1. | Chose not to go out of the way to start triangle, trying to judge actual position of map pick-up. Wound up a bit too high, but able to correct without much loss of time. | ||||||
2. | +02:00 | Looked for best lines through vegetation across broad reentrant, but succeeded only in drifting well L of line. Planned to contour around under large cliff/bare rock, but never matched up map with terrain after making climb. Thick vegetation visible to L, but didn't look dense enough to be hiding uncrossable marsh. However, when no other interpretation made any more sense, I relocated from N edge of green and ran down ridge to control. Sam punched just ahead having made up 2:00 since the start. | |||||
3. | Contoured above stream and over then over broad spur and down to stream. Rocky features in front of flag visible shortly after crossing stream. | ||||||
4. | Contoured around crossing stone wall near bend to NW. Sam pulling away and opts to stay low below large cliff. I chose to climb reentrant to above cliff. I am pleased to have made up some ground when Sam reappears running up trail from E. Sam later states she made brief error in her route execution which probably accounted for the apparent superiority of my route choice. | ||||||
5. | Straight downhill and across stream, then up ridge on an angle. Hit trail right at bare rock. Noted that feature was down a contour, and allowed myself to be carried down too far while checking bottoms of small unmapped cliffs on the way to control. Kicked myself when I then had to climb to top of 4 m cliff, especially as I had specifically marked my clue sheet to remind myself that control was high. | ||||||
6. | Climbed up reentrant, then to trail. Sam still visible up ahead. Cut to L as ridge flattened out and contoured around to flag. | ||||||
7. | Slightly R of line picking up bare rock knoll near trail and then running around knoll S of flag to the E. Sam punches just ahead of me making approach from the N. Erin punches just after me having made up 4:00 from start. | ||||||
8. | S on compass, now behind both Sam and Erin. | ||||||
9. | Still running uphill, but losing steam. Cross broad reentrant when descent becomes less steep. Sam and Erin still visible which removes any mystery regarding the control placement. | ||||||
10. | Downhill trying but failing to keep up with young legs. Briefly along trail before resigning myself to long trudge up hill. Ladies are long gone when I reach the top. Run ridge going L of elevation after stream crossing, then picking up large rocky features on SE side of ridge line and finally large rock face in front of control. | ||||||
11. | Dropped down 4 contours to terrace, then contour to trail. Erin flies by again. Pass S of rocky spur, then drop down to flag. | ||||||
12. | On line. | ||||||
13. | Up gradual slope to W of rocky ground and W of pond. | ||||||
14. | +00:30 | Opted to go L around swamp, probably unduly concerned about crossing marsh on line to R. Doing my best to keep running on uphills. Contoured around elevation to E of Southern swamp, then spotted large rocky hilltop further above me than anticipated (or desired). Buoyed by sight of John Goodwin above me, as he had started 2:00 before me. Tried to contour around to correct ridge line, but wound up hitting small spur to SW of flag with control from another course. Able to relocate and find own control. | |||||
15. | Aim for SW edge of green vegetation in the hope of finding a modest attack point for control in fairly featureless area. Approach to marsh probably more difficult due to rocky terrain, but vegetation boundary is visible, and able to hit flag on compass bearing from that point. | ||||||
16. | Roughly on line, stayed a bit low to use marsh as catching feature. | ||||||
F. | Climbed high enough to see tent top, then small spurt to finish. Very happy with run approaching 10 min/km despite several significant climbs. |
Total Time Lost - 00:02:30