Lännasprinten (08/04/2009)

Training (walking/jogging/running). Foot hurt sometimes, so I was only half focused on the orienteering. Also, despite serious effort, I had trouble relating this map to the terrain. The unmapped marshes, the vegetation, and the rocks (some mapped, some not) were all confusing. The weather was gorgeous, though!

#1 - Knew I had to go straight on a bearing, then to the top of the hill and over. Nose with cliff felt like it was lower than it should be, so I stopped right after I passed it and was about to go back up when I saw the control just behind me.

#2 - Decided to go just left of the line and through the yellow marsh to avoid the rocky stuff that was on the line. But there was snow in those uniform white/yellow bits of forest, so following tracks led me in the wrong direction. Then I didn't know where I crossed the yellow marsh, and even though I saw a control on a rock I couldn't identify it on the map. But eventually I realized I needed to keep going further along the hillside, and then identified the cliffs.

#3 - the vegetation here was really confusing - yellow grass everywhere and very open. Also, the hilltops with snow on them made me think they were yellow, which is why I checked out several of them before I got to the one next to my control.

#4 - Must have gone off the proper bearing, so thought I was on the line but wasn't. Was surprised to see the big cliff north of #4, but realized where I must be and corrected.

#5 - The white area was actually a dense green marsh, but I was sure I had to be on the line, so I moved forward. Was surprised when I didn't see the control in the marsh, but quickly realized it was on the rock.

#6 - Passed right through the yellow right on the line (halfway), and then saw a control on the cliff southeast of #6 and knew I should go down into the green reentrant for my control. Problem was I didn't see it. The rock had moss growing on it, so blended in very well. I was completely confused about what to do, since I was 99% sure I was in the right reentrant, but didn't see a rock. Checked the next reentrant over, then stood around until some other girl came and actually found the rock. It was right there!

# 7 - there was a huge marsh to the left of #7 (unmapped), so I was really hesitant and confused. Was about to turn back even, thinking it must be the marsh to the north of #7, but found the control.

#8 - Was careful with this one, stopped to make a plan, read everything, and it was good.

#9 - Was going to go around the yellow marsh on the right, but then saw that it was frozen solid and really good running, so went right across it. This leg was good.

#10 - Thought I had gone down the reentrant right on the line, but was too far right instead. Corrected quickly.

#11 - Saw the yellow marsh, then passed by both reentrants so that I knew where I was, but then the terrain got a bit confusing and Sara ran by and asked if I was looking for this control, so we both ran too far. At least I was the first to realize this and relocate correctly.

#12 - easy