Course: Red [8.1 km; 170m; 17 controls]
Time: 2:28:27 - winsplits - routegadget
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Sunday, February 13, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Happyland (PWF) - Jan 30, 2011
Course: Blue [8.5 km; 380m; 13 controls]
Time: 3:35:50 - winsplits - routegadget
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Time: 3:35:50 - winsplits - routegadget
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I should have known better than to attempt the blue course, mainly I am thinking of the snow and ice, which were everywhere. I only orienteered at Happyland once before, March 2010. That time I did the red course and did not finish the course. So, I had no business trying the blue course, even though I did find all the controls.
Not all of the controls were easy to find. One control that was easy to find was the 4th control. It was right on the road at a bridge. For some reason I decided to try and cross the stream elsewhere. I probably cost myself 5 to 10 minutes with that brain fart.
The 5th control didn’t control didn’t give me too much trouble but I did not take the direct route. I took a trail most of the way there and then cut cross country. When I got near the control I looked around and found it very quickly. It was a long walk and I probably could have done a better job with route selection but I found it on the first attempt, which pleases me.
I think I lucked into finding the 6th control. The terrain was very repetitive in the area around the control. I was in the right general area when another individual who was also looking for it showed up. I took a quick look at the map, the direction he was heading in, my compass, took a few steps in the same direction he was headed in and there it was. I was very close to it, already but his appearance helped prevent me from wandering off in the wrong direction.
After the 9th control there was a lot of climbing; a lot of up and down steep gorges. The ice and snow didn’t make climbing, especially climbing up, any easier. On more than one occasion I had to put my map in my cargo pocket so that I could use both hands to climb.
The 12th control gave me the most trouble. There was a lot of ground to cover between 11 and 12. When I got to where I thought the control should be I couldn’t find it. I found another control that wasn’t on my course. I studied the map a little bit and decided that I must not be exactly where I thought I was, but I also knew that I couldn’t be too far off. So I circled around some more and eventually found it.
The 13th and final control gave more trouble than it should have. I think I was pretty worn out at that point. There was a lot of bushes and trees close together. I needed to head north-northwest but I kept veering west. Eventually I got to the control but it took me probably 5 minutes longer than it should have.
My feet were wet for much of the course. Not fun. After orienteering I took off my boots and socks, dried my feet and put on dry socks and shoes. Still, it wasn’t until I had driven 45 miles back to my apartment that my feet started to feel normal again. Just for the record, I didn’t wade through any streams. My boots are defective and melting snow and ice was leaking into them. I need to buy new boots.
Before orienteering I performed my good deed for the day. There wasn't much space to park. I arrived just behind a small pickup truck. We had to drove down a road, turn around, and then park on the side of the road. When turning around the truck got stuck.
After watching his wheels spin for about 30 seconds I got out and offered to give him a push. He didn't think it would work. I wasn't so sure myself. I did my best to push, when that didn't work I tried rocking the truck. That did the trick. I was a little annoyed that several people walked past without offering to help.
After orienteering I grabbed a bite to eat at the winter meeting. I was in the woods for so long that the meeting had already begun and most people had already had their fill. I picked and chose from what was left. I'm not sure what I had to eat but it was filling.
Not all of the controls were easy to find. One control that was easy to find was the 4th control. It was right on the road at a bridge. For some reason I decided to try and cross the stream elsewhere. I probably cost myself 5 to 10 minutes with that brain fart.
The 5th control didn’t control didn’t give me too much trouble but I did not take the direct route. I took a trail most of the way there and then cut cross country. When I got near the control I looked around and found it very quickly. It was a long walk and I probably could have done a better job with route selection but I found it on the first attempt, which pleases me.
I think I lucked into finding the 6th control. The terrain was very repetitive in the area around the control. I was in the right general area when another individual who was also looking for it showed up. I took a quick look at the map, the direction he was heading in, my compass, took a few steps in the same direction he was headed in and there it was. I was very close to it, already but his appearance helped prevent me from wandering off in the wrong direction.
After the 9th control there was a lot of climbing; a lot of up and down steep gorges. The ice and snow didn’t make climbing, especially climbing up, any easier. On more than one occasion I had to put my map in my cargo pocket so that I could use both hands to climb.
The 12th control gave me the most trouble. There was a lot of ground to cover between 11 and 12. When I got to where I thought the control should be I couldn’t find it. I found another control that wasn’t on my course. I studied the map a little bit and decided that I must not be exactly where I thought I was, but I also knew that I couldn’t be too far off. So I circled around some more and eventually found it.
The 13th and final control gave more trouble than it should have. I think I was pretty worn out at that point. There was a lot of bushes and trees close together. I needed to head north-northwest but I kept veering west. Eventually I got to the control but it took me probably 5 minutes longer than it should have.
My feet were wet for much of the course. Not fun. After orienteering I took off my boots and socks, dried my feet and put on dry socks and shoes. Still, it wasn’t until I had driven 45 miles back to my apartment that my feet started to feel normal again. Just for the record, I didn’t wade through any streams. My boots are defective and melting snow and ice was leaking into them. I need to buy new boots.
Before orienteering I performed my good deed for the day. There wasn't much space to park. I arrived just behind a small pickup truck. We had to drove down a road, turn around, and then park on the side of the road. When turning around the truck got stuck.
After watching his wheels spin for about 30 seconds I got out and offered to give him a push. He didn't think it would work. I wasn't so sure myself. I did my best to push, when that didn't work I tried rocking the truck. That did the trick. I was a little annoyed that several people walked past without offering to help.
After orienteering I grabbed a bite to eat at the winter meeting. I was in the woods for so long that the meeting had already begun and most people had already had their fill. I picked and chose from what was left. I'm not sure what I had to eat but it was filling.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Greenbelt - Jan 23, 2011
Course: Blue [8.2 km; 220m; 19 controls]
Time: 2:27:28 - winsplits - routegadget
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It was cold at Greenbelt but not quite as cold as it was a couple weeks before at Wheaton. Still, I wore long underwear and didn’t feel too warm wearing it. There was a breeze blowing but it wasn’t blowing very hard and there were lots of places in the park where I didn’t feel it at all.
I walked the blue course, which is a step up for me. It was my first time attempting a blue course. It felt more like a long red than it did a blue. The size of the park probably had something to do with that. I don’t expect that I will be attempting the blue course at all meets from here on out but hopefully some of them.
None of the controls were extremely difficult to find. The 17th control gave me the most trouble and even that one wasn’t impossible to find. It just took a little bit of time for me to reorient myself to the terrain and approach the control from a different direction. There were a few controls that were more or less out in the open, which didn’t seem right to me for a blue course.
The only other thing to slow me down was an elderly couple that stopped me to ask for directions back to the Sweetgum Parking Lot. I tried to direct them using my map. They weren’t too far from the lot. I’m not sure I was entirely successful since the o-map didn’t have the name of roads or trails on it. The husband asked me a couple times if the trail I was suggesting they take was the Azalea Trail. I finally had to tell him I didn’t know because it wasn’t marked as such on my map.
I decided not to use a Garmin 205 gps watch. I thought about it but was still feeling a bit silly about what happened last week with the device. Maybe next time I will.
The best thing to come out of this meet was the prepay addition to the online preregistration. I was able to pay for the meet with my PayPal account. I hope they use this from now on. I hate having to bring cash to pay for the meet. This is a monumental improvement. Of course, now I’m wondering how much it costs the club in fees to have this option available.
Time: 2:27:28 - winsplits - routegadget
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It was cold at Greenbelt but not quite as cold as it was a couple weeks before at Wheaton. Still, I wore long underwear and didn’t feel too warm wearing it. There was a breeze blowing but it wasn’t blowing very hard and there were lots of places in the park where I didn’t feel it at all.
I walked the blue course, which is a step up for me. It was my first time attempting a blue course. It felt more like a long red than it did a blue. The size of the park probably had something to do with that. I don’t expect that I will be attempting the blue course at all meets from here on out but hopefully some of them.
None of the controls were extremely difficult to find. The 17th control gave me the most trouble and even that one wasn’t impossible to find. It just took a little bit of time for me to reorient myself to the terrain and approach the control from a different direction. There were a few controls that were more or less out in the open, which didn’t seem right to me for a blue course.
The only other thing to slow me down was an elderly couple that stopped me to ask for directions back to the Sweetgum Parking Lot. I tried to direct them using my map. They weren’t too far from the lot. I’m not sure I was entirely successful since the o-map didn’t have the name of roads or trails on it. The husband asked me a couple times if the trail I was suggesting they take was the Azalea Trail. I finally had to tell him I didn’t know because it wasn’t marked as such on my map.
I decided not to use a Garmin 205 gps watch. I thought about it but was still feeling a bit silly about what happened last week with the device. Maybe next time I will.
The best thing to come out of this meet was the prepay addition to the online preregistration. I was able to pay for the meet with my PayPal account. I hope they use this from now on. I hate having to bring cash to pay for the meet. This is a monumental improvement. Of course, now I’m wondering how much it costs the club in fees to have this option available.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wheaton - Jan 9, 2011
Course: Red [6.6 km; 170m; 18 controls]
Time: 2:14:45 - winsplits - routegadget
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It was very chilly in the DC area and Wheaton Regional Park was no exception. The temperature was right around the freezing mark and the wind was blowing at 20-30 mph.
I arrived a little early. I had my heart set on using a Garmin 205 gps watch to track my orienteering. After registering I waited for Jon to arrive. I didn't have long to wait but maybe I should have taken the fact that I arrived before him as a sign.
The first mistake I made with the 205 was forgetting to hit the start/stop button after punching the START control. It wasn't until after I punched the 1st control that I noticed. I hit the start/stop button and went on my merry way. At some point, 11 minutes and 47 seconds after I started the timer I hit the start/stop button again, by accident this time.
I didn't notice until I was between the 6th and 7th controls. I didn't bother starting the timer again. Because I was so close to the registration table I detoured and dropped off the 205, which probably added a couple minutes to my time.
The only control that gave me a lot of touble was the 5th one. I went right past it on my first attempt to find it. I thought it would be to my right but it was to my left. It took about three sweeps through the area and a little help from another person to find it.
The 15th control also gave me a little trouble. I knew it was just across a stream. When I crossed the stream and didn't see it I turned right and walked a ways without finding the control until I found a trail. That helped me to reorient myself and realize the I should have turned left after crossing the stream. I walked back along the stream, past the point where I crossed it and found the control without much trouble.
I wore long underwear for the first time this season, and I'm glad I did. It was certainly cold enough. I've gone without when the temperature was lower but the wind was the deciding factor for me. After I finished orienteering I could feel myself getting colder, probably due to lack of movement. It wasn't until after I got out of my sweaty t-shirts and socks and put on some dry, clean replacements that I started to feel warm again.
Time: 2:14:45 - winsplits - routegadget
View Dave Goes Orienteering 2010-11 in a larger map
It was very chilly in the DC area and Wheaton Regional Park was no exception. The temperature was right around the freezing mark and the wind was blowing at 20-30 mph.
I arrived a little early. I had my heart set on using a Garmin 205 gps watch to track my orienteering. After registering I waited for Jon to arrive. I didn't have long to wait but maybe I should have taken the fact that I arrived before him as a sign.
The first mistake I made with the 205 was forgetting to hit the start/stop button after punching the START control. It wasn't until after I punched the 1st control that I noticed. I hit the start/stop button and went on my merry way. At some point, 11 minutes and 47 seconds after I started the timer I hit the start/stop button again, by accident this time.
I didn't notice until I was between the 6th and 7th controls. I didn't bother starting the timer again. Because I was so close to the registration table I detoured and dropped off the 205, which probably added a couple minutes to my time.
The only control that gave me a lot of touble was the 5th one. I went right past it on my first attempt to find it. I thought it would be to my right but it was to my left. It took about three sweeps through the area and a little help from another person to find it.
The 15th control also gave me a little trouble. I knew it was just across a stream. When I crossed the stream and didn't see it I turned right and walked a ways without finding the control until I found a trail. That helped me to reorient myself and realize the I should have turned left after crossing the stream. I walked back along the stream, past the point where I crossed it and found the control without much trouble.
I wore long underwear for the first time this season, and I'm glad I did. It was certainly cold enough. I've gone without when the temperature was lower but the wind was the deciding factor for me. After I finished orienteering I could feel myself getting colder, probably due to lack of movement. It wasn't until after I got out of my sweaty t-shirts and socks and put on some dry, clean replacements that I started to feel warm again.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Meadowood West: Dec 19, 2010
Course: Red [7.7 km; 225m; 10 controls]
Time: 2:13:48 - winsplits - routegadget
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I didn't have much trouble orienteering at Meadowood. The only control that gave me any trouble was the first one. I took off from the start and winged it. Not a good idea. Never a good idea. I found it eventually but I took a very roundabout getting there.
After that it wasn't too difficult finding the rest of the controls. The snow helped. There were lots of footprints to follow. Footprints aside, most of the controls were more or less where I expected them to be. I didn't have any nasty surprises.
It was a fairly cool day. I considered wearing long underwear but decided that it wasn't cold enough or wet enough to warrant the extra layer of protection. In the end I think I made the right call. The only part of me that got wet was my feet.
For the first time I wore a Garmin 205 while I was orienteering. The GPS tracking device redorded my exact route. It was a little more work than I thought it would be uploading the file. I thought it would just be a matter of laying it over the map but there was much adjustment needed. Still, I'm glad I used it and will do so again.
Time: 2:13:48 - winsplits - routegadget
View Dave Goes Orienteering 2010-11 in a larger map
I didn't have much trouble orienteering at Meadowood. The only control that gave me any trouble was the first one. I took off from the start and winged it. Not a good idea. Never a good idea. I found it eventually but I took a very roundabout getting there.
After that it wasn't too difficult finding the rest of the controls. The snow helped. There were lots of footprints to follow. Footprints aside, most of the controls were more or less where I expected them to be. I didn't have any nasty surprises.
It was a fairly cool day. I considered wearing long underwear but decided that it wasn't cold enough or wet enough to warrant the extra layer of protection. In the end I think I made the right call. The only part of me that got wet was my feet.
For the first time I wore a Garmin 205 while I was orienteering. The GPS tracking device redorded my exact route. It was a little more work than I thought it would be uploading the file. I thought it would just be a matter of laying it over the map but there was much adjustment needed. Still, I'm glad I used it and will do so again.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Great Falls, MD - Dec 5, 2010
Course: Intermediate [5.2 km; 175m; 13 controls]
Time: 1:15:22 - winsplits - routegadget
It was cold and windy at Great Falls. I can't remember an orienteering experience at Great Falls that wasn't cold and windy. I'm grateful that there wasn't any snow. Last year there was at least a few inches of snow on the ground.
I spent the first 1.5 hrs at Great Falls volunteering. I helped Heidi with the e-punch. She ran the computer. I taught people (who needed some instructions) how the e-punch works. I got a few technical questions that I was unable to answer. In one case I referred the person to Jon. In the other I just shrugged my shoulders and apologized for not knowing what all symbols were on the clue sheet.
When Heidi let me go it was around 12:20. I had less than 3 hours to complete a course. Based on a number of factors I decided to walk the intermediate course. I would have preferred to try the advanced course but I think it was just a little too long for me to complete in 2.5 hours.
The intermediate course wasn't challenging. I had help with a few of the controls. For the last 7 or 8 controls I was being followed by a FUMA student. He passed me briefly as we approached a couple of the controls and I passed him as I headed off to the next control. With 3 or 4 controls left on the course he met a buddy of his also from FUMA, who also proceeded to follow me. I took it as a compliment that they were following me and didn't try to dissuade them from doing so.
I finished 25th out of 84 people/groups that completed the course. There was a combination of 10 DNFs and MPs. I can't remember the last time I finished that high in the rankings. I didn't finish ahead of anyone that I normally wouldn't have. The intermediate course was a little more difficult than the usual intermediate course. This may have contibuted to some of the slower times.
Between the 13th (and final control) and the finish I got whacked in the (left) eye by a small branch. It didn't hit me. I walked into it. I normally have lots of near misses with branches, big and small. This was the exception to the rule; contact was made. The pain wasn't extreme but it did bother me for the next 36 hours.
Time: 1:15:22 - winsplits - routegadget
It was cold and windy at Great Falls. I can't remember an orienteering experience at Great Falls that wasn't cold and windy. I'm grateful that there wasn't any snow. Last year there was at least a few inches of snow on the ground.
I spent the first 1.5 hrs at Great Falls volunteering. I helped Heidi with the e-punch. She ran the computer. I taught people (who needed some instructions) how the e-punch works. I got a few technical questions that I was unable to answer. In one case I referred the person to Jon. In the other I just shrugged my shoulders and apologized for not knowing what all symbols were on the clue sheet.
When Heidi let me go it was around 12:20. I had less than 3 hours to complete a course. Based on a number of factors I decided to walk the intermediate course. I would have preferred to try the advanced course but I think it was just a little too long for me to complete in 2.5 hours.
The intermediate course wasn't challenging. I had help with a few of the controls. For the last 7 or 8 controls I was being followed by a FUMA student. He passed me briefly as we approached a couple of the controls and I passed him as I headed off to the next control. With 3 or 4 controls left on the course he met a buddy of his also from FUMA, who also proceeded to follow me. I took it as a compliment that they were following me and didn't try to dissuade them from doing so.
I finished 25th out of 84 people/groups that completed the course. There was a combination of 10 DNFs and MPs. I can't remember the last time I finished that high in the rankings. I didn't finish ahead of anyone that I normally wouldn't have. The intermediate course was a little more difficult than the usual intermediate course. This may have contibuted to some of the slower times.
Between the 13th (and final control) and the finish I got whacked in the (left) eye by a small branch. It didn't hit me. I walked into it. I normally have lots of near misses with branches, big and small. This was the exception to the rule; contact was made. The pain wasn't extreme but it did bother me for the next 36 hours.
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