Training Log Archive: BillDIn the 7 days ending May 25, 2014:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| « | » |
| » now | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | |||||||
Sunday May 25, 2014 #
Event: WCOC Ansonia Nature Center
11 AM
Orienteering race 1:44:36 [3] 10.32 km (10:08 / km)
Ansonia Green. Beautiful day. Forest fully leafed. Water levels not as high as I would have expected.
Three controls represent the worse piece of navigation in a couple of years: 4, 6 and 9. And 5 was no prize. Fair amount of jogging and, because climbs were negligible, I finished without exhaustion. Just disgust.
Control 3 was a highlight, judging from splits of others: I managed second on a long leg going north. Then, to avoid climbing the hill to the west, I went around north to 4 but failed to curve south anywhere near far enough. Flailed for an eternity not knowing how to relocate. Tried taking a bearing to where I thought the hill summit was - not even close. Came upon wrong control, figured it was north of where I should be. Charlie came to it on my second visit, I looked at his map (OK, take a DQ for that), followed him south toward my 4 but stayed high left while Charlie went low right. Arrived same time as he.
On way to 5, passed well mapped stone wall, figured I was dead on up reentrant but apparently turned south way too early. Met Mike and we both roamed the area. I spotted some hot shot running from the south and decided to follow him n.e. Took me right into 5.
On to 6, I drifted way too eastward, misidentified a ridge, and came upon the buildings on east park boundary. Big backtracking.
Coming down what I thought was s.e. from 8 I came upon trail I thought was the east-west one, so turned left. Big mistake. It was the trail back to finish and I should have turned right.
In summary, I wasn't confident about my drifting compass. I need to get one I can believe then apply more care on shooting azimuths.
Other lesson: maybe climbing to unambiguous summits (if not too high) instead of going around would be better choice when heading into area lacking diverse and distinguishable features (such as where 4 was).
Grateful to have Charlie riding shotgun for the drive today. Always great conversation.
My route.
Three controls represent the worse piece of navigation in a couple of years: 4, 6 and 9. And 5 was no prize. Fair amount of jogging and, because climbs were negligible, I finished without exhaustion. Just disgust.
Control 3 was a highlight, judging from splits of others: I managed second on a long leg going north. Then, to avoid climbing the hill to the west, I went around north to 4 but failed to curve south anywhere near far enough. Flailed for an eternity not knowing how to relocate. Tried taking a bearing to where I thought the hill summit was - not even close. Came upon wrong control, figured it was north of where I should be. Charlie came to it on my second visit, I looked at his map (OK, take a DQ for that), followed him south toward my 4 but stayed high left while Charlie went low right. Arrived same time as he.
On way to 5, passed well mapped stone wall, figured I was dead on up reentrant but apparently turned south way too early. Met Mike and we both roamed the area. I spotted some hot shot running from the south and decided to follow him n.e. Took me right into 5.
On to 6, I drifted way too eastward, misidentified a ridge, and came upon the buildings on east park boundary. Big backtracking.
Coming down what I thought was s.e. from 8 I came upon trail I thought was the east-west one, so turned left. Big mistake. It was the trail back to finish and I should have turned right.
In summary, I wasn't confident about my drifting compass. I need to get one I can believe then apply more care on shooting azimuths.
Other lesson: maybe climbing to unambiguous summits (if not too high) instead of going around would be better choice when heading into area lacking diverse and distinguishable features (such as where 4 was).
Grateful to have Charlie riding shotgun for the drive today. Always great conversation.
My route.
