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
Provided by: Excise Tax

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