Rogaining Tips & Tricks · Planning - Tips. Practice. Extreme Planning! Physical It’s easier than...
Transcript of Rogaining Tips & Tricks · Planning - Tips. Practice. Extreme Planning! Physical It’s easier than...
Rogaining Tips & Tricks(or “How not to get lost in the SA bush”)
Mark PorterSA Rogaining Association
• There are “controls” scattered across the course area.• You get a map with the location of the controls marked.• Each control has a point value assigned to it.• You get the points by visiting the control.• You have a set time (eg 6/12/24 hours) to get as many
points as you can.
Rogaining in a nutshell
What does a map look like?
Planning Execution Adaptation Dinner!
Stages of the event
Maps at 3hrs before start Where will you go? Estimate your speed:
◦ Novice of average fitness, allowing for navigation time..... 2 to 3km/hr
◦ Experienced, super fit rogainer..... 7km/hr! Use a string or ruler to help measure distance Find a loop that maximises your points for
that distance. Lodge your Flight Plan – a safety measure.
Planning
Choose a route with options – make decision points
Avoid controls/areas that don’t suit you◦ Hard navigation◦ Big hills
Plan to visit water drops Make your route home easy To optimise, look at points per kilometre
(advanced)
Planning - Tips
Practice
Extreme Planning!
Physical◦ It’s easier than you think!◦ Go at your own pace◦ Remember to eat and drink◦ Take the path of least resistance (tracks vs bush)
Execution
Example: It’s easier to walk in the clearing than bash through the pines.
Teamwork◦ As fast as your slowest person◦ Check each other’s navigation◦ Be each other’s sanity check
Navigation
Execution
Ways to navigate:◦ Contours◦ Compass & pace counting◦ Features (tracks, point to point)◦ Follow the others!
Navigation
A very reliable navigation method(Mountains don’t move very often!)
Simple Tips1. Circles at top of hills2. Water flows downhill
Contours
IMPORTANT
Close contours = steep hill!!
2 2 = E 4 4 = C 5 5 = F 1 1 = B 3 & 6 3 = D 6 = A
Can you match them?
Compass bearings can point you straight to the control.
Tip for novice compass users◦ Just use it to orient your map◦ Use magnetic north, not grid north
Navigation – the Compass
Used to estimate how far you’ve gone How? Count your paces! Tips:
◦ Before the event, work out your stride length◦ Have 2 people pace counting◦ Use a counting aid, eg move stones from one hand
to the other every 50 paces.
Pace Counting
Roads, tracks, vegetation, creeks, windmills, fences, gates, high points
Go from one feature to the next – like reading a street directory
Tip: Think about what might not be accurate on the map◦ Tracks change◦ Creeks in SA generally have no water◦ Vegetation gets cut down!
Navigation – Using the features
Catching features – things that can catch you if you are lost. Eg if there is a north/south road down the map, head
east or west until you hit it.
Look around you! – work out what point on the map matches the things you see.
Navigation – Important Tips
Control is at the centre of the circle Look at the clue on the map. Eg The Gully
Navigation – Finding it
Re-evaluate your course during event Use your decision points Consider you pace so far and pace until end
◦ How fast have you gone◦ How fast do you need to go from here◦ Speed = Distance / Time◦ Big penalties for being late
Trim or extend your route to suit
Adaption
Energy food (your excuse to pig out!)◦ Carbs◦ Mix of sweet & savoury◦ Decent breakfast◦ More food than you eat normally in 6 hours
About 2 litres water per person
Food - Tips
Navigation tutorials available near the Admin tent before the event.
Don’t be afraid to ask people for help – rogainers are a friendly bunch!
Help on the Day
Come and try an event!