Training Log Archive: TomN

NAOC Middle Green-Z. Pretty much a disaster. Mispunched twice, one of which was way off course. A lot of my trouble was due to inability to read the map, which in turn was due to pouring rain, and when there wasn't rain, dark clouds and low light. For example, on the 1st control, I wasn't careful on the attack from the trail, and came to the wrong boulder. I searched the map for another boulder, but never saw it. Back in the hotel, even without my glasses I could see the boulder right at the edge of the circle, but not out in the forest where it mattered.

The other problem was bad compass work. I don't know why, but my bearings were off. Coming down the hill from No. 2, I got onto the wrong stone wall and followed it into the field until I saw a rootstock. Dark green prevented a correction, so it was back out to the trail and the right stone wall. Biggest problem of all came on No. 12, where I crossed the big stony ridge way north of where I should have been, searched some nearby rock features all hung with controls, found one I hadn't seen before and punched it. Careless, but my rough bearing was at least 20 deg. off and but for that it wouldn't have happened. Second mispunch came in the complex area off of the arena. I couldn't see the map detail at all, so took bearings, and they were off too.

Lousy performance in what should have been fun terrain.