’d recommend you sign up for the 2023 Nomad Rally; you are likely doing most of the things required already; you’ll just need to document them. Registration will open as soon as this year’s Rally completes. Hope to see you on the trail next year. If you want to follow along with what the competitors this year are doing, check out the hashtags #nomad22 #onxoffroad #treadlightly #nomadoverlandrally or their website at www.nomadoverlandrally.com
