Orienteering. What is Orienteering? Orienteering is a cross country race in which participants use a highly detailed map and a compass to navigate their

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.

• From the Boy Scout merit badge manual, 2003



• Over hill and dale, through the woods…



• This is a timed event• But how fast you go is a personal choice.



• Folks of all ages, both genders, every walk of life.• Alone or in groups.• Of all fitness levels and abilities.

Suitable for all Ages

As Competitive as You Want

Alone or in a Group



• A specially prepared map• In accordance with IOF mapping standards• With selected features enhancing foot navigation



• You must have a amp to Orienteer• You do not have to have a compass; although it is a valuable aid.• Special compasses are made for Orienteering.



• Selecting a route suitable to your abilities (Physical and mental)• Following that route, and making improvements and corrections along the

way, in order to optimize your overall speed.



• The area between two checkpoints is evaluated for alternative routes.• One is selected.• Orienteering techniques are implemented along the way.



• The Orienteering Controls are marked with a distinct red & white kite like flag.

• A unique punch or electronic recording device proves you arrived at each location.



• A course is a series of checkpoints with controls, visited in order.• No prior knowledge of the course layout, and frequently the map is

permitted in competitive orienteering.

Types of Orienteering

• Cross Country • Done in order– Route Choice

• USOF – sub classes – Short– Middle - classic– Long


• Score • Many Controls• Values• Time Limit• Penalty• Individual/Team• ROGAINEs– Grueling– 6, 8, 12, 24 hour events


• Sprint Orienteering

• Relays

• FASTO Series


• Line Orienteering • Follow Line drawn on map• Timed• Penalty for missed controls


• Route Orienteering • 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

• 4 levels of difficulty • Beginner• Advanced Beginner• Intermediate• Advanced


• 4 lengths of advanced • Age graduated • To suite the needs of all


• Color Coded

• White• Yellow• Orange• Brown• Green• Red• Blue

• Novice 1-2 km• Beginner 2-3 km• Intermediate 3-5

km• Advanced 3-4 km• Advanced 4-5 km• Advanced 6-8 km• Advanced 7-12 km


• Course Design

• White• Yellow• Orange• Brown• Green• Red• Blue

– on trails – off trails– catching features, attack

pointsBGRB – No Holds Barred


• Map Hiking– Versus

• Competitive Orienteering

An Adventure

Orienteering can be enjoyed as a leisurely walk in the woods or as a competitive race.

An Orienteering Course…

Consists of a start, a series of control sites to be visited in order, and a finish.

Controls• The circles are centered

on the feature to be found.

• A control marks the location.

• The description sheet describes the control placements and codes.

Punching

To verify a visit, the orienteer uses a punch hanging next to the flag to mark his or her control card.

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

Attack Points

• It is a feature…– near by the control

• That is easier to find…– than the control itself

• It is typically 50 to 100 meters away…– and seldom more than

150 meters.• Whenever possible…– attack from above.

Handrails

• Grasp it by the hand. – Let it guide you safely to your

destination.• A linear feature• You may follow it directly…

– as on a path.• You may travel along side …

– it such as a fence.• You can travel near it…

– knowing that it will stop you from

crossing over, like a guardrail.

Orienteering Cincinnati, © 2005

Hand Rail

• White Course.


Hand Rail

• Yellow course.


Hand Rail

• Orange course.


Catching Feature

• Is usually a linear feature…– that is easy to notice, that resides just before or just

beyond the control

• Use catching features to…– alert yourself that the control is coming up very soon or

that you have just passed it.

• May also use catching features in…– aiming off.


Catching Feature

• Traveling from 2 to 3 (cliff on the top) the orienteer has drifted to the left (north).

• The fence is as a catching feature. • The alert orienteer is ‘caught’ by the catching

feature.• In this example the fence is followed to the

hill top and a new attack is taken to the cliff top.


Aiming Off

• Deliberately aiming to one side of a linear feature; to avoid guessing which way to turn

Collecting features

• – Checking off– Map to terrain– Terrain to map

• Observing the features that you pass by…– Noting them on your

map.

• Noting features on the map that you should see…– Looking for them in your

run

Connecting features

Making a virtual pathway

Contouring– Advantage

• Maintain height, energy• Use contour as a “handrail”

– Disadvantage• Rarely a straight line• Easy to gain, lose height if

not skilled• Steep slopes are very slow

to traverse (steepness and vegetation grows at odd angles)

• Tops of hills often open, easy running

– General Rule: 10m climb = 100m flat


Map Simplification • Ignore the less useful abundance of detail.• Look for the major features; handrails and catching features.• Identify the attack point and minimum detail to get there.

• An orienteer takes a detailed map and visualizes a simplified version in the mind. • Only the details relevant to moving between controls 4 and 5 are focused upon in the

simplified metal map.

Reading Ahead

• When the navigating on the current leg is simple;

• use the time to prevue the next leg.

• Know what you will do before you need to know.

Relocation

Invest a few minutes to save a lot

5 minutes now could save 20 or 30.

• Lose contact with map – STOP• Orient the map with the compass. • Match the terrain around you to

the features on the map.• Find a plausible route from last

known location to here

• Otherwise, identify nearest definite guaranteed location

• Return to the last place of known location or bail out to a linear feature.

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 Choicechanges 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

Description Sheets

Description Sheets

Rough vs Fine Orienteering

Rough• General knowledge of

loaction• Usually a high rate of speed.• Gurenteed Catching

features• Planning and reading ahead

Fine• Precise Knowledge of

location• A little to a lot slower• Avoiding risk• Focused

Distance Judgment

• Measuring on a map– Using compass and map scales

• Dead reckoning– Subjective and limited use

• Pace Counting - A learned skill

Pace CountingEstablishing ones paceUsing Pace Counting

Rough OrienteeringFine OrienteeringAiming Off

Negative effects on Pace CountClimb

15m climb ~ 100m level ~ @30secondsFatigueObstacles – vegetation/featuresSlope – contouringPersonal growthInjurySpeed Walk/Run


Pace Counting

• Using pace count– Count in the background– Make a perpetual habit– Always will have a rough distance traveled– Reset at all known locations– Accuracy dwindles with distance– Use to

• Gage when short or long• Know where you have hit a crossing catching feature

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

Orienteering Opportunities

• Events – schedule – TROL– Saturdays (&Sundays) now through March

• Website http://ocin.org• Contact info • Pat Meehan– 513-728-5688– [email protected]

http://ocin.org/

Documents

Orienteering. What is Orienteering? Orienteering is a cross country race in which participants use a highly detailed map and a compass to navigate their