July 12, 2022 – USA: More Nomad Overland Virtual Adventure Rally teams were out on Overland Stages this week as the competition reached the halfway point. Team 136 Anderson held onto the first place position for the second week in a row, while a few teams made big jumps on the Leaderboard. Rally activity is continuing in different locations around the country, and a number of teams have included the iconic Rubicon Trail in their Overland Stages.
Team 136 Anderson managed to maintain a hold on the first place position reaching a total of 3,052 points as the week came to a close. Cheryl Anderson checked off roughly half of all the Photo Quest items this week, adding 544 points to her score.
Team 104 Swenson jumped back into the 2nd place spot with 2,059 points after completing multiple Overland Stages this week. Sara Swenson and Dave Hopkins mapped out a great route that included the Mendocino National Forest, the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Six Rivers National Forest and the Redwoods National Park.
Team 132 Kienlen slipped into 3rd place with 1,932 points. Jenn Kienlen kept up the momentum completing three more Overland Stages in Washington that included Funny Rocks/Moon Rocks, Divide Pass and Naches Pass. The trails were quite muddy, and Jenn and her son decided to check off the “Driving on Muddy Terrain” Activity while they were out there. They also made a visit to Mount Rainier National Park and participated in the PNW 4 Wheel Drive Association’s Trail Jamboree 2022 event during their Stages this week.
Team 117 Lucas got a good start with a first Overland Stage around Arizona’s Four Peaks and Saguaro Lake in the Tonto National Forest. Lisa Lucas used the trail time to accomplish a number of Activity Tasks, including an impromptu trail cleanup near her campsite. The best part of the Stage was getting to celebrate a friend’s birthday with a group trail run and some paddle boarding!
Team 120 Rodriguez hit the trails in New York to start their Overland Stages this week. Beth, Ernesto and Emilio Rodriguez began their route in Callicoon NY on private land exploring some old mining trails before picking up a segment of the Northeast BDR in Hancock NY.
More teams are beginning their Overland Stages this week and everyone continues to send in Photo Quest finds and Activity Task points. The competition is heating up as they progress into the second half of the Rally!