Discussion: Red Course Route Choices

I originally posted these questions on the main discussion forum. Perhaps this is a better place to throw these questions up. These questions in ernest. I sincerely want to improve my orienteering.

1. Can I be a serious orienteer if I circled clockwise around the marsh after control 3 on Red Map One to avoid getting my feet wet early in the race?

2. What do you all think was the best route from control 3 to 4 on Red Map Two?

I also backtracked out of #3 as did Mike Carlson.

I can't say what the best route was... but the one I chose was: Go back to the main trail intersection N of the pond; run the trail E and SE to the edge of the white; run S and cut up the small trail; run SE past the cup depression to #4

About the route you chose from control 3 to 4, are you referring to 'Red Map One'? Sorry for the confusion, I was asking about the control 3 to 4 route on 'Red Map Two'.

on #3 to #4 on map one : started out across the marsh... up to upper thighs in water, contemplating breastroke or front carwal, decided better to back out , and proceeded about 5 meter S on slightly more solid tufts of ground and got through with a second immersion (but only up just over my shoes on the second try) . It felt nice and cool on on hot day .

#3 to #4 on map 2 : long leg , go over the top of the hill on the str line through the light green or go around slightly on trails???. I went ENE and picked up the trail looping around the N side of the hill and ran fast along that to my attackpoint just S of the road junction and then up to the control.

On marshes: I can see that I was thinking about this marsh thing all wrong. I was really hot during the my run. Crossing the marsh would have cooled me off. I will search for swimmable marshes on every future course.

On 3 to 4 of map two: I went around the south side of the hill, on trails halfway up the hill and crashed though some of the thick stuff to link pathless section. North or South around the hill looks about equal to me.