Preparing for the event (updated)

Last Updated on Monday, 08 March 2010 16:27

Here's some general information about equipment, and planning and navigation techniques to brush up for the event for those competitors with little experience of rogaining ACT-style.

The event area is an alpine area, and could be quite cold (snow very unlikely). There's also a chance it could be warm, and it could rain, although the average number of days in March with rain over 1mm is only 7.4 at Cabramurra which is the nearest weather station. More climate data (including records for max, min, rainfall, etc) at http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_072091_All.shtml

All competitors should bring clothing for any conditions - waterproof jacket and over-trousers, lightweight fleece, thermal top and bottom, beanie and gloves as a bare minimum. You must have a foil emergency blanket - they weigh and cost very little but could save your life! Each team should also have 2 compression bandages in case of snake bite. Copperhead snakes have been seen several times during course setting, and they are active in colder conditions than most snake species although rarely aggressive.

Basic navigation skills such as bearings and distance estimation (by time or pacing) are important, but also techniques such as using handrails (linear features such as spurs or creeks), attack points (major uniquely identifiable features), aiming off, etc in conjunction with those. Being able to read contours well will be a big advantage - changes in slope steepness, direction of slopes, creeks, spurs and gullies. #1 principle - always know where you are and what you should expect to see next! On many legs you may need to choose between safer/longer and shorter/riskier navigation options. It may be worth taking an extra 5-10 minutes rather than risk having to spend half an hour or more relocating if you come unstuck!

For course planning, you will need to take account of different sections of the course and their characteristics, and how that relates to darkness, fatigue, pack weight (as you eat your food), etc. Factor in key controls and time checks with options for extra controls or short cutting to stay with your overall plan goals.

Basic details for the event map - approx 65x55cm in size. Bring clear contact sufficient to cover both sides of the map. Every team member has their own map. Scale is 1:25000, 10m contour interval, grid north with magnetic north marked. Base map is a standard topographic map - white is clear land, green is forest.

The course will have no water drops - there are lots of clear mountains streams which have been extensively sampled by the setters and vetters. There will be an All-Night Cafe on the course serving hot and cold drinks, soup, toasties and fruit, but otherwise competitors must be self-sufficient.

Here's a link to a map from the 2007 ACT champs that has some similarities to the event area (both being mostly granite) - ignore the massive escarpment in the east of the map, there's nothing like that, and there are only a few tracks. The scrub was also quite a bit thicker in places on that course.
http://j15.act.rogaine.asn.au/component/option,com_g2bridge/Itemid,35/view,gallery//?g2_itemId=6796