Explore Little Bennett; Scope Out Orienteering Course

March, 2011

I ventured out to western suburbs, close to D.C., to try out a regional Maryland park that offered camping. And an Orienteering event was being held there. Also, this park had several permanent orienteering courses. I could do one or two for fun on my own, as well as scope out leading an event for one of the outdoors group I belong to.

Even though the campground is hardly a mile or two from civilization (some nicely upscale housing developments!), when I arrived I was the only camper. I felt very alone and secluded. I was actually a bit apprehensive. I set up camp, intending to enjoy the seclusion and quiet; but after a few hours, others started arriving.

The sites are somewhat close together. There's very little privacy since it's still late winter / early spring and there's little greenery yet.

Over the course of the week-end

• all the sites that were open at that time of year were full
• a group next to me decided to blast music until 10:20pm (yes, I know the exact time they turned it off ...) - country, blues, rock
• campers included a large group of Scouts. But sometime after dark, they quietly packed up and left -- there was no one around when I woke in the morning. I didn't even hear them leave; although the music was so loud maybe that's why I didn't hear anything else.

Other Noise (yikes!)

At some point in the middle of the night, I heard a noise like wood hitting wood: "Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!", then a "Yowl!" I have no idea what that was ...

Saturday
I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this park. I did the easiest Orienteering course installed there. I found the map and cues easy to understand. The trails were well-marked and gentle.

Later that day, I did some additional hiking on the trails around the campground. Lovely, gentle evening hiking!

Sunday
Even though winter is ending, it's still chilly. Night temps may have fallen into the upper 20s; I had snow or frost on my tent. As usual, it was slow-going dismantling and packing up in time to head out to do an Orienteering event.

It's Still "Winter":

Brilliant Sunshine:

Sometimes, Quitting Can Be So Sweet

February, 2011

The ending to my winter camping experience was an Orienteering event at Manassas. I looked forward to it, and planned to try an Intermediate course. How lost can you get on a battlefield? Hmmm ....

As I assembled my gear for the event, I remembered that I hadn't done any mental warm-up, unless you can count making a wrong turn and then finding my way to the event. Tearing down my campsite from the night before counts as a physical warm-up. Packing my compass, I thought maybe I should spend a few minutes with the book, as a refresher.  Unfortunately, I nixed that idea; figured I could rember how to use it.

The course was laid out over the Manassas Battlefiled. so you had fields of mowed grass, areas of unmowed grass batted down by the winter, and groves of treees and brush.

The event folks suggested I try an intermediate course; because you couldn't really get lost in the battlefield area.

This time, I easily found the "start". Haha, as it was right at the registration area. But true-to-form, it took me a bit to find the first checkpoint. That's when I realized I should have refreshed my compass skills as it was apparent I was doing something wrong.

Instead of taking the time to go back and ask for help, I decided to rely on the natural landscape / geographic features and my awesome [sarcasm here] powers of observation. So, I muddled through (quite an approprite term as the fields were pretty muddy) checkpoints 2 and 3. 

Feeling good, I followed a trail to get me close to #4, which was ... where??? I couldn't find it. Went to a landmark and tried again. Still couldn't find it. Encountered another person in the same spot I started and headed with him. We both still couldn't find it. He continued bushwhacking further into an area of forest; I turned back.

On the trail, I met some folks who appeared to be experienced. They headed cross-field. That's when I decided it wasn't a whole lot of fun bushwhacking throuogh knee-deep grasses and muddy fields without really being certain of where I was going.

So, I had major compass fail. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. Apparently, there were others doing the same "wrong" thing as me, because I kept meeting up with the same people. Jeez, I even had Boy Scouts help me and my brain would just blank out.

Eventually, I realized I wasn't having a whole lot of fun. Decided to call it quits, got on a main trail, and headed back to the start area. The day immediately got better.

Post-event assessment of why the day didn't turn out as I had hoped:

• I was mentally and physically drained from Saturday's hike.
• Likely, also a bit drained from my first winter camping experience.
• I should've reviewed my "how to use a compass" notes
• And likely should've found a way to settle my brain and "warm-up"

Orienteering! Transition to Intermediate

Yaay! I'm thrilled about another orienteering event. I've become addicted to the sport. Although I don't spend any free time working on getting better.

This event was held at Wheaton Regional Park. The courses were described as good ones to try at the next level, so I went for the intermediate course.

My little dirty secret about orienteering is that I can get lost just going from the registration area to the "start". I always have to ask, getting confused by the map. It's a wonder that the event organizers let me go off alone - lol! If I can't even find the "start" on my own, how do I expect to make it successfully through the entire course???

By doing some research later, I learn that it's not unusual to be *disoriented* [ :) ] at the first few checkpoints. Warming up is recommended -- not just warming up your body physically, but also your brain. I need to build that into my travel plans when going to these events.

Once I get settled, I find the course easy. Until moving from checkpoint 4 to 5. I bushwhack; I mean, "go off trail". I felt confident in my compass skills and sighting landmarks. But once I got where I wanted to go, I wasn't sure that's where I was supposed to be. At that point, I was on a trail and I continued along it, trying to identify topographic features and figure out where I was on the map.

I wasn't having much luck; did not see anyone which convinced me I was way off course; got teary-eyed (another not-unusual occurrence for newbies); sat for a spell and made a plan. I determined I was on either one of two trails and heading south no matter which trail I was on would lead me to the parking area. So I proceeded that way.  Within 50 feet, I encountered another orienteer, who showed me on the map where I was. I felt much better! and continued with the course.

At another section, I was in the right spot but had trouble understanding the clues as to where the checkpoint was. (It was well-hidden off-trail.) Someone helped me at that spot too. From there, for the remaining six checkpoints, I was fine on my own. Sometimes I stuck to trail options; but many times I also headed off-trail.

It was mentally challenging for me; but I loved it. I felt very satisfied that I had successfully accomplished that course.

Another Orienteering Outing

December, 2010

I may not have the opportunity to sleep outdoors, but I'm still playing outdoors in the daytime.

Another orienteering event fits into my schedule. This one is at Great Falls, but on the Maryland side - the C&O Canal Historical Park. I take my bike with me too, intending to do a short bike ride on the canal since I'm driving that far to get there.

The day is gray, windy, and cold. It's one of those days where being outside is just-not-fun. I opt for sticking to the beginner course. Even so, I also stick to a route on the trails, rarely going off-trail even if it looks shorter. I don't want to take the risk of getting injured because my technique is off due to off-energy level. I'm getting in better shape, and my hiking speed is picking up though. So I finish in a decent time even with using the trails. But I don't feel beat up, which is good.

It's pretty windy, still gray and cold. I decide not to go for a bike ride and head home instead. Even though I spend more time driving back & forth than actually doing something.

I start thinking about my "sleeping outdoors" challenge. It is now becoming a proper challenge, but not for the reason I thought. I expected it o be difficult because it would be cold at night. But I've got my sleeping arrangements under control to stay warm through the night. The difficulty will be the daytime; it's becoming just too cold to stay outdoors all day. And the other challenge is the short days: I don't have the time or I'm too bored to stay in a tent for 14 hours.

Got My Courage Together & Tried Orienteering

Back at the DNR program on "Becoming an Outdoors Woman", I really enjoyed the game we played to learn how to use a compass. The instructor had suggested trying an Orienteering event.


As described on the Quantico Orienteering Club website:
Orienteering is the sport of navigating with map and compass. The object is to find a series of points shown on a map, choosing routes — both on and off trail — that will help you find all the points and get back to the finish in the shortest amount of time. The points on the course are marked with orange and white flags accompanied by electronic or mechanical punches, which provide proof that the point was visited. Each “control” marker is located on a distinct feature, such as a stream junction or the top of a hill.

Orienteering is often called the “thinking sport” because it involves map reading and decision-making in addition to providing a great workout.


http://qocweb.org/

This was my first opportunity to try it. I did a lot of reading on the website, then met with one of the organizers who gave me more tips. Many people do these events "for time", competing against others to see who can complete the course the fastest. I just wanted to complete the course. Alive. And unhurt.


I'm glad my first event was at a park that I was familiar with. I felt comfortable using a compass, and knew I could give up and find my way back to the parking area.


It was a bit challenging to get started. But luckily there were a few others who started at the same time as me, so I kind of tagged along and listened to what they were saying. After two or three checkpoints, I felt comfortable with my ability to read the special map and figure out the clues as to the checkpoints. I went off on my own and had a grand time! The very last checkpoint was off-trail and I was a bit confused on the direction of travel. But I have no qualms asking for help at this stage. I finished the course, well within the alloted time, and learned later on that I wasn't even last! I ended up loving the challenge, invigorated by the problem-solving and decision-making. I can't wait to go again!


A portion of a typical orienteering map: