#29 Orienteering

I wondered what Orienteering was all about so my friend Courtney and I ventured out to Mendon Ponds Park on Father's Day (Both our dad's were not in Rochester) to try it out with the Rochester Orienteering Club http://roc.us.orienteering.org.

What is orienteering? Well essentially you use a map and maybe a compass to locate a series of flags/locations where you punch your card to prove that you found the location. It is a race against the clock (and therefore against others)

We decided to do "White" since it was easy and was recommended for beginners. We set out and had a doozie of a time finding the first marker. We were in the right area but looked and looked and looked and could not find it. It was hidden back in the brush and courtney was just about to go into the brush to find it when a group of guys came up behind us and found it (thus leading us to find it). The next one was easier to find and since we were so close to the group of young men, we decided to hang out for a few minutes to let them get way ahead of us so that we did not feel like we were just following them from marker to marker.

From then on the markers were very easy to find as they were essentially along the sides of trails or paths. Again, a father and son came up behind us and we allowed them to pass us and we sat down and took a breather in the shade and ate a snack for a few minutes (TOTALLY Killing our time).

We stayed on the pathes to find the markers and never cut through the woods (although we suppose you could have if you really wanted to). We felt that it was a little too easy, but it was a good way to see what Orienteering was about --plus I dont really know how to use my compass very well and I have a feeling the next one up uses the compass a bit more.

It was a great way to take a hike with a purpose. We hiked for about an hour and never was bored because you are looking for something the whole time which is nice.

Our time was terrible, http://roc.us.orienteering.org/results/results2010_0620.shtml . It was because we waited to let the other teams pass us to make it "harder" on ourselves. Plus, it was not a race for us, it was a just a day of fun. I was really impressed with the organization of the club and how they had water and treats for the participants at the end of the course.

My friends and I will definately have to do it again, its a great way to get exercise, be outdoors and have fun!