Discussion: Can I tag along with someone?

I am not unfamiliar with land navigation. However, I am not totally comfortable navigating in the mountains. I would like to shadow someone that can show me the best way to navigate through and around draws and spurs. I am in the colorado springs,co area.

We were all in a similar position when we first encountered orienteering. Most of us just showed up at a local club meet, paid a nominal fee, received a detailed topo map marked with a simple White course, and ventured out. Those that made it back became orienteers; the rest were eaten by wolves...Darwinian selection.

This summer Rocky Mountain Orienteering Club is presenting a couple week-long O-fests, one is just west of you in Woodland Park in July. But right now they're presenting mostly ski orienteering events, which are fun too, but generally restricted to skiing within a groomed trail system.

Yes, RMOC has three events this weekend -- all can be done on XC skis OR snowshoes.

* Friday, 1/22 -- Eldora (Nederland)
* Saturday, 1/23 -- Frisco
* Sunday, 1/24 -- Devil's Thumb Ranch (Tabernash / Winter Park)

We'll have beginner courses and beginner instruction at all three events. See full details at http://www.rmoc.org/

We should have our full Spring/Summer/Fall event schedule published on the web site soon.

I actually think that for fit beginners, having them shadow someone decent first time round is a good way to start. Finding volunteers mightn't be easy though.

Oh, one more suggestion, excalibur -- send your request out to the RMOC email list. We have some members in the Colorado Springs area. If you don't want to join our YahooGroups list, let me know and I'll post a message on your behalf. http://www.rmoc.org/content/view/34/44/

A good time to tag along with someone is while they are doing control pickup after a meet. Then they aren't concentrating on the competition and can discuss their strategy for navigating a leg. You might also tag along with someone doing vetting for a meet you aren't planning to compete at.

Another way to learn outside of competition is to tag along with someone who is setting a course. (Ideally, the course has already been designed; waiting around while someone else designs a course in the field can be pretty boring.) Last summer two juniors who were novice orienteers helped me set courses. They were age 8 and 14. Now at barely 10 and 15 they are on advanced courses, and the 10yo is working on course design.