First Weekend Practice in Johnson Valley

We kicked off our first official practice weekend for the Rebelle Rally from March 7th to 9th in Johnson Valley. It was a fantastic opportunity to work together with our third teammate, the Jeep "ARC Trooper," and immerse ourselves in all things Rebelle.

Friday: Arrival and Preparation

We met up on Friday afternoon, loaded up the Jeep, and headed out to our base camp. The drive gave us plenty of time to chat about our goals, upcoming events, and all the behind-the-scenes work we’ve been doing — from website updates to team emails. It was an extra exciting drive because we officially launched our crowdfunding campaign and sent out a special announcement to our email list! If you want to stay in the loop and get our Rally Report emails, you can sign up >>HERE<<.

At base camp, we were warmly welcomed by the weekend hosts and fellow Rebelles, The Desert Belles, Kristen and Allison. They went above and beyond to create a mock rally experience. After introductions, we received our map, checkpoint (CP) guide, and enduro packets for the next two days. The excitement was real!

Setting up camp was an adventure in itself. Tents were pitched, tables set, and we settled in. The iconic Johnson Valley winds made their presence known, but I (Jessica) took advantage of the cozy Jeep for some Enduro math practice. Jessi spent her time plotting points and prepping our Enduro calculations.

Since I wanted to simulate the true rally experience, I decided not to look at the checkpoint information that evening. During the actual Rebelle Rally, we don’t receive our guides until two hours before our start time. We drew our starting time — 7:10 AM.

Friday Night: Battling the Winds

As the sun set, most of us tucked into our tents early to escape the cold winds. A few brave souls gathered around the fire, but for the most part, the wind made for a restless night. Despite the lack of sleep, we were determined to make the most of Saturday.

Saturday: Plotting and Practice

At 4:45 AM, my alarm rang. Attempting to plot in the tent was a challenge with Stephen sharing the small space. Unlike the actual rally, where I had the tent to myself, the cramped tent made it clear I needed a new strategy.

Thankfully, Kristen and Allison had set up an outdoor table and lights, making it feel just like the rally. I quickly got to work plotting as the sun rose. By 6:30 AM, the quick driver’s meeting was beginning, and then Jessi and I loaded up in the Jeep, ready for our 7:10 AM start.

We kicked off with an on-route Enduro, navigating it smoothly. Then, it was time to chase checkpoints. This was our first time together in the Jeep, actively practicing since the 2023 Rebelle Rally. It felt like second nature — just like riding a bike.

We celebrated our first green, blue, and black checkpoints without any major issues. The greens were obvious, the blues were marked with small stakes and blue tape, and the blacks had no markers at all — true tests of our navigation skills. If you're curious about how the Rebelle Rally works and what these checkpoints mean, check out our blog 'What is the Rebelle Rally?'

A minor hiccup came when we realized Jessi’s GPS was in a different coordinate format than our CP guide. I was a bit rusty on converting degrees, minutes, and seconds to degrees and decimal minutes, but we worked through it.

Despite a few wide misses on some black checkpoints, we finished the day feeling accomplished. Back at camp, we drew our start time for Day 2 — 8:10 AM.

Saturday Night: Potluck and Campfire

Saturday night brought calmer winds and a delightful potluck dinner. Sharing stories and laughter around the campfire was the perfect way to unwind. I turned in early to prepare for another morning of plotting.

Sunday: Plotting at Sunrise and On-Time Enduro Practice

With daylight savings in effect, we were grateful for the “extra” hour Kristen and Allison provided. By sunrise, I was back at the plotting table, ready to tackle the Day 2 coordinates.

At 8:10 AM, we rolled out for an on-time Enduro. Unlike the on-route Enduro, the on-time version demanded precise communication and timing. It was an excellent learning opportunity for us to refine our teamwork.

The rest of the day was spent chasing checkpoints, and we felt even more in sync than the day before. By the afternoon, we had bagged a handful of successful checkpoints. Jessi wrapped up the day with her husband, collecting a few final points while I took care of admin tasks.

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

We can’t thank the Team Desert Belles enough for organizing such a fantastic weekend. Kristen and Allison’s dedication to creating an authentic practice experience made all the difference. Thank you for your time, effort, and support — it truly made this weekend special.

A huge thank you also goes to our husbands for holding down the camp and encouraging us every step of the way. Their support is invaluable, and we’re grateful for the time they gave us to hone our skills.

With the first practice weekend in the books, we’re even more excited to dive into monthly training sessions. This experience has left us feeling prepared, motivated, and ready for the next challenge.

With gratitude and grit, until next time,
Jessica H. - Navigator - Jess² reRouting

Want to Support Our Journey to the Rebelle Rally!

Our crowdfunding campaign is live, and we’re offering exclusive discounted packages until March 31st! After that, prices go up — don’t miss your chance to grab some awesome perks and be part of our adventure.

Watch the Instagram Reel of our Weekend >>HERE<<