GLAMIS: Sand Dune Driving & Navigation, Rebelle Rally | Feb 22-Mar 2, 2025

Description: A collaborative course between Barlow Adventures and Rebelle U. Multiple training options for beginner to intermediate desert and sand dune driving and navigation for Rebelle Rally competitors (including those “Rebelle-curious”). Camp with us to learn some tips and tricks for sleeping and eating in the desert, or you can book a hotel. Basic 4WD training is recommended as a prerequisite but not required. Lodging and meals are not included.

Nena Barlow has been providing professional 4WD training since 1996. She is a three-time Rebelle Rally winner and a five-time Bone Stock winner. The instructors for the Barlow Adventures courses consist of additional certified 4WD trainers, repeat-winning Rebelles, and experienced rally staff. 

Registration Options:

• Navigation Only: February 22-23. Register on the Rebelle Rally website: Rebelle U

  • Go to the Rebelle website if you ONLY want to sign up for the Rebelle U navigation course. For all other course options, read below.

  • Pricing: $695 per person

• Fundamentals Package: February 22-26. Select from the dropdown menu above.

  • The package includes the Rebelle U navigation and Barlow Adventures Desert 101 courses.

    Pricing: $1,950 per vehicle (includes driver), $695 per passenger

• The Whole Enchilada Package: February 22 - March 2. Select from the dropdown above.

  • The package includes the Rebelle U navigation, Barlow Adventures Desert 101, Barlow Classroom Nav, and Barlow Dune + Navigation courses.

  • Pricing: $3,150 per vehicle (includes driver), $695 per passenger

• Barlow Course Package: February 24 - March 2. Select from dropdown above.

  • The package includes all three Barlow Adventure courses: Desert 101, Classroom Nav, and Dune Driving + Navigation

  • Pricing: $2,450 per vehicle (includes driver and passenger)

• Repeat Rebelle Package: February 27 - March 2. Select from the dropdown above.

  • The package includes the Barlow Adventures Classroom Navigation and Dune + Nav courses.

  • Pricing: $1,650 per vehicle (includes driver and passenger)

  • If you are a new team preparing for an upcoming rally, we strongly recommend The Whole Enchilada Package. This week of training will build a solid foundation of desert and sand driving skills with map and compass navigation, on-time enduro learning, and route-finding techniques.

• Custom options are available. Call or email us at 928-282-8700, option 2 or events@barlows.us.

Rebelle U Course Overview (Ocotillo Wells, The Roost):

The following are the primary focus for each day. This is to help you prepare questions for the course. A study outline will be handed out on-site. 

Day 0: Rebelle U Check In

Day 1: Nav Intensive:

All about plotting.

Day 2: Nav Intensive, cont.:

Reading roadbooks, calculating and hunting CP’s with instructor demos.

Barlow Adventures Course Overview (Glamis Sand Dunes & Yuma, AZ):

The following are the primary focus for each day. This is to help you prepare questions for the course. A study outline will be handed out on-site. 

Day 3: Your vehicle: What is underneath, and what can it do for you? 

Get familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of your vehicle and how to manage it in a variety of desert terrain: rocks, desert roads, sandy washes, and dunes. 

Day 4: Driver: What can you do to make everything easier, faster, safer? 

Spatial awareness, throttle control, steering finesse, efficient braking, and managing your vision. 

Day 5: Navigator: Finding stuff

Morning wake-up: Big Sand Bowls! 

Learning to really SEE what's on the map and what’s on the ground, route planning, and re-planning. Are you using the compass effectively? 

Day 6: Classroom Navigation Day (indoors!)

Truly understanding latitude, longitude, scale, and distance so you can adjust to any map.

Plotting quickly and accurately, then what to use to get you there.  

Enduro math and management tips. 

Day 7: Time, Speed and Distance

Hands-on Enduro practice routes, finding sustainable pace, learning to see distance.

Time management, prioritizing, planning, and re-planning in various scenarios.

Day 8: Hunting CP’s in the big dunes. How to not get stuck or lost, but how to handle it if you do. 

Day 9. Put it all together: a day of hunting checkpoints in the big dunes. Hunt checkpoints along with a seasoned Rebelle Rally competitor to answer questions, offer suggestions, or walk you through their process for finding those tough checkpoints. 

Bonus discussions:

We spend a lot of time working on skills for the rally, but some of the most important skills are managing yourself: your expectations, your reactions, your pride, your comfort level, your communication, your time management. The biggest competition is with yourself. You are your own worst enemy. Get over yourself. Own it. There will be plenty of opportunities throughout the week for seasoned Rebelles to share what their biggest hurdles were and how to get over them.

Desert 101: Learn 4WD fundamentals and general offroad traveling skills specific to the desert environment, including the famous sand dunes of Glamis. This comprehensive hands-on course includes basic preparation, 4WD driving techniques, trail etiquette, and recovery procedures in a variety of terrain and obstacle types. Understand the systems and 4-wheeling capabilities of your vehicle. Learn how to read trails and analyze obstacles.

Classroom Navigation: Classroom Map and Rally Navigation skills, techniques, and tools. This takes place in a classroom environment in Yuma, AZ.

Dune Driving + Navigation: 3 days of learning advanced techniques for driving sand dunes in a 4WD, getting unstuck, and building practical navigation skills.

Vehicle requirements: AWD, 4x4 and 4x4 EVs are welcome. Working spare tire and recovery points required. No Roof Top Tents

Course Requirements: Register in advance. Participants must be 18 or older. 

Use your vehicle: $1,650+ (read registration options above for pricing details)

Use a Barlow Jeep: Call to discuss.

Cancellation Policy: 30 days notice, 50% refund, Less than 15 days non-refundable

Accommodations: Camping is available. Hotels, restaurants, and supplies are available 20-30 minutes away. 

Meals: Coffee and hot water are available each day at base camp. Participants bring their own on-trail lunches and snacks and provide their own breakfast and dinner at camp or in town. Amenities are available 20-30 minutes away. 

Itinerary: 8 am meet time each day. Wrap up at approximately 4 pm each day. A detailed itinerary is available to registered participants.

Call to for more info: 928-282-8700 (option 2) or email events@barlows.us