If you come to an EOOC Wednesday event and take a beginner's clinic, these
are the topics which will be covered. You may find it useful to look first
at the sample course and control description on the maps page
before you begin. If you follow a link, use your browser's back button to
return to this page.
Information in [brackets] varies from event to event.
The most important rule in orienteering is to check out
and check back in with the start/finish person.
The course
(loop) is marked on your map in purplish-red. The start (where you
are now) is marked with a triangle. Visit the controls in order, return
to finish, no later than [8:30 PM]. We do wait - and search, if
necessary.
At the centre of each circle, on a feature,
is an [orange] ribbon, with a control code and [a word] that you copy to show
you found it, with a pencil borrowed from the start person.
There
will also be a control description on the map.
See sample on the maps page. The controls are
listed in the order you must visit them. Next to the sequence number is a control
code, usually a 2 digit number. This will be marked on the
ribbon, so that you know you have found the correct one. The next column
is the feature the control is on.
Each participant decides how to get from one control to
the next. The short/easy course follows 'handrails' such as trails, fences,
edges of fields. The medium and long courses will have a choice of routes.
The map
- is produced and paid for by the Orienteering club, to international
specifications
Colours -
|
is forest, so that other things
show up well
|
|
green(s) are thicker
forest; the darker the green, the thicker the forest
|
|
yellow
is open (sun shines on it)
|
|
blue is wet stuff - river, ponds, marshes, streams etc
|
|
brown is contours - little tag lines indicate down hill
|
|
black for buildings, trails, fences
|
Legend -
nearly everything on the map is on the legend.
Scale
You
can get an idea of the scale of the map by relating the size of the [parking lot] on the map to the [parking lot]
on the ground.
Orient the map with the
terrain. Put the start triangle against your body, with #1 away from you. Turn
until features match your map. The map is now oriented to get to first control.
Keep your map oriented at all times. Illustration
of this essential technique.
Fold and
Thumb - Fold your (oriented) map parallel to the
direction of travel, about 4-5 cm away. Put your thumb close to where you
are. Move your thumb as you reach another known location. Illustration
of this essential technique.
Remember
the most important rule - check out and check back in, whether you finish
the course or not.
Notes:
the above applies to a Wednesday evening point-to-point event.
