Desert-Built: Kelly Kennedy, Quail, and the Art of Exploration

As a kid, Kelly Kennedy considered herself a general outdoor ruffian. From dirt bikes to fishing and being out in the desert, the outdoors just felt right. What started as a shared hobby between her and her father, eventually became Kelly's hobby after her father passed away, leaving a 2016 Jeep JKU Rubicon in her possession. After some off-road training, the rocks in the desert have become Kelly's playground. 

Quail, as Kelly calls her Jeep, is setup for simplicity and capability. With a FOX Shocks, a lightbar for those dark desert nights and rock sliders, her Jeep is setup for exploring the endless trails in the Johnson Valley area near her home. Kelly chose the Black Rhino Sol as her wheel of choice, keeping things classy and capable. To gain some additional ground clearance, she moved to a set of 35x12.5R17 TrailTek RT tires to balance both off-road performance and on-road manners.

Kelly recently added a 1987 Suzuki Samurai to her vehicle rotation and plans to take it on her Sunday adventures called "Feral Sundays." It started as a way of describing her off the beaten path journeys to her mother. It's taken off as a weekly series that Kelly shares on her Instagram - documenting her exploration of new trails, learning new off-roading techniques and tips on 4x4 fun in the desert.

If you happen to spot Kelly and Quail or her Samurai on the trails, be sure to give a Feral Sunday shout. And follow @desertwenchkelly on Instagram and YouTube or Substack called “Disintegrating Wildly.”