Course Colors
While its roots are in Scandinavia, orienteering is an
international sport with world-wide participation. Enjoyed
by a wide variety of age groups and abilities, courses
are color-coded to provide beginners to experts with
mental as well as physical challenges.
- White: very easy, 1-1.5k in length, usually
follows trail
- Yellow: easy, 1-2.5k in length, follows trails
with some controls off-trail
- Orange: medium, 2-3k in length, more off-trail
controls with route choices
- Red: medium, longer course of 4.5-6k
- Light green: Medium-hard, 3-4k in length, greater
use of contours for controls
- Green: Hard, 3.5-4.5k in length, fine compass
and contour reading skills required
- Blue: Hard, 4.5-6.5k in length, physically demanding
- Brown: Most difficult, 6.5k or more in length,
advanced skills required
Orienteering is fun and challenging. For the most success,
start with a beginner course and work your way up through
the skills. Most orienteering meets offer clinics before
the competition and will let you try more than one course.
Rules
At a local event, participants copy control points onto
their map from a master map. After receiving a control
description card and a control punch card, they report
to the starting table to begin. The description card
identifies the feature where orienteers will find the
control at each check point, and the punch card verifies
to the officials that the correct control was found.
Often, the fastest route between controls is not the
shortest route. Finding the best route is part of the
fun. Even if you don't complete a course, it is important
to always check in at the finish so that organizers
know you are not lost.
Gear
When you go orienteering, it is important to remember
to watch your footing and be aware of your surroundings.
You will want to wear long pants if you are trying a
course other than white to protect your legs from scratches
or scrapes. Trail sneakers or light hiking shoes are
good footwear, but don't be surprised if your feet get
wet when you go off-trail. A simple compass is all that
is needed to make sure your map is oriented to north.
Take along some water and bring a whistle in case you
get lost or injured. Remember: Always check in at the
finish when you are done.
Map
Pineland Farms has the largest orienteering course
in Maine, with 500 acres currently mapped and mapping
of
the remaining acreage in the progress.
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