North American Orienteering Championships in New Hampshire 2016

Every two years, the biggest orienteering competition in North America lands in the skilled hands of US orienteers.  And this year, it is coming to our little neck of the woods. I say coming as if it just arrives and we have some fun, when actually, it is a lot of work for many  individuals.  It takes years to make the maps, set up courses, register all those forest runners and tie up all the loose ends.

Check out this article in Dartmouth’s Alumni Magazine:

Over the River and Through the Woods

JESSICA FEDIN ’17 | SEPT – OCT 2016

The sport of orienteering, a.k.a. Tiedustelujuoksue, returns to its North American birthplace.

http://dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/articles/over-river-and-through-woods

Do you need a reason to Orienteer?

All of us have days where we wake up uninspired.  Right?  Sometimes, I just don’t feel like moving.  One of the best ways for me to remember why I do what I do for a living is to watch one of my hundreds of orienteering videos.  I make maps and teach orienteering.  Some days, I feel like I should just get one of those jobs where I can show up, do my work and get paid.  I wouldn’t have to create and trouble shoot and market my business.

And then I watch something like this: NOT JUST RUNNING  I feel the emotion, excitement and heavy breathing that it requires to focus hard and long on a map while navigating the terrain.  Weather doesn’t matter.  Time doesn’t matter.  You are just doing your best and enjoying being able to participate…..at any level.

I remember why I started Ultimate Treasure Hunts, LLC.  I want to show everyone what it feels like to challenge yourselves with the hide and seek game at any level.  I love to watch 7 year old students run around their school playground and be proud of themselves for finding what I have hidden for them. They make it to the end feeling like the winners that they are.

I love to support the corporate groups using a sophisticated map of a town rely on each other for different pieces of the challenge and move forward.  They all win, really, though they are trying to beat each other.  That is the nature of the sport.  Orienteering brings out the best in you.

So, if you are sitting on the couch feeling like your days of  physical commitment are behind you, just google orienteering and watch what comes up on You Tube.  You may find yourself lacing up your sneakers and running on a trail.  Or call us.  We will create an experience that you will never forget.  I call it a treasure hunt, but it is so much more than that.  Orienteering is so much more than running.

 

Ski Orienteering

Map and Compass games do not take a break for winter.  If you have tried Orienteering on foot through the forest then you know the basics: use a map and a compass to locate markers (controls).  For Ski-O, most of the controls are along groomed trails.  It seems simple enough to follow a map along trails to reach the controls, but savvy course setters will make sure participants have route choice options that make shortcuts inevitable if they are competitive.

Skate or Classic?  Everyone knows that given the right conditions, Skate Skiing is faster, yet there are conditions and maps that would be better overcome with waxing and bushwhacking.  Why don’t you bundle yourself up for an event and find out?

If you are in New Hampshire, check out http://www.upnoor.org/

In greater New York,visit http://cnyo.us.orienteering.org/ 

Vermont is hosting the championships this yearhttp://orienteeringusa.org/us-teams/ski 

Lake Tahoe http://baoc.org/wiki/Schedule/2011/Ski-O_Series

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