orienteering race 2:05:37 [4] *** 5.7 km (22:02 / km) +145m 19:33 / km
14c shoes: Inov8 O-roc 280
West Point Day 1 - Green Y (F-Green)
Listing advertised climb even though it was about double that in reality.
What a slog through the blueberry and rock, and it felt like 90% was uphill. At least I had map contact most of the time. I carry my own water in the warmer months (and always at WP after past blunders) so I didn't realize how long in the course it was before there was an actual water stop.
1 - Along right side of the hill, by rocks at corner of lake, and in.
2 - Pretty easy keeping lake to left and collecting knolls
3 - Went to little pond, then picked up trail to switchback and along hillside to control
4 - Easy, up the trail. There was a little overlook here and I mistakenly thought this was the big one. Definitely could not see Manhattan from here.
5 - Along trail some more, had to cut down through green crap, to road. Went in to right side of small hill, then along little stream. Was standing at end of spur scratching my head a bit, but control was just a bit further right.
6 - Back out to road, along trail, attacked from boulder. Found another control just before mine. Not top of hill, duh.
7 - Trail to the trail, faster going around because no blueberries. Across the top and in.
8 - Back to trail, to cut in along hillside, massive cliff visible from far away.
9 - Only big mistake of the day. Tried going straight, found cliff and rock I thought were near control, triangulated from those, nothing. Vegetation in this area was crap. Definitely not white. Went out to trail, lots of people milling about, ran up and down trail to establish location and then managed to find it. Saw Tom here and said I effed up this control, he said he effed up the whole day.
10 - Up, up, up, up. The overlook was very cool but even I had some trouble getting up and down from the rock, and that was after the cadet told me which way was easiest. They probably could have put the flag at the base. However, really enjoyed the view. I said "I can see..." and the cadet said "Manhattan?" and I said "No, the finish!" Although I could also see Manhattan. But Round Pond looked cool down there in miniature.
11 - Along the trail on ridge top
12 - Continued to downhill trail, very steep, through rocks. Then through more rocks at bottom. Slow going. Crossed road, direct into control.
13 - Downhill through yet more rocks. Checked a bag even though I knew it wasn't mine, did not want to risk having to climb back up for anything. Finally picked way down to the control.
Trail to 14 to F. Barely able to pick up a jog.