Photography by Richard Giordano
Nestled in the Beaver Valley and surrounded by the pine trees of the Wenatchee National Forest and the Cascade Mountains lies a field that, once a year, fills with trucks, vans, and cars, old and new, tents of all shapes and sizes, and overland fanatics, young and old(er). The brainchild of Ray and Marianne Hyland, the Northwest Overland Rally caters to families, those looking to join group trail rides (by bicycle or vehicle), and keeners curious about anything from winching to photography, off-pavement driving skills, or seasoning your cast iron pot. Join a wine tasting, whiskey sharing, or happy hour session before the evening’s lively campfire presentation and raffle. The event is intimate and community-oriented.
After a two-year hiatus, the rally returns to Plain, Washington, on Thursday, June 16, 2022. I eagerly peeked at the schedule and am looking forward to attending this weekend’s event. Unsurprisingly, there’s an array of classes, presentations, and experiences for just about anyone. There are ample classes for youngsters (What to Pack, presented by the kiddos themselves, could be particularly enjoyable), for the ladies (Rebelle Rally is hosting a women-only happy hour, trail ride, and more), and for those looking to brush up on their recovery skills. I’ve scoured the timetable, written down my favorites, and outlined them below. Don’t forget to grab a brat, pretzel, and beer in the nearby Bavarian village of Leavenworth. It’s a tradition.
For the Kids
- Friday | 9-10 am | Knot Tying for Kids with Veteran Overland (Tent 1)
- Friday | 10-11 am | What to Pack, Kids Presenting (Yolo booth)
- Friday | 11 am-1 pm | Vehicle Spotting – Couples, Kids, Families (Tech Course)
- Friday | 1-2 pm | Shelter Building for Kids with Veteran Overlanding (Wooded Area)
- Saturday | 9-10 am | Travel with Kids, Kids Presenting (Yolo booth)
- Saturday | 11-1 pm | Kids Survival Class with Veteran Overland (Wooded Area)
- Saturday | 3:30-5 pm | Kids Water Purification with Tao (Tent 2)
Get Into The Spirit of Things
- Thursday | 5-7 pm | Four Wheel Campers Happy Hour (4WC and Mule booth)
- Friday | 3-4 pm | Masterpull Wine Tasting
- Friday | 4-5 pm | Whiskey Sharing BYOB (Overland Kitchen booth)
- Friday | 4-5:30 pm | Ladies Only Happy Hour (Rebelle Rally booth)
- Friday | 5:30-7 pm | Equipt Happy Hour
- Saturday | 5:30-7 pm | Happy Hour with AT Overland and Ninkasi (AT Overland booth)
Overlanding and Food, The Perfect Combination
- Friday and Saturday | 9-10 am | Skottle Class and Breakfast (Mule booth)
- Friday and Saturday | 11-12 pm; 12-1 pm | Freeze-dried Cooking Class (Thrive booth)
- Friday | 4-5 pm | Cooking With Cast Iron (Tent 2)
- Saturday | 11-12 pm | Food Prep and Safety with The Pioneering Spirit (Tent 2)
- Saturday | 3-4 pm | Adventure Ready Hot Dog Roast
Get Your Heart Pumping
- Friday and Saturday | 8-9 am | Daily Fitness (Tent 1)
- Daily | 8 am-5 pm | Various Trail Rides (Register at Rebelle Rally booth)
- Friday | 9 am | Rafting Demos (Meet at campfire TBC)
- Friday | 9 am | Mountain Biking (Register Thursday at Rebelle Rally booth)
- Saturday | 1-2 pm | Unsupervised bike time (Tech Course)
International Overland Travel
- Friday | 10-11 am | Baja Roundtable (Tent 1)
- Friday | 10-11 am | Overlanding Africa with the Pioneering Spirit (Tent 2)
- Friday | 11-12 pm | Importing Vehicles from Overseas with Overland the Americas
- Friday | 12-1 pm | Latin America Roundtable (Tent 1)
- Friday | 3-4 pm | Alaska with Justin Hall (Tent 1)
- Friday | 3-4 pm | Extended International Travel Planning with Overland the Americas (Tent 2)
- Friday | 7-8 pm | Overlanding Brazil with Overland the Americas (Campfire Presentation)
- Saturday | 1-2 pm | Baja Basics (Tent 1)
- Saturday | 7-8 pm | Overlanding Saudi Arabia with Desk to Glory (Campfire Presentation)
If you want to learn more about crafting the perfect pitch, travel writing, and storytelling tips, join me on Friday, June 21, from 2 to 3 pm at Tent 1.
To learn more about the Northwest Overland Rally, visit overlandadventurerallies.com.
Read more: The Overland Adventure Rallies Return (With a New Name) for 2022
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