What happens when dozens of overlanding enthusiasts converge on a remote compound for a desert campout & cleanup? If you entice them with amazing BBQ, awesome raffle prizes, and thrill rides in a new Can-Am Commander, you get the OLAF Events Adventure Feastivus Spring Desert Campout & Cleanup!
You might recall Off Road Xtreme’s event coverage of OLAF Events last gathering; OLAF & HOPS at Evans Brewing in Corona, California back in March. They just hosted another gathering, but instead of a day meet at a local brewery, it was weekend long campout & cleanup in the Johnson Valley high desert. Located right near the King of the Hammers footprint, OLAF Events gained access to the Savvy Compound multi-use facility which made it all the more accommodating.
The OLAF Events Adventure Feastivus Spring Desert Campout & Cleanup saw over 120 guests pre-register, with almost 200 attendees total there for Saturday’s activities.
A couple of the overlanding camp setups.
Always treading lightly, the team behind OLAF Events strongly believes in stewardship of our off-road playgrounds. The organized desert cleanup seemed like the perfect way to bring all these off-road enthusiasts together, for fun, but also to tie-in a worthy cause. With support from the America’s Black Bag Project and the local Bureau of Land Management office several large dumpsters were provided and acted as the start/end point. The BLM Officer also provided tools, gloves, and trash bags after educating participants on safety protocols, and leaving potential artifacts undisturbed. The cleanup took place in the morning and lasted through the mid-day.
The Desert Cleanup was a coordinated effort between multiple groups.
When the cleanup came to an end, and all garbage delivered to the dumpsters, it was time to rally back to the compound. About a dozen industry manufacturers had set up booth displays showing off specialized off-road equipment and upgrades. Scores of raffle prizes were allocated to incentive a little extra fun. UTV Source, Olaf Events, and Off Road Xtreme teamed up with Can-Am and had two brand new Commander XT 1000R UTVs to transport guests during the desert clean-up and give thrill rides after. Our friends at Owl OffRoad hired Backwoods BBQ to cater a tasty dinner, with Wild Roots Spirits and Evans Brewing providing craft libations. Capping off the night around the Can-Am firepit was the Injen Technology hosted campfire.
Olaf Events knows how to host a party!
Some of the vendors that come out of the OLAF Events.
Owl Off-Road sponsored the catered dinner from Backwoods BBQ.
Some of the raffle prizes.
The raffle was held after dinner which featured a ton of great prizes. A super cool young family won a $500 Hitch Fire BBQ for their brand new Bronco Sport. They were a bit stunned to have won the prize and were wondering how to get it home when it was suggested to mount it up and be done with it. The hitch mounted BBQ setup was easily installed in minutes and you could see he was highly impressed stoked to get some meat on the grill. They are currently in the process of modifying and upgrading their new Bronco to be more capable overlanding off-roader and more accommodating for family campouts.
Besides hanging out with good people and meeting new friends, our favorite part of any gathering is seeing all the cool off-road vehicles, and taking them out to do some wheeling. Here are some of our favorites from the weekend which included a pre-production Ford Bronco in Outer Banks trim, a super modified Mercedes G Wagon, a RAM TRX, some tricked out Toyotas, and the pair of Can-Am Commanders.
Pre-Production Ford Bronco With Outerbanks Package.
The Mercedes G Wagon was equipped with portals, dual coil-overs shocks, and carbon fiber everything.
Toyota off-road trucks of all different levels.
The Can-Am Commanders were put to task all weekend and especially helpful during the desert cleanup.
This event was such a blast! We are really grateful to have a group like OLAF Events working hard to do to bring the off-road community together for a good cause. Off Road Xtreme is looking forward to the next event knowing it will be a great time with good people doing awesome things off-road.