okansas.blogspot.com Occassional thoughts about orienteering
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Prototype of Kansas orienteering terrain
Here is a map from yesterday's local race.
In many ways this is a perfect example of Kansas orienteering. The area is largely old farm fields with wooded fields. The forest is a bit thick, a bit unpleasant. But you don't have to spend much time in the forest. The trail system largely reflects se by mountain bikers and horse back riders. The yellow includes some areas of deep grass. Deep enough that an open area can be worth avoiding.
The QR track shows that my race was pretty clean. Leaving number 4 I had to walk in some of the open area. Deep grass explains it. I lost a little time near 9 when I was a bit unsure of how the hillside and cliff would look. If I'd stuck along the stream I'd have seen the flag and saved a few seconds. Leaving 9 I took a big swing. I heard a few blasts on a whistle and decided that it might be an injured orienteer. So, I ran towards the sound and found a group of orienteers - high school kids - who had been playing with a whistle. No injury.
