Training Log Archive: BillD

Event: WCOC Ansonia Nature Center
 

A hot and cold performance at Ansonia in excellent weather. I blew 5, 7 and 8 but did pretty well on the other 7 controls of the Green. At 5, 7 and 8 I had difficulty relating what I saw around me to what the map showed while I was in those areas. Hindsight is better, as I study the map at home. I wish Ansonia were closer so I could back and walk the course slowly and learn. My route.

I went too far right at 5, went beyond it, tried relocating using the reciprocal to the building appearing in the East, but still was too far north. I stumbled across the control (it was lying on the ground, as were most of the controls on this course) as I dejectedly walked south contemplating giving up. The knoll was nearly indistinguishable as it rose only a few shallow feet above the surroundings.

At 7 I didn't go far enough, tried relocating from the trail again, finally spotted a crowd down in a gulch with contours in a direction not fairly indicated on the map IMHO.

Near 8 I came upon Lyn wandering in the same area. She found it first after we each had bumped into the trail to the west and reversed our direction. While Lyn and I were close as we headed east to 9, she went further south and I ended up at 9 a bit ahead of her.

I am suspecting my thumb compass has a bias that pulls me rightward. I need to compare with a couple of other compasses I have.

GREEN - Splits

To kill time while S at Watercolor Group, I walked the blue and yellow trails at the Mary Edwards property of the Granby Land Trust. Very nice woods and the middle part of the yellow trail loop goes along an exciting ravine. The main feature of the preserve is at the summit of the mountain -- Mary's Rock with a view to the n.e. of Springfield.



I am wondering whether the preserve might lend itself to orienteering. The woods are largely open but there are some laurel patches. Kind of a conical mountain and a long climb from the side road or the ravine. The mountain seems to have smooth slopes with few reentrants. I did not see many distinguishing features from the trail, like boulders (yes, there are some) or cliffs. I didn't have time to cross the ravine and explore the Blue Trail Extension. The trail map indicates there is a lot of land beyond where that Extension extends. Maybe there is some LIDAR available to assess the topography?

C • Mary’s Rock 2

A walk-jog around the Sessions Woods road. Odd laps walking, even laps jogging. I believe this was my personal best for this course. Nice dry, cool (48F) day.