More Notes on Orienteering
What is Orienteering?
Orienteering is a cross country race in which participants use a highly detailed map and a
compass to navigate their way between checkpoints along an unfamiliar course.
Cross Country
Race – timed event
Participants
Map : Highly Detailed
Compass
Navigate
Between – Along
Check points
Course : Unfamiliar
Types of Orienteering
Cross Country
In order
Route Choice
USOF – sub classes
Short
Middle - classic
Long
Score-O
Many Controls
Values
Time Limit
Penalty
Individual/Team
ROGAINEs
Grueling
6, 8, 12, 24 hour events
Sprint-O
FASTO series
Relays
Line-O
Follow Line drawn on map
Timed
Penalty for missed controls
Route-O
Follow route marked on ground
Mark location of found controls on map
Timed
Penalty for inaccuracy
Window/Corridor-O
Memory-O
Trail-O
Bike-O
Street-O
Night-O
Ski-O
Command-O
History-O
Canoe-O
Radio-O
Goats
Other games
Poker
Declining score
Levels of Orienteering
WYOBGRB
Course design
White – on trails
Yellow – off trails
Orange – catching features, attack points
BGRB – No Holds Barred
Map-hiking versus competitive Orienteering
Techniques
Attack Points
Handrails
Catching features
Aiming Off
Collecting features – Checking off
Map to terrain
Terrain to map
Connecting features – making a virtual pathway
Contouring
Map simplification
Reading Ahead
Relocation – invest a few minutes to save a lot
Lose contact with map – STOP
Look around – match terrain features to map
Find plausible route from last known location to here
Otherwise, identify nearest definite guaranteed location
Feature types
Point
Linear
Area
Connecting Features
Making a road through the woods
Systematic Orienteering
Orienting the Map
Align Orienting arrow with needle
Find your current location
Orienting the map/person together
Check and know the scale and contour interval
Study the next control
Identify potential
Attack Points
Handrails
Catching & Collecting features
Select your best route
Be extra careful with the first several legs
Build confidence and familiarity with
Map
Terrain
Self
Read ahead – plan
Exit from control
Next route
Check of features along the way
Route Choice – changes with experience
Judging Physical versus Mental aspects of choice
Navigational skills
Physical ability
Safe versus Risky
Negative Considerations
Climb
Obstacles
Distance
Difficulties
Vegetation
Out of bounds
Positive considerations
Landmarks
Handrails
Features – catching, collecting
Attack points
Fog of navigation
Guaranteed Orienteering
Description sheets
IOF standards
Columns
Symbols
Rough/fine Orienteering
Traffic light concept
Green Yellow Red
Attack points/Catching features
Distance Judgment
Measuring on a map
Using compass and map scales
Dead reckoning
Subjective and limited use
Pace Counting - A learned skill
Establishing ones pace
Using Pace Counting
Rough Orienteering
Fine Orienteering
Aiming Off
Negative effects on Pace Count
Climb
15m climb ~ 100m level ~ @30seconds
Fatigue
Obstacles – vegetation/features
Slope – contouring
Personal growth
Injury
Speed Walk/Run
Strategies
Avoiding unnecessary climb
Keeping the high ground
Attacking from the high ground
Aiming off
Using a trail to read ahead
Investing a bit of unnecessary time with safer routes to guarantee no lost time
Mistakes
Parallel errors
Directional errors
Distance errors
Losing contact with the map
Ignoring & misinterpreting features
Orienteering Rules
No prior Knowledge of the course
No mechanical or electronic aid (GPS)
No assistance – navigate alone
No following (mass start exceptions)
Be quiet
Help the injured
Do not damage
No trespassing
Report to the finish
Orienteering Preparedness
Clothes
Shoes
Nutrition
Hydration
Temperature
Precipitation
Wind
Terrain
Duration
Eye protection
Post Orienteering
Tick check
Scratch and wound cleaning
Clean dry warm clothes
Draw route
Evaluate and compare route choices
Identify mistakes and better choices
Non-orienteering Navigation
Compass work
Box around – Angle around
Other North-finding techniques
Moon Sun Stars vegetation
Opportunities
Events – schedule – TROL
Website
Contact info