Training Log Archive: furlong47

QOC Quinquagenary - Hangman Tree - F35+ (Green Y)

Out of start, down trail to bend, hit hilltop at black x and adjusted, then came down a bit left of control 1 but saw it. Straightish line to 2, thought I was passing through saddle but apparently it was the next reentrant over. Still came down close enough to control on other side.

Loooooong leg to 3. Long legs are my nemesis, especially this type with basically no trails anywhere. Picked my way across connecting ditches and streams, found trail with green dot at the end (but, like many, saw nothing in terrain for that big green perfectly round dot to be representing...) and cleared area with veg boundary. At next stream, took a moment to make sure I was in the right place, found decent attack point, over the hill into control.

Down reentrant to stream and then up to 4. Pretty much straight lining it on these next few controls, even 5 to 6 through the darkish green (which was just saplings, easy to pass through).

Next loooooong leg 7 to 8, but at least there was the power line as a catching feature behind 8 and I ended up needing that. This time I lost track of where I was and just kept moving NE. Actually passed very close to 8 while thinking I was in the vicinity, but missed it and went to relocate on power line. First mistook which reentrant I was in, but saw some rootstocks which allowed me to correct and find the control.

Now my brain was tired. First ran into control in a reentrant before 9, then was drawn off to see the other control near rock pile on the way to 10. Out to 11 and down to the finish.

Day 2 - Green Y - Splits

Event: QOC Quinquagenary @ Quantico National Meet
 

QOC Quinquagenary - Beaver Dam Run - F35+ (Green Y)

Cool walk to the start past gigantic obstacle course equipment. Woods today were wide open and beautiful.

Out of start ran down the trail to the sharp 90 degree bend just after the stream and entered the woods there. Passed the ammo can on top of the little hill, crossed the ride with more cans, but somehow ended up a bit to the right and started worrying when the control didn't pop up. Looked to the left and saw branches of a downed tree, went over there, and it was the rootstock.

On way to number 2, bowed too far right, came to a barbed wire fence with red and blue tape on it, momentarily freaked out. I knew the OOB was to be marked and was possibly dangerous and I couldn't remember the specifics of the markings. Yet there was no way I should have reached the OOB area that fast, so I continued. Then saw the actual OOB area coming up on the left, with solid tapes the whole way around it. Used this to guide me up to the area of broken ground and the control.

Down the hill to the stream junction and up past the rocks and cairns to 3. Compass straight to 4, then down the hill and across the river at the road (nice cinder blocks here to use as stepping stones) and back into the woods on the other side. Was a little bit left of 5 but looked over and saw it.

Another straight one to 6, picking off features. Decided to go out to the road to 7, just to give myself a tiny mental break. Went back in at the road/gravel road junction, could just see the opening where the building is on my left (but not the building itself) and passed the 2 other rootstocks on the way to mine. Then straight to 8.

Cut out to the gravel road, took the left fork, counted 3 ammo cans and then went down the edge of the broad spur to 9, encountering another control in an earlier reentrant as well. Then went south to the trail, cut the corner down to the stream, ran through the yellow area (saw interesting hut made of bamboo and labeled Victory Village). Went off corner, crossed stream, discovered one of the black x on the way to 10 was actually a pile of rusted metal garbage. Got 10, went out to road, entered woods on other side at concrete culvert, then kept weird long skinny hilltop to left into 11.

Straight at 12, seeing many other people now. Out to trail and up toward 13. Right before left turn, passed by 4 military guys wearing packs (and not orienteering). They entered an obstacle at the intersection which was a mud pit under barbed wire. I turned left and headed for the go control. A moment later they all passed me again.

Go control and in to the finish for a good day.

Day 1 - Green Y - Splits

Event: 2017 OUSA Convention
 

Took the first mapping training session in the morning. Just logging a little bit. I learned some interesting things but I don't think I'd be very good at this.

Went to the convention after that for most of the afternoon sessions.

Trying Temp-O at the convention :)

Lesson on Crumpet