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:

Still Not Sure of the Wisdom of This ... But I Did It & It Was a Glorious Evening / Camping #8

November, 2010

It's now mid-November. I'm committed to continuing the challenge of sleeping outdoors every week-end, but there are man-made obstacles. Open campgrounds are scarce, particularly ones within a short drive from home. I'm not ready for backpacking, especially this late in the year. I start researching private campgrounds and send numerous emails trying to find a tent campground that is still open. The issue with many sites is that they want to provide showers and bathroom facilities. Most are not designed with heat. Therefore, they have to close them and winterize them or the pipes will burst. I don't actually need water/heat facilities, but am stuck.

I find a private campground in Pennsylvania, within a 2-hour drive. From the website and email correspondence, I have no idea what it's like. I can't find reviews or any mentions of it on other websites. But off I go. I'm familiar with the local area, so I'm content with the drive. And it's close enough that if things don't work out right, I can .... just drive home!

Off the main road, I turn down what looks to be a state park undeveloped road. Surrounded by forest, I go downhill for maybe a mile or two. So far, so good. Definitely getting away from civilization. But then I turn a bend, and spread out before it is something that looks like a dumpsite for RVs. There's a huge field of old, dilapidated RVs one next to another.

This is not looking good .... But the road is narrow and winding. I can't turn around. I have to follow it to the end, where I plan to then turn around.  Continuing downhill, I see an area off to the side that looks like tent sites. I finally make it down into the campground area and it's huge. From what I can see from the road, there is very wooded tent area, maybe enough for 30 sites. Then a bathhouse and large field - the size of several baseball diamonds. Then an open swath of land for a power line cut, and a few rows of the junk RVs. Beyond that are several "streets" of permanent RV spots. At the farthest end is the office and campstore, a pond and picnic tables, a kids play area, a pool (closed for the season), the owners' house, barn, and assorted other materials of a busy, outdoor life. The place is huge.

I'm a bit unsure, but decide to go into the office and explore a little. The woman managing the place is just the sweetest person. She seems a bit surprised (like so many others before her) that I'm camping alone. But she warms to the idea and is thrilled. She loves to camp and hike solo, but haven't met many other women who also enjoy outdoors stuff alone.

She re-assures me about the tent camp area so I decide to give it a try. And I'm so glad I did.

I had the entire tent area to myself. The sites were a good 1/4 mile away from the rest of all that RV stuff. The campground was surrounded by state preserve land - all forest. I felt I was as back-country as being at Greenridge State Forest. I've been kind of assessing my comfort level and like to be within "whistle distance" of help. I was NOT in "whistle distance" of anyone.

Since the days are now so short, and I arrived rather late in the afternoon, I hustled to get my tent up. I had packed food that was simple to warm on my Esbit stove, rather than having to get a fire up and going, and maintaining it. I felt a little uneasy being so isolated in a forest that I didn't know well at all. I had no idea of opportunities for human or animal wildlife. I crawled into the tent early, did some reading,  and fell asleep.

At some point, I was woken by what I thought was a headlamp aimed squarely at my tent. I grabbed my glasses, whistle, keys, and phone -- ready to make noise, scream, or try to get away. I unzipped my tent and the bright light was ... a brilliant full moon.

I don't know why I didn't take any pictures, but it was one of the most incredibly beautiful sights of all my camping trips. Surrounded by tall, tall pines. Their shapes silhouetted in the moonlight. The bright moon practically lighting my campsite. Hundreds of stars twinkling in the clear sky.

Then I saw a shooting star! The night was cold, below freezing. But I tried to stay outside as long as possible, mesmerized by the night time beauty.

Now, not only is my goal to stay outdoors as much as possible, but I really want to make sure I'm camping when there is a full moon.


The next day started cloudy and cold. I had somewhere else to go for the day, so I packed up early. But before leaving, I explored the tent area. The site I selected was a few feet off the main tent loop. But there are two other sites, down deep in the woods. Several hundred feet off the main loop. In fact, one site I don't think I can get my car too. I'd love to go back there, but I need to find out what the human creature behavior is like at that campground before I go that isolated.

Saying good-bye to the owners and the nice lady I met the day before, the owner showed me three other sites, in a completely different area of the grounds. One was likely 1/4 mile walk from the office; can't get my car there. I'm eager to try that one!

"Let's Get Primitive - The Urban Girl's Guide to Camping" by Heather Menicucci

For the past few weeks, I've been enjoying this gem of a book. Written by "a writer and filmmaker turned outdoor aficionado", it is described as "the definitive camping manual for urban gals who appreciate sidewalks and all-night sushi bars ... an invitation to embrace your inner mountain mama and follow the call of the wild."

Gloriously fun reading material; yet incredibly useful tips and wisdom for a city girl taking the first tentative steps outdoors. I find that I have modified my equipment list, increased my enjoyment of camping with awareness of different viewpoints, and gained even more confidence. And, uh, bought a string of tiny Christmas lights to glam up my tent. She has a section on "Glamping", i.e. "Glam + Camping". The icing on the cake is that she writes in an energetic, funny, and totally positive style.

If she can do it -- I can do it. And if I can do it -- you can do it.

DeMystifying "Honey, I'm Going Camping With the Guys"

Here's what really happens when a guy says to his female Significant Other: "Honey, I think I'll go camping with the guys this week-end."

He thinks he's impressing the female with his talk of manly, hunter-type behavior.

She, on the other hand, is thinking: "Yaay! a week-end to myself !". She asks him: "What time are you leaving?" sounding concerned and worried over his high adventure, but secretly planning how much time she'll have for a luxurious bubble bath, maybe a facial masque, just lie in the tub with a glass of wine, candles, and a good book.

But even with that, there's the mystique of the alpha males out there in the wilderness, roughing it, encountering wild animals, chopping wood, bushwhacking over hill & dale to get to a good site, being all primitive and such.

Here's the real story:

The guys load up the truck with supplies (keep reading to find out what those are)

Just like me, they pay the park fee and drive right into their campsite. No bushwhacking necessary!

Next comes unpacking and setting up the tents - yes, plural. I have yet to see a group of guys car camping who don't come with more than one tent. And these typically aren't the 1, 2, or 3-person backpacking tents. These are the big monstrosities you can find at Cabela's -- room to stand in; maybe even "room" dividers; vestibules or porches; etc. Maybe the guys have also brought one of those screened in porch-type shelters. Roughing it? - uhhh, no.

Next, start the campfire. Guys don't want a campfire that will just boil water, or one that lasts just long enough to cook dinner. They want a big, manly, see-for-miles campfire. One that left unattended could burn down the entire campground.

Next, set up the camp chairs. The ones with the pocket where you can put a beer can.

Dinner time!

1) Pull out the pizza or steak subs they've bought along the way to the park.

2) Pop open the beer tab.

3) Partake!

For the remainder of the "camping" experience: Sit around the fire all night, drinking, talking, playing cards -- whatever guys do in the dark.

Fall asleep around 2:00ish.

Wake about 8:00am. Tear down camp. Go home.

The "go home" trip, I am certain, involves a bar, beer, and a burger. And probably a football game.

Camping is just an outdoor man-cave; a place to get away from the family and bond with each other. There isn't a primitive aspect to it at all.

Gun Shots Can Really Ruin Your Nap

November, 2010

Still enjoying my extended 3-day week-end at Elk River .... On days when I'm really lazy at camp, I love waking up to the sunrise, enjoying a cup of hot coffee, taking an easy hike. Followed by eating breakfast, reading & journaling, doing camp chores. And then ... crawling back into my sleeping bag for a short morning nap.

I had just got settled in when rifle shots went off. Really loud. Sounded sooo near by. Apparently the park is surrounded by forest and it's hunting season. The sporadic shots, not quite as close as they seem, go on for about a 1/2 hour.

Whimsy!

Family and friends are starting to get involved with my adventures. On a day-trip to Roots (an Amish market and auction near Lancaster, Pennsylvania), family members helped me load up with camping goodies. These were in addition to a long list of supplies I just recently purchased at the REI grand opening.

Wandering through the "flea market" area, we saw a table full of these solar-powered gadgets: leaves fluttering in the breeze, flowers nodding their heads ... so silly and goofy, I had to have one.

Well, newbie at blogging too. Can't get video to upload. But here's a photo minus the bobbing and fluttering:

Also irresistible: a campsite welcome flag and pole to make my site more home-y and inviting.

Other goodies I scored on the shopping trip included a woven rug to use as an entrance mat, a huge fleece quilt, and tiny tupperware containers. NONE of these items are essential, but fun.

My First Wildlife Encounter!

I spent much lazy time on my 3-day week-end at Elk Neck State Park; Saturday morning, reading and journaling while the sun rose higher in the sky. There were a lot of raptors flying around, cawing. But I didn't pay any mind to them.

Eventually, I wandered over to the shower house to clean up. When I returned to the site, there was evidence that I had an intruder! my bag of granola was torn, and what was left of it was scattered around the picnic table.

Cleaning up, I saw scat left behind from the perpetrators. Once I got home, I checked my field guides and am pretty certain that my visitors were a buzzard and a goose. It's amazing that they hovered around and waited until I left the site, then dove in for the goodies.

The utensils are placed here only to indicate relative size.