Discussion: Seems like...

... you don't like maps used for rogaining.

Why rogaining is the worst:

-- long, mindless climbs and road runs (not related to maps)

-- poorly or non-mapped roads and major trails (bad map)

-- painfully-easy-to-find controls (because the map doesn't have more detailed features)

-- painfully-difficult-to-find misplaced and vaguely-placed controls (because the detailed features aren't mapped better)

-- map so generalized that you can only navigate via the most obvious and cartoonishly large of features (bad maps in a nutshell)


What about the WRC that was just in Latvia? Those maps seemed pretty good.

Well I would hope the maps for a WRC are good.

You are certainly right; it seems to me that when you get much above 1:15000 you lose most of the meaningful detail and it just turns into a boring, watered-down version of orienteering. Plus it takes forever to get anywhere.

Look, I hate mustard. It's the worst. If I'm ordering a cheeseburger, and I forget to say, "no mustard," and the thing is coated in mustard, that is one perfectly good cheeseburger that is totally ruined. If I had a food blog, I'd probably diss mustard. So, I get it.

Some people really like for their activity to take all damn day, and on special occasions all damn night too. It is so satisfying to indulge in hour after hour of immersion in the landscape and in the activity that, relative to hiking and trail running, is actually very dynamic and the frequency of the controls is well paced.

Extended durations in remote areas off trail, tracking my position without trails, signs, gps, or even detailed maps connects me to my wilderness-dwelling primitive self. It's probably not unlike a fast orienteer feeling awesome for being able to slash through the forest like a deer. Your primitive ancestors would be proud. Feels good to know you're fully capable to slice through that cluttered forest if in pursuit, or if you are the pursuer, you'd probably do very well for yourself. As is endurance sport. It feels good to know you are fully capable of traversing great tracts of land, should it be time for a migration. It seems more relevant and essential than being a pinball on an orienteering course for me. Not to say that isn't fun or challenging. I like that too, and it is.

USGS maps seem a lot closer to reality to me than a heavily-coded, detailed orienteering map. It's fun to know the language, but it's off-putting to newbies and those that want to feel like they're building skills that are relevant in the backcountry.

Rogaining is so badass. Keeping a sharp mind when fatigue is deep, cooperating with a partner on navigation, navigating off trail in the dark in remote areas, and having limited to no support for up to 24 hours is an incredible challenge. The immensity of the challenge blows the mind of a trail-centric outdoors-person, and fuels the fire of even an experienced rogaineer. Clearly, your recent rogain-esque event probably didn't entail many or any of the elements aforementioned, but, it can still be fun and challenging for people that like that sort of thing.

Clearly you know what you do and don't like. So, don't forget to say, "Hold the Rogaine," on your next order! Though you never know how your taste may change over time...

Well put, Julie. Mmmm, mustard.

Yes, well put. Haha I was hoping someone would elucidate the pro-rogaine perspective in response to my gratuitous shade-throwing, and you've done it beautifully.

I certainly don't question the validity of rogaining as a worthy endeavor for those who enjoy it, so hopefully it didn't seem that way.

Now I want some mustard. Perhaps slathered on some pom frites or kielbasa.