Orienteering race 2:11:35 [4] **** 9.3 km (14:09 / km) +63m 13:41 / km
ahr:131 max:153 spiked:10/12c shoes: 2017 Inov8 ArcticClaw 300
Green course (used by junior girls as team trials race), Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.
SL 7.4km, 180m climb stated, but it's probably overestimated...1:10000 map with 2 m contours! Temp around 42-44 most of the time. Predicted rain showers held off until about 5:00p.
To 1, I wanted to stay safe before plunging into the kettle/moraine areas so took trails to the left most of the way. On the way to 2 I passed close to the depression with three boulders with the code 201...signs at the start said that Blue #1, code 201, boulder, was under water and the flag was placed 3m south. I didn't see any boulders as I passed by. :-)
Misread marshes around 2 and headed the wrong way along the big marsh before correcting; lost several minutes here.
Once I found the beeline from 3-4 (under the north line as it was almost due south; a long route choice leg), I crossed the road (D. Oxenstierna passed me here) and skirted the hills wide east close to 10 (saw the flag), and cut back SW towards the trail from the tower. I passed by the boulder near the trail and noted a hen turkey sitting on a nest there, just watching me go by and not moving; I said hi. No problem finding 4 from the trail. 5 and 6 fine, reading the hilltops.
Coming out of 6 I kept being pushed left by vegetation though I wanted to head NE; hit the ride I'd attacked 5 from but didn't recognize it with trees across it and kept going a bit, into a neck of the large marsh until I realized I had to go back. Then when I attacked 7 I cut in too early and was S of the flag. AP lists me with time lost here too.
Slight curve around right to 8, then trail partway to 9 (where o-maps passed me); headed NW back to trail as far as 90-degree bend before crossing north to trail E of 10. Thomas somebody from MNOC passed me here (talked to him a little after I finished).
I did get an earlier-than-scheduled start time by about 45 minutes (so more people in woods than otherwise) and had considered dropping to Brown (5.2 km) if the weather was icky but it was low 40s and not precipitating so I stayed with the plan to do Green. Next weekend's Pygmy Goat will be about the same length.
Fun to see folks from back east there too who weren't trying for any team (this event was a Jr and Sr WOC team trials event), including many who we'll see again next weekend.