ORIENTEERING IIc

AR TRAINING AT BRIONES

An Outline

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  1. Introduction
    1. This class is the competitor’s version of OIIa available as a private class by arrangement.  Certification of navigational ability for race entry available.
    2. What is orienteering?

                                                    i.     The sport vs. back-country vs. adventure race navigation

                                                  ii.     O techniques evolved to be effective under demanding competition therefore useful for other applications.

                                                iii.     The sport depends on fairness.  Successful organization depends on accuracy, consistency and established standards particularly in mapping and course setting.

                                                iv.     Success in competition should result from navigational and running skills with luck minimized.

    1. Is your next navigation race true orienteering?  Be prepared. 

                                                    i.     AR can emphasize adventure at the expense of competitive fairness.

                                                  ii.     AR promoters are often unaware of the principals and organizational requirements of the sport of orienteering.

 

  1. The basics of navigation
    1. This class should help you with most AR formats requiring map reading but is most applicable to orienteering or orienteering-like land navigation.
    2. Orienteering is map reading.  Compass for backup and for situations where the map is lacking (e.g. incomplete, inaccurate, poor visibility, overly complex.)
    3. Holding the map and compass
    4. Eight easy steps to navigation
    5. The three keys
    6. Beginning level highlights from “O-Skill Levels”

 

  1. Intermediate and advanced techniques
    1. Interpreting contours

                                                    i.     Theory

1.     Lines of elevation

2.     See the 3d- highs (peaks) vs lows (streams.)

3.     Ridges with peaks, streams and re-entrants.

4.     Spurs (U’s point down, away from peaks)

5.     Valleys (U’s or V’s point up toward peaks or ridges)

                                                  ii.     Hands on application matching surrounding terrain with the map

    1. Manipulating the compass

                                                    i.     Bearings from the map

                                                  ii.     Bearings from the terrain

                                                iii.     Triangulation

                                                iv.     Some advanced applications:  “when to leave the path?” “where on the rounded hillside?”

    1. Intermediate level highlights from “O-Skill Levels”
    2. Plotting UTM or Lat/long coordinates is not part of orienteering and not covered in detail this class.  A recommended web site is John Carnes’ www.maptools.com.

 

  1. Preparing for today’s training course
    1. Shoes (aggressive studs or spikes recommended), gaiters (seasonal star thistle and burrs), food and water
    2. Map

                                                    i.     highlight north edge of map

                                                  ii.     Draw magnetic north/south lines

1.     Compass

2.     Protractor

3.     Map diagram

    1. Map case:  Light weight poly or vinyl.  Foldable.  Appropriate size.
    2. Compass

                                                    i.     The three parts and their purposes, their significance and use

                                                  ii.     Orienteering grade vs. other base-plate compasses

                                                iii.     Make 1:24,000 scale from map bar scale

 

  1. Today’s course
    1. The start (parking lot)

                                                    i.     Begin practical application Eight Easy Steps.

                                                  ii.     On each leg: route choice, hand rail, attack point, catching feature

 

    1. Leg 1 (road junction)

                                                    i.     What’s missing from the USGS map?

                                                  ii.     Important vs. minor features

                                                iii.     Points on the road (bends)

                                                iv.     Slow, extra caution at the beginning

                                                  v.     Getting into the map, scale, mapping style.

                                                vi.     Identify peaks

 

    1. At control 1

                                                    i.     What’s wrong with the map?

                                                  ii.     Why?  What does that teach me?

 

    1. Leg 2   (road/stream crossing)

                                                    i.     Vegetation boundaries

                                                  ii.     Peaks

                                                iii.     Major valleys and spurs

                                                iv.     Looking ahead.

                                                  v.     What’s not yet in sight?

                                                vi.     Describe details of the control site before arrival

 

    1. Leg 3   (saddle)

1.     Route choice, vegetation boundary or topographic hand -rails?

2.     Aiming off to catching feature

3.     Taking a bearing

4.     Following a compass bearing

5.     Using the map rather than the compass

6.     Intermediate goals

7.     Go straight

8.     Watch for sprigs of poison oak

9.     Taking a back bearing from spur

10.  Importance of animal paths in steep terrain

11.  Anticipate vegetation (north facing slopes)

12.  The significance of climb to route choice

 

    1. At control 3

                                                    i.     Lunch

                                                  ii.     Triangulation

                                                iii.     What’s the major feature missing from the map?  Would you expect roads like this to be added to an AR competition map.

                                                iv.     Can you map a road from the saddle to the north based on mapped topography?  To “G?”  What other route choices are there to G?  If there were no road….. which would be the best?

    1. Leg 4  (spur/vegetation boundary)

                                                    i.     Follow the road and pick out significant topo features in the distance.

                                                  ii.     Name some of the more obvious unmapped features along the ridge (in addition to the road.) (High points, vegetation in re-entrant before the control.)

                                                iii.     What is vague about the control point?  (vegetation boundary) What other characteristic helps define it? (change in slope.)

 

(Legs 5-6-7 are an opportunity to test off trail navigation.  Trail routes from control 4 back to the start are and option.)

 

    1. Leg 5 (top of spur)

                                                    i.     Pick out significant features along the way

                                                  ii.     ID location based on features on ridge to the west.

1.     With compass

2.     With map only

                                                iii.     Significance of maintaining elevation.  Demonstrate.

 

    1. Leg 6 (Subtle terrace)

                                                    i.     Identify from control 5

                                                  ii.     What minor feature points to it?

                                                iii.     Compare valleys along the way with actual terrain and runnability.

                                                iv.     Test route choice and navigational techniques

                                                  v.     Point out the extent of the control feature on the ground and map.

 

    1. Leg 7 (top of valley)

                                                    i.     What are the best techniques for this leg?

 

    1. Return to the start

                                                    i.     Review highlights

                                                  ii.     Questions and answers

 

    1.  General discussion and examples as the opportunity presents.

                                                    i.     Route Choice.  Straight and risky vs. longer and safe.

1.     Speed factors

a.      Slope: uphill, downhill, side-hill

b.     Surface: hard, soft, uneven

c.      Vegetation: open, thick, undergrowth, slash, impenetrable

d.     Distance

2.     Risk Factors

a.      Handrails, attack points, catching features

b.     Visibility

c.      Complexity

d.     The map and course-setting quality

e.      Quirky rules and organization

 

                                                  ii.     Making the choice

1.     Analyzing the combination of speed and risk factors

2.     What best fits the team strengths

3.     What is at stake?  (Is it worth risking a fifteen minute error on a risky route to save 2 minutes?)

4.     The easy choice is often the wise choice

5.     Remember that the navigationally difficult routes usually require slower running.

 

                                                iii.     USGS maps, the good and the ugly

1.     Contours

a.      Smoothed

b.     Major contours are  reliable, rarely change

c.      Minor contours features under tree cover can be obscured.

2.     Roads and trails

a.      The more larger the more reliable in general

b.     New features may be missing

c.      Removed features may be shown

3.     Vegetation

a.      Runnability not shown

b.     Boundaries are distinct on the map but my be very indistinct on the ground. 

 

                                                iv.     Teamwork and specialization, what works best for the team.

1.     The value of group navigation and shared responsibilities

2.     Possible specialties

a.      Head map reader

b.     Anticipator

c.      Distance specialist

d.     Compass specialist

e.      Route choice

f.       Non-navigational strategist

g.      Cheer leader

 

  1. Suggestions for future improvement
    1. Written test based on today’s class.  (e-mail joe@orienteer.com)
    2. Orienteering events (choose your course based on your skill level rather than distance.)  Master the lower level before moving up.
    3. Map hikes, POC
    4. Coaching sessions (www.orienteer.com)
    5. Books on technique
    6. Computer simulation
    7. Targeted preparation for upcoming competition
    8. Perfect advanced skills-  e.g. reading on the run, planning ahead, cross country running, mental training (especially concentration.)
    9. Practice, practice and practice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Scarborough Orienteering www.orienteer.com  1/05, rev2/05, 2/06