http://rg.orienteering.org.nz/gadget/cgi-bin/reitt...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vmeyer/albums/721576...
I foolishly thought I could do Red Long...heck, it was only 3.8 km - piece of cake, right?! Wrong.
First, a visit to the loo. Ah, the fond memories of the memorial toilet. Quite a fine facility on a not too warm day...
Then it was off to the start...
The 360 degree views confirmed that it was a steep area, as I Iwas advised.
The Start area - all a blur to my jet lagged brain, obviously.
Did I mention that it was steep? If not, well, it was very steep, and the climb was brutal, and my route choice to 1 was not optimal. I didn't realize that the map was 1:6,000 for a bit and was confused why there was a stream so quickly coming out of the Start. After climbing on my hands and knees to 1, through lots of tall grass, which I HATE, I found the control. That was the one which was a pile of tree branches passing as a rootstock.
And, now we have to go OVER THERE to #2!!
Still a ways to go...
Yup, it is down there somewhere.
Anyway, not the best route to 2 either since I had to slide down to it on my butt. At least it was mostly grass, and I avoided the lava rocks on my descent.
At this point I strongly debated walking it back in, but I didn't see a good wayto do so, so I climbed back up towards 3, which is where I had just come from. My host, Phillip, was coming back up from 2,
and again, I considered walking it in, which is why I went on the trail for a bit. Then, I changed my mind and followed Phillip, King of the Mountain, up the hill.
I made it to the top as well.
so, I decided to just hang with Phillip and continue,
Control 4 in a little patch of white woods.
Then, as I got close to 5, the travel caught up with me, and I just couldn't imagine doing 5, much less 8-9-10, so, I headed back. My tracks are correct...I didn't go to 5, or 6, even though I was so close, and I only got 13 because I ended up right by there, and it looked easy enough to slide down on the pine needles.
Looking back at the Red Long winner, Will T.
Back at the event arena...home, sweet, home. Well, until I leaned my shoulder against the electric fence and the zap went right through my butt.
The park was beautiful...with beautiful areas of redwood trees and tall pines.
The pictures don't lie. I am glad I went out, and I didn't get injured, so it was a good day, indeed.
And, perhaps Sandy can calculate the whole course climb for me. :)