What is a Rogaine Race? Is it an Orienteering Event?

February 8, 2010 · Posted in baldness · Comment 

What is a Rogaine, you ask? A Rogaine is an orienteering event where a team of 2 or more people set out to find check points given to them on a map. The organizers of the race set “controls”, which most people would call check points, at various places on a rugged outdoor course. The teams must find these controls using their wits, skill, a map and compass.

But it takes more than just the ability to use a compass to complete a Rogaine. Suppose you’re standing at the edge of a forest and are given a map that shows an area 5 miles wide by 5 miles long. On the map is an “X”. You must find a control that is no bigger than a standard pillow that occupies that “x”. If you can do that, you get whatever points are allotted to that control.

Your Rogaine map may be like an orienteering map with features called out like rocks, trees, gulleys, reentrants, caves, etc. Or it might just be a USGS topographic map. I hope it’s an orienteering map because you’ll have some features to hone in on when you get close to the control. Using just an topo map, you may not have much more than an elevation line. And altimeters are not allowed.

The strategy is to determine which controls on this course you’re going to get, in what order, how you’re going to get there and how you’re going to get back to the start before the time runs out. Getting back is very important or you’ll lose points. Some races start to take away controls for each minute you are late.

Unlike an orienteering event, there is no prescribed course – that’s the strategy. And it doesn’t matter who gets back first. The goal is get the most points and get back before the cut off.

Author: Dan R Morris
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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What is an Orienteering Event? Is it Like a Rogaine?

January 30, 2010 · Posted in baldness · Comment 

An orienteering event is a solo race, like a marathon. In a marathon you follow a prescribed course; whereas, in an orienteering event you follow a prescribed set of points in the forest. The goal in orienteering is to find these points using a map, compass and your wits in the right order and cross the finish line before others do.

A Rogaine on the other hand is a team event where there are many, many controls marked on the map. It is the goal of the team to collect as many control points as possible in a prescribed amount of time. It does not matter in a Rogaine who get back first.

In both events the strategy is finding the controls. In orienteering the strategy is find the next control before the other people – and without them seeing you. In a Rogaine, you may never see another team because you’ve chosen completely different controls. There the object is to find as many as you can before time runs out.

To complete an orienteering event or a rogaine, you need some basic map skills, advanced compass reading skills, good long pants, a Camelback or other water source, perhaps shin guards if you anticipate thorny bushes, snacks and a lot of endurance. Most of these races take place over 6, 12 or 24 hour time limits. You can easily track 10 miles in a 6 hour period of time. Come unprepared and you may be coming just for the dinner afterwards.

Either way be smart about your clothing, don’t forget your compass, bring something to scale the map or a pedometer to track distance by steps. Bring a team member or several if you’re going to a Rogaine. Bring a friend to compete against if you’re doing an orienteering event.

Author: Dan R Morris
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Multi-cooker

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