As we understood it, we had until 1900 (7 PM) to get all of our challenges completed. The daytime Navigation challenge was capped off at a two hours. It was now 1630 and we had just finished eating a bit of yummy MRE and were on our way to check in for Datime Navigation. After recievng our instructions and map we headed out to find as many targets as possible in two hour.
Orienteering or Map and Compass navigating are both simple and difficult to the extreme at the same time. You need to know where you are on the map, within a few meters, at any given time. You also need to know that the trails pictured on the map may or may not be where they are in actuality. Somehow you need to clear your mind of the marked trail factor and rely only on the contour lines and 'given' natural geographic locations on the map. ( a little known fact. One would assume all maps are created equal, when in fact older maps may have an advantage over newer maps. Older maps were drawn with north / south grip on them. easy to locate yourself. Newer maps have foregone N /S grids and began using Township, Section and Range grids which may or may not be actually on a N / S heading... But then declination has changed since the older maps were printed. So information may or may not be acurate on those maps also...)
So with all this in mind we checked our map for which targets we be searching for and headed out. We found the appropriate bend in the trail and headed directly west, 120 paces. We didn't expect to trip over the target but we did expect to be within a stones throw of it. Nothing. fifty paces North, 50 paces East, 100 paces South, 50 paces West. Nothing. No Target. After almost :45 minutes of searching we decided to re-group and go after one of the other targets we knew exactly where it was. On the final leg of our morning Crucible Hike we (OK Jack) noticed a bright orange marker on a post jsut a few yards off the trail with a number 4 on it. It just so happened we had the #4 target on our map. Lets GO! Once we captured #4 we knew that less than a mile uphill was the top of Osbourne Hill and that beside it was located target #9. Up hill we went. Of course we had our map in hand and our compass securely fastened to us so nothing would get lost. Once at the top of the hill, Jack scouting the west side of the hill, like the map directed, noticed yet again, an orange marker on a post about 50 paces away, on the side of the hill, the steep side of the hill, surrounded by loose scree.
After yelling to me that he found it, he made his approach. He only slipped and fell once. Where as I was coming down from the top of the hill and had farther to go, I only fell twice, but once I fell for about 20 feet. When we convened at the target, Jack pocketed his compass and unfolded his map, looking for our target / marking sheet. Not there. "Check your pockets" Nothing. In my mind Panic. "how can you lose that?" "What were you thinking?" "Of all the imbecilic..." "Mastermind my ass"
In Jacks mind, "Uh Oh" "I must of dropped it when I fell". He immediately scrambled back to where the scree was still dribbling down the hill, noticed a white piece of paper sticking out from under the pile and scrambled back with a sheepish grin on his face. " I guess I dropped when that rock about took off my arm". (OK slight exageration, but the sheepish grin was real...). Two targets down, :50 minutes to go until 2 hour deadline.
After checking our exact location on the map and checking our heading, we chose to travel the 250 paces due West to run in to our next target. The only problem was due west was straight down the hill of scree for 50 yards, maybe more if we slid just right. We shot a heading on an approriate looking tree and headed for it. Figuring we couldn't miss THAT pine tree in the middle of the forest we spent most our downhill slide making sure we didn;t exceed the speed limit, we sort of forgot to keep checking on THAT tree. When we got there, or close to there, we couldn't tell if this was THAT tree or that was THAT tree over there. "Oh well, lets keep heading west and we'll cross the trail and find it from there" I said smartly.
We hit the trail, found our exact location, or at least a pretty close location, and headed on a WNW heading to run into the target. Nothing. OH, but what about that middle part, where you can not necessarily rely on the trails printed on the map... We regrouped, again. (Can two people be a group?) WE found the natural dip and dive in the earth that matched the contours on the map and headed off in the appropriate heading form there. Bazinga. there it was. Three targets in hand and :20 minutes to go. We figured we were about 1.5 miles from the check in location and we had to pass target # 1 to get there so with our newfound knowledge, (ignore the trail markings...) we would spend a few more minutes searching for that target on our way back. A sharp contour cut in signifies a steep banked creek or gully. Bazinga. there was one, and a target 25 paces up it. Four targets in hand and 14 minutes to get back, all downhill, on paved road (if you noticed the highway just few yards over there...). We took off at a fast shamble, Jack slowed and waited for me upon our approach to the Checkin tent, so we would look like a team that knew what they were doing, and presented our 4 targets, doubling the total of what most other teams had presented, with :05 minutes to spare. Time for a short break before Night Time Orienteering...
We had a little over an hour before we figured we had to load up on the bus for transport to the start of the next challenge. We decided to use that time to gather our wits, eat a little, use the sanitary facilities (army lingo I guess), and try to recover physically. I laid down and began to shiver uncontrollably. I was a bit dehydrated. My body was trying to tell my mind to shut up and get out of here. "This was crazy. We had been on the go for 13 hours so far and all you've given me a handful of Clif Bars and a dosen Gu Chomps. Oh, and that scrumptious, nuitrisious Chicen Pesto Pasta. Yeah, I know where a Subway is just 25 miles down the road. Oh and they have beer right next door." But my mind being the steel trap that it is said "Oh shut up and get warm, we still have 18 hours to go, get used to it." For once my mind won. I ate a bit, drank a bit, and walked to warm myself. 2000, (8:00p) we were ready. But wait, there were still some teams straggling in to the team area. I guess 8:00 was merely a guidline, we would be delayed by an hour or so. No problem. We would be ready whenever it happened, or at least be the best ones at pretending we were ready....
Ok I am typing blind again. On to the next Blog page.
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