1. Orienteering

2. What is Orienteering?

3. 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

4. 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.
Over hill and dale, through the woods…

5. 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.
This is a timed event
But how fast you go is a personal choice.

6. 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.
Folks of all ages, both genders, every walk of life.
Alone or in groups.
Of all fitness levels and abilities.

7. Suitable for all Ages

8. As Competitive as You Want

9. Alone or in a Group

10. 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.
A specially prepared map
In accordance with IOF mapping standards
With selected features enhancing foot navigation

11. 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.
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.

12. 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.
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.

13. 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.
The area between two checkpoints is evaluated for alternative routes.
One is selected.
Orienteering techniques are implemented along the way.

14. 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.
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.

15. 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.
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.

16. Types of Orienteering Cross Country Done in order USOF – sub classes
Route Choice
USOF – sub classes
Short
Middle - classic
Long

17. Types of Orienteering Score Many Controls Values Time Limit Penalty
Individual/Team
ROGAINEs
Grueling
6, 8, 12, 24 hour events

18. Types of Orienteering
Sprint Orienteering
Relays
FASTO Series

19. Types of Orienteering Line Orienteering Follow Line drawn on map Timed
Penalty for missed controls

20. Types of Orienteering Route Orienteering Follow route marked on ground
Mark location of found controls on map
Timed
Penalty for inaccuracy

21. Types of Orienteering 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

22. Levels of Orienteering
4 levels of difficulty
Beginner
Advanced Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced

23. Levels of Orienteering
4 lengths of advanced
Age graduated
To suite the needs of all

24. Levels of Orienteering
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

25. Levels of Orienteering
Course Design
White
Yellow
Orange
Brown
Green
Red
Blue
– on trails
– off trails
– catching features, attack points
BGRB – No Holds Barred

26. Levels of Orienteering
Map Hiking
Versus
Competitive Orienteering

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

28. An Orienteering Course…
Consists of a start, a series of control sites to be visited in order, and a finish.

29. 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.

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

31. 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

32. Attack Points It is a feature… That is easier to find…
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.

33. Handrails Grasp it by the hand. A linear feature
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.

34. Hand Rail
White Course.
Orienteering Cincinnati, © 2005

35. Hand Rail
Yellow course.
Orienteering Cincinnati, © 2005

36. Hand Rail
Orange course.
Orienteering Cincinnati, © 2005

37. 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.
Orienteering Cincinnati, © 2005

38. 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.
Orienteering Cincinnati, © 2005

39. Aiming Off
Deliberately aiming to one side of a linear feature; to avoid guessing which way to turn
Orienteering Cincinnati, © 2005

40. 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

41. Connecting features
Making a virtual pathway

42. Contouring Advantage Disadvantage General Rule: 10m climb = 100m flat
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

43. 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.
Orienteering Cincinnati, © 2005

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. 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

47. changes with experience
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

48. Description Sheets

49. Description Sheets

50. Rough vs Fine Orienteering
General knowledge of loaction
Usually a high rate of speed.
Gurenteed Catching features
Planning and reading ahead
Precise Knowledge of location
A little to a lot slower
Avoiding risk
Focused

51. Distance Judgment Measuring on a map Dead reckoning
Using compass and map scales
Dead reckoning
Subjective and limited use
Pace Counting - A learned skill

52. Pace Counting Establishing ones pace Using Pace Counting
Rough Orienteering
Fine Orienteering
Aiming Off
Negative effects on Pace Count
Climb
15m climb ~ 100m level
Fatigue
Obstacles – vegetation/features
Slope – contouring
Personal growth
Injury
Speed Walk/Run

53. 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
Orienteering Cincinnati, © 2005

54. 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

55. Mistakes Parallel errors Directional errors Distance errors
Losing contact with the map
Ignoring & misinterpreting features

56. 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

57. Orienteering Preparedness
Clothes
Shoes
Nutrition
Hydration
Temperature
Precipitation
Wind
Terrain
Duration
Eye protection

58. Post Orienteering Tick check Scratch and wound cleaning
Clean dry warm clothes
Draw route
Evaluate and compare route choices
Identify mistakes and better choices

59. Orienteering Opportunities
Events – schedule – TROL
Saturdays (&Sundays) now through March
Website
Contact info
Pat Meehan