NOTES FROM THE ROAD


< more recent | MAY 2014 | older >


Overland Expo: Camel Trophy Skills
Learning field fixes and problem solving from the best…



17 MAY 2014: One of my favorite features at Overland Expo is the “Camel Trophy” area, where a team of Camel Trophy winners demonstrate various field fixes and techniques for problem solving in the bush. The demonstrations are “hands-on” and the guys are happy to teach attendees how to use these same techniques to build solutions for all kind of situations that could occur out in the field. It is a little bit of “survival skills” meets engineering, and I always learn something new…



Overland Expo: The Obstacle Course
Test driving some big trucks…



16 MAY 2014: Spent some time at Overland Expo, an international event that educates and inspires people to get out and explore the world. The three-day event brings thousands of overlanders to Flagstaff, AZ for a chance to connect and exchange information. There was even the opportunity to test out the brand new Ram Powerwagon’s offroad capabilities on the obstacle course, where I was able to compare it with the Jeep Rubicon and the Landrover LR4…



Enjoying Sedona Trails
Revisiting some favorite trails…


AZ_MAY2014_Expo_SedonaJeepScnebly_DSCN0651_650w


15 MAY 2014: Enjoying the trails around Sedona while en route to Overland Expo. Stringing together the Schnebly Hill Road area trails with another set of Forest Service roads on the other side of I-17, I can almost do the entire trip “off-pavement.” Makes for a fun drive with some amazing scenery…



Deeper Water and Plenty of Mud
Taking it up a notch…



4 MAY 2014: Having more fun at Rausch Creek practicing deep water crossings, complicated rocks and steep hills. Working on increasingly difficult blue and black trails, as well as some sections of the property that are not open to the public. Expanding capabilities for troubleshooting tactical scenarios, too…



PREVIOUS NOTES FROM THE ROAD >


COMING UP SOON:
UpNext-bantam_02
USnomads is going to Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival in Butler PA. The tribute event to all things Jeep, with activities, competitions, trail runs and the signature “Jeep Invasion” which takes place downtown.


TEAM 171 PRESENTATION



USnomads, c’est l’histoire d’une amitié de plus de 20 ans, qui s’est construite à travers le temps, les cultures, les expériences de la vie et des voyages. Seule l’union de deux caractères forts et respectueux l’un de l’autre explique que nous soyons arrivées à nos fins dans chacun de nos défis.

Ceci est notre première participation au Rallye des gazelles et nous ne sommes pas des professionels, mais JoMarie a une certaine expérience de l’Afrique et des situations d’urgence. D’autre part, elle s’est totalement investie dans la préparation de cette course et Isabelle s’est récemment mise à la navigation.

Le Rallye des gazelles dans le désert marocain sera le théâtre d’une nouvelle épreuve pour nous : une Jeep, une boussole, une carte et tout le pouvoir de notre volonté d’y parvenir fera le reste.

Ce défi sportif s’inscrit dans un projet humain plus large, celui de traverser le désert du Sahara d’Ouest en Est dans l’espoir d’accompagner les équipes d’ONG dans leurs micro-projets d’aide aux peuplades nomades locales. JoMarie en produira un film documentaire qui donnera à mieux connaitre les hommes de cette partie du monde.

L’équipe 171 prendra fièrement son envol le 15 mars 2014 avec toutes les autres participantes ! Et que les meilleures gagnent !

Mais quelle valeur et quelle portée aurait cette leçon de vie, si nous n’étions pas soutenues par l’amour de nos proches, de nos amis et de tous ceux qui nous entourent. Merci !


SUPPORTING MOTHERS

Team USnomads is proud to support the work of MothersToMothers, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that recognizes the ability of mothers to change their destiny. MothersToMothers, founded by Pamela Parlapiano, partners with local women to create community supported day care and learning centers that change lives. Their model project in Amacho Wato Kebele, Ethiopia, has shown how with just a little help, the mothers in the community can improve the lives of a whole village. Please join us in supporting their efforts to take this successful model to more villages: Donate to MothersToMothers here. (Note that all donations go 100% directly to MothersToMothers).


CURRENT WEATHER


Nesconset | Rausch Creek | Sedona



MORE NOTES FROM THE ROAD:
April – Back Home
The Gazelle Rally Recap
Archive


FEATURE

Slider_blog_front_usRAG14

GAZELLE RALLY RECAP

In March 2014, Team 171 USnomads successfully completed the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles in Morocco. Checkout the rally highlights in this day-by-day recap which includes descriptions of each leg of the race, daily reports from the field, the team’s tracks, video coverage of the event and more… [read]


FEATURE

FIELD FIXES: POPPING A BEAD

Desert driving in soft sand requires airing down — a lot. And below a certain pressure, there is concern that a tire could get unseated and actually fall off the rim. That’s what happened to us while training in the dunes. Luckily, there’s a relatively simple “field fix” for this situation… [read]


MORE INFO:
About Team 171 US Nomads
Team Training
Practical Matters
In Our Words
Team News
Contact Us



A true test of endurance, the Gazelle rally pushes teams to their limits in a struggle to overcome the harshest terrain in the Moroccan Sahara. The key to success is a seamless combination of off-road driving abiility, land navigation skills and strategic thinking. Find out how the rally works…

Copyright @ USnomads.org.