|
What is Orienteering?
|
by Jeff Brucker
Orienteering is a fun and challenging outdoor activity in which participants navigate their way on foot through the "great outdoors", using only a map and compass.
Each participant is given a specially prepared topographic map marked with a series of checkpoints to be visited. The object is to use navigational ability to take the best route to each checkpoint, and return to the starting point. It is a fun way to learn an essential outdoor skill.
At each event there are beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses. Beginner courses can be a fun, non-competitive family walk for an hour or so along easy trails. Intermediate courses are offered for those who want to challenge their skills on an off-trail adventure. Expert courses for the serious endurance athlete are much longer and are set in very difficult terrain.
If navigating in the outdoors sounds a little scary, then an orienteering event is the place to be. The beginner courses are on easy trails in carefully selected areas with obvious boundaries, and everyone's start time is recorded so anyone who is overdue will be safely rounded up.
We invite you to read these other very good definitions of orienteering that are available on the Web.
Other Orienteering Links
- http://www.geocities.com/yosemite/trails/4040 - This site contains the combined schedules of all west coast orienteering events. An excellent orienteering resource for the western U.S.
- http://www.baoc.org/ - This is the Bay Area Orienteering Club website. If you're from the Bay Area or planning a trip there, check here for their meet schedule and other club information.
- http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/9636/ - The San Diego Orienteering Club.
- http://members.xoom.com/pstew/bp/ - Not exactly an orienteering site, Bookpacker provides links to a variety of outdoor activities, including orienteering. It is organized by type of activity within each state. It's easy to use and a handy resource for any outdoor enthusiast.
