Orienteering race 1:04:23 [4] *** 4.08 km (15:47 / km) +66m 14:36 / km
spiked:10/13c shoes: Inov8 ORoc280-A 2013-08
Boulder Dash Brown course day 1, 3.7 km 150m Harris Center, Hancock, NH
Cool day, upper 40s to low 50s but mostly sunny.
First control was a common one for all courses, and it was a streamered run (slow, careful walk) through the woods. The way to the trail I wanted to take toward 2 was also streamered for the white/yellow courses so I followed them too, then started to navigate. I was in the vicinity of #2 but unsure which cliff/piece of rock it was when I heard John Harbuck (who started two minutes back) say "aha!"
Took the mostly straight line through woods to 6 from the crest of the hill, and came on it a bit early, I thought, but then remembered we were on 1:7500 maps. Careful to 7, hesitating a bit. Great to 8 and 9, a bit off line to 10 but saw others off to my left punching.
Then my booboo, 8 minutes or so, getting too far west of the line. I think I was at the large black rock (pillar) <100m due west of #220 but didn't identify it properly, then saw a bag off to the north. It was a code not on my course, on a west facing cliff but I somehow figured it had to be the large black blob so I went due east. Ended up north of the large rock face that should have been my attackpoint, and was fine from there. But I misidentified the rock pillar and did almost a square.
On the way to 12 I hit two ruined fences, one with barbs (poked in the shin) and the other just wire but didn't fall. 12 being a hilltop was pretty easy to find, then made my way out to the field and trail and on in.
Very nice course with good challenges in the rock but not too physical...just like a Brown course should be. Looking forward to tomorrow.