Training Log Archive: davelevine

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Event: QOC Cabin John
 

Cabin John
Red - 19 controls, 7.5 km, 225 m

Actual Distance Traveled: 10 km

I wasn't feeling up to doing the blue course (9.9 km), partly due to the length and partly due to the fact that I woke up with an upset stomach. I was feeling better by the time I started off on the red course. In retrospect I might have been able to finish the blue course before 3 PM if I had started earlier and hadn't been feeling so eh when I woke up and even later when I first arrived at Cabin John. I sat in my car and meditated for 20-30 minutes after arriving before getting out and heading up to registration.

I took a safe route to get to the first control. It wasn't especially direct but it wasn't hard to find. Similarly I took a less than direct route in getting from 1/114 to 2/115 and once again I didn't have any trouble finding it.

Somewhere between 2/115 and 3/116 I lost my compass. I had it loosely secured to my left wrist. It must have come off when I took off my gloves. I remember checking to make sure that I was headed SE, before I took my gloves off. That was the last time I remember seeing it. A few minutes later it was gone. I doubled back and searched for it as best I could. I was not on a trail. I gave up after getting back to the last place I remembered seeing it. I decided not to continue searching for it and moved on.

I had that compass for about 15 years. I think I bought it in 1999 or 2000. It had a big air bubble in it. I should have bought a new one ages ago.

I managed to finish the rest of the course despite not having a compass. I paid more attention to terrain features than I usually do. It's not like I don't usually use terrain features when navigating but this was a new experience.

I managed to keep my feet dry for the most part. The one exception was when I was heading from 4/117 to 5/132. I crossed the stream and my left foot was submerged briefly. It was wet for the rest of the time, but it wasn't squishy wet.

The section north of Tuckerman Lane wasn't too difficult. I got a little help from another orienteer, who I think may have been doing the blue course. I was ahead of him headed up the draw that led to 13/124. I walked right past it and kept going. He ran past me. At first I thought he saw it up ahead. I started to follow him. He looked back at me and pointed. It took me a few seconds to figure out that he was pointing out that I had passed the control. I didn't have to walk more than 20 feet to find it.

It was a little cooler today than I expected it to be. I started off wearing a buff (around my neck) and gloves (on my hands). Before I got to the third control I had removed them. I didn't take off my wide brimmed hat, even if it made me look like a mushroom hunter. :P

Red - Splits

14th St to Takoma Metro - after Cribbage Meetup

Home to Maple Ave

to get some exercise and get a copy of the Express

Maple Ave to Home via NH Ave