Orienteering Introduction PAD3O

How does one tell direction? 1. The Sun Rises in the East and sets in the West With an analog wrist watch put the hour hand at the sun; South is ½ way between hour hand and 12 o’clock 

How does one tell direction? 2. Polaris ( North Star) Can find North using the big dipper

How does one tell direction? 3. Trees on Ridges Prevailing winds from the West; trees lean to the east

4. Learn the Lay of the land and drainage patterns  Study topographic maps before you go into the bush.  

What is Orienteering?

Orienteering is a sport which orienteer's use an accurate, detailed map and a compass to find points in the landscape. It can be enjoyed as a walk in the woods or as a competitive sport.

Orienteering is the sport of navigation with a map and compass Orienteering is the sport of navigation with a map and compass. It is easy to learn, but always challenging. The object is to run, walk, ski, or mountain bike to a series of points shown on the 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 the orange and white flags and punches or electronic devices, so you can prove you’ve been there. Each “control” marker is located on a distinct feature, such as a stream junction or the top of a knoll.  

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

Orienteering is a sport for everyone regardless of age or experience Orienteering is a sport for everyone regardless of age or experience. The competitive athlete can experience the exhilaration of running through the woods at top speed, while the non-competitive orienteer can enjoy the forest at a more leisurely pace. Most events provide courses for all levels-from beginner to advanced-and the sport has been adapted for small children and people in wheelchairs.  

Pacing A pace is equal to 2 steps. Count 1 pace each time your right foot hits the ground.

It is desirable to practice pacing on level as well as rolling terrain in order to calculate your average pace; the number of paces taken by an individual to cover a given distance may vary depending upon terrain and obstacles. 

Converting Map Distances to Paces Example:  If it takes you 125 paces per 100 meters, then you will need to divide that number by the number in the column that says Number of Paces  Map Scale  Map Distance  Actual Distance  Number of Paces  1: 4 000   1 mm  4 m   Divide * by 25_____  1 : 1 000  10 m  Divide * by 10_____  1 :25000  25 m  Divide * by 4_____  1 :50000  50 m  Divide * by 2_____ 

Another way to estimate how many paces to walk a given distance on a map.   Find the distance needed to travel in meters   Multiply the distance by the number of paces you take in 100 meters divided by 100m  Distance on map x (# of paces/100m) 

Time to go outside and find how many paces you take in 100 meters. Do three trials and then find the average # of paces in 100 m Trial 1________  Trial 2________  Trial 3________    Average after three trials ______*