Discussion: Vasteras ~ looking forward
in: Orienteering; General
Oct 10, 2003 4:49 PM
#
As I have just returned from 2 weeks in Sweden (including a week at the "first" WOC training camp for WOC 2004) I thought I would put some thoughts out for discussion. This may be a bit disorganized, but I hope useful.
Vasteras is a town of about 130 thousand, located about 1 to 1.5 hours west of Stockholm. Its the main headquarters for ABB, large Swedish engineering company, and is located on a large body of water called Malaren, in the Varmland's district. Vasteras OK is the local club, but a network of various clubs will be integral to hosting the WOC, including Norberg and Fagersta and Skinnskatteberg. Most of the maps and areas used will be located in an arc 60km north and west of Vasteras.
Most of the training maps and presumably all of the WOC maps are done by Roger Asberg, a member of OK Hadstrommen. The areas I trained on during the training week were: Raby (short relavant), Skommarbo (long relavant), Rotmossen (partly relavant for Long, middle and relay), Acktharnarna (relavant for middle and relay), Karrgeten (relavant for long) and Brudslojan (relavant for long, and partly for middle and relay). All of the forests share typical Swedish characteristics of having mixed areas of mixed full growth forests, soft mossy footing and marshes. In addition, most of the areas were rather flat (particularly in contrast to Switzerland), but with areas of extensive contour detail, and felled (logged) areas.
Raby is probably the one area that has an exception to the marshy terrain (and, having seen the old version of the Rocklunda map, where the short will be, the same holds true). These areas had firmer ground, though still with underbrush, including blueberries, but, in particular, had quite a large amount of rock. Again, the areas were relatively flat, with only 2.5 m contours). Runnability and visability is quite good; and most of the forest is pine. Success in these areas is going to take strong ankles, fast legs, and INTENSE concentration with very quick decision making. You will not have the opportunity to read very far ahead during the race.
For the long relavant areas: Brudslojan is the most relavant to the WOC in the opinion of all. The map is a mixture of gentle and complex contour detail, a good amount of marshy areas but not as substantial as in other training areas. The thing of main importance is the areas of complex contours...which cover a greater area of the mapped area than in other areas. I found this area the most difficult/challenging to orienteer in, even though it was the last area I trained in and thus presumably, I was more prepared for it. It required almost constant concentration, which will be fairly challenging over a longer course. The undergrowth was mid-shin level in most areas, almost all blueberry or kirsh bushes; again soft moss, with the higher ground almost always being what we would probably call bare rock; but in Sweden has the addition of a small thin layer of moss, except for the very top. It is extremely important to pay attention to vegetation changes as well as these can initially be confusing. There is limited green mapped, as I have come to understand is Swedish standard, as green is based on runnability and not necessarily visability. Therefore there can be substantial difference in the visability of what is mapped as white forest. Some areas, it can be quite extensive, other areas, it may only be 10 meters. The areas with limited visability are located either near areas mapped as green (and thus lower, flat, water drain areas), or in proximity to existing felled areas. Sometimes these areas are old felled areas that have matured enough to no longer be considered green. They are challenging in the sense that there is typically limited contour detail (small form line or one contour knolls), and very limited visability (mostly Christmas tree like trees, with some distance between them). Therefore, if a control is located in this type of area, it is extremely important to have a very secure attackpoint and to maintain bearings. As is typical for Swedish orienteering, straight line route choice is usually optimal, even through green areas, if the route through the green is not excessive. The only exception is probably the felled areas. While visability through these areas is very good (obviously because there are no trees), runnibility is very challenging. The edges of these areas typically have better footing, and are wonderful linear features to use. Also, perhaps half of the maps I trained on had large felled areas with marshes in the middle of them. If on line, these prove a faster way to negotiate the terrain as runnability in the marshes, particularly the white (forested) marshes is quite good.
Middle/Relay terrain: Acktjarnarna and Rotmossen were the most representative. Both areas consisted of extensive marsh networks; some being quite large and open (yellow). The larger (and particularly the yellow) marshes are an important feature in the sense that their runnability is going to be determined by the type of weather Sweden has during the summer of 2004. If quite wet, the marshes will be wet as well and therefore more difficult and perhaps precarious to run through. If dry, they will be almost like running through open fields. Many of the large marshes transition in and out of open (ie some part have no trees and other parts are embedded in the forests). If there is even one tree in the marsh area, it will most likely be mapped as white. The smaller marshes in the forests are more challenging to navigate by as they are not usually substantially different from open land (especially low open land). Vegetation (the grassy bits) help to identify marshy areas. Again, on these maps, "high" ground is typically bare rock with moss growing on it, which makes knolls in flat areas quite easy to identify, once you get use to them. Dot knolls are a bit more challenging...I am not sure I quite understand the specifications used to map them (except that they are more like small knolls without bare rock). It seemed to me that most of the boulders mapped were at least 1.5m and very distinct (no moss growing on them). Also, there is very limited use of the cliff symbol on the maps; instead the rockface symbol is utilized. However, the features mapped as rockfaces are almost always quite vertical, though you can "run" over them (but often not "easily" up them) and very distinctive. There was one control on Rotmossen that was actually a cliff and not a rockface, but it was a linear set and I did not see that much of a difference between the cliff and the rockface, except that perhaps the cliff "overhung" a bit while the rockface was purely vertical. Again, in these areas, there is "inconsistancy" of white woods following the same criteria written above. Vegetation boundaries are extremely useful features. Streams (full line) are dug trenches, and will be weather dependant. Intermittant streams are not a prominant feature used on the map and are typically small wet areas in a rockface valley (in between two lines of rockfaces), thus not being quite big enough to be a marsh, but there is not any trench or streambed apparent (for the most part). Trails are tyipcally quite narrow, but distinctive; rides are usually identifible by lack of trees more than the ground surface; they typically look like old logging roads, and are sometimes very grassy.
In general, these forests are NOT fast (with the sprint/short areas perhaps being an acception). The ground surface is soft, and in places quite uneven, and there is almost always ground cover (save on the top of the bare rock areas, which makes them good route choice options). In my opinion, finding the "line" through the forest is going to be critical; as is upper leg strength and ability to concentrate for a substantial period of time. Relocation is very challenging in many areas (and thus time consuming). If you lose contact, everything looks the same. I also found it quite difficult to simplify the map; the solution being to utilize larger features like marshes or hilltop series. In this sense, I think reading ahead will be critical as well.
Okay, I will stop for now. Please ask questions; that will help me to think about what else may be relavant.
Vasteras is a town of about 130 thousand, located about 1 to 1.5 hours west of Stockholm. Its the main headquarters for ABB, large Swedish engineering company, and is located on a large body of water called Malaren, in the Varmland's district. Vasteras OK is the local club, but a network of various clubs will be integral to hosting the WOC, including Norberg and Fagersta and Skinnskatteberg. Most of the maps and areas used will be located in an arc 60km north and west of Vasteras.
Most of the training maps and presumably all of the WOC maps are done by Roger Asberg, a member of OK Hadstrommen. The areas I trained on during the training week were: Raby (short relavant), Skommarbo (long relavant), Rotmossen (partly relavant for Long, middle and relay), Acktharnarna (relavant for middle and relay), Karrgeten (relavant for long) and Brudslojan (relavant for long, and partly for middle and relay). All of the forests share typical Swedish characteristics of having mixed areas of mixed full growth forests, soft mossy footing and marshes. In addition, most of the areas were rather flat (particularly in contrast to Switzerland), but with areas of extensive contour detail, and felled (logged) areas.
Raby is probably the one area that has an exception to the marshy terrain (and, having seen the old version of the Rocklunda map, where the short will be, the same holds true). These areas had firmer ground, though still with underbrush, including blueberries, but, in particular, had quite a large amount of rock. Again, the areas were relatively flat, with only 2.5 m contours). Runnability and visability is quite good; and most of the forest is pine. Success in these areas is going to take strong ankles, fast legs, and INTENSE concentration with very quick decision making. You will not have the opportunity to read very far ahead during the race.
For the long relavant areas: Brudslojan is the most relavant to the WOC in the opinion of all. The map is a mixture of gentle and complex contour detail, a good amount of marshy areas but not as substantial as in other training areas. The thing of main importance is the areas of complex contours...which cover a greater area of the mapped area than in other areas. I found this area the most difficult/challenging to orienteer in, even though it was the last area I trained in and thus presumably, I was more prepared for it. It required almost constant concentration, which will be fairly challenging over a longer course. The undergrowth was mid-shin level in most areas, almost all blueberry or kirsh bushes; again soft moss, with the higher ground almost always being what we would probably call bare rock; but in Sweden has the addition of a small thin layer of moss, except for the very top. It is extremely important to pay attention to vegetation changes as well as these can initially be confusing. There is limited green mapped, as I have come to understand is Swedish standard, as green is based on runnability and not necessarily visability. Therefore there can be substantial difference in the visability of what is mapped as white forest. Some areas, it can be quite extensive, other areas, it may only be 10 meters. The areas with limited visability are located either near areas mapped as green (and thus lower, flat, water drain areas), or in proximity to existing felled areas. Sometimes these areas are old felled areas that have matured enough to no longer be considered green. They are challenging in the sense that there is typically limited contour detail (small form line or one contour knolls), and very limited visability (mostly Christmas tree like trees, with some distance between them). Therefore, if a control is located in this type of area, it is extremely important to have a very secure attackpoint and to maintain bearings. As is typical for Swedish orienteering, straight line route choice is usually optimal, even through green areas, if the route through the green is not excessive. The only exception is probably the felled areas. While visability through these areas is very good (obviously because there are no trees), runnibility is very challenging. The edges of these areas typically have better footing, and are wonderful linear features to use. Also, perhaps half of the maps I trained on had large felled areas with marshes in the middle of them. If on line, these prove a faster way to negotiate the terrain as runnability in the marshes, particularly the white (forested) marshes is quite good.
Middle/Relay terrain: Acktjarnarna and Rotmossen were the most representative. Both areas consisted of extensive marsh networks; some being quite large and open (yellow). The larger (and particularly the yellow) marshes are an important feature in the sense that their runnability is going to be determined by the type of weather Sweden has during the summer of 2004. If quite wet, the marshes will be wet as well and therefore more difficult and perhaps precarious to run through. If dry, they will be almost like running through open fields. Many of the large marshes transition in and out of open (ie some part have no trees and other parts are embedded in the forests). If there is even one tree in the marsh area, it will most likely be mapped as white. The smaller marshes in the forests are more challenging to navigate by as they are not usually substantially different from open land (especially low open land). Vegetation (the grassy bits) help to identify marshy areas. Again, on these maps, "high" ground is typically bare rock with moss growing on it, which makes knolls in flat areas quite easy to identify, once you get use to them. Dot knolls are a bit more challenging...I am not sure I quite understand the specifications used to map them (except that they are more like small knolls without bare rock). It seemed to me that most of the boulders mapped were at least 1.5m and very distinct (no moss growing on them). Also, there is very limited use of the cliff symbol on the maps; instead the rockface symbol is utilized. However, the features mapped as rockfaces are almost always quite vertical, though you can "run" over them (but often not "easily" up them) and very distinctive. There was one control on Rotmossen that was actually a cliff and not a rockface, but it was a linear set and I did not see that much of a difference between the cliff and the rockface, except that perhaps the cliff "overhung" a bit while the rockface was purely vertical. Again, in these areas, there is "inconsistancy" of white woods following the same criteria written above. Vegetation boundaries are extremely useful features. Streams (full line) are dug trenches, and will be weather dependant. Intermittant streams are not a prominant feature used on the map and are typically small wet areas in a rockface valley (in between two lines of rockfaces), thus not being quite big enough to be a marsh, but there is not any trench or streambed apparent (for the most part). Trails are tyipcally quite narrow, but distinctive; rides are usually identifible by lack of trees more than the ground surface; they typically look like old logging roads, and are sometimes very grassy.
In general, these forests are NOT fast (with the sprint/short areas perhaps being an acception). The ground surface is soft, and in places quite uneven, and there is almost always ground cover (save on the top of the bare rock areas, which makes them good route choice options). In my opinion, finding the "line" through the forest is going to be critical; as is upper leg strength and ability to concentrate for a substantial period of time. Relocation is very challenging in many areas (and thus time consuming). If you lose contact, everything looks the same. I also found it quite difficult to simplify the map; the solution being to utilize larger features like marshes or hilltop series. In this sense, I think reading ahead will be critical as well.
Okay, I will stop for now. Please ask questions; that will help me to think about what else may be relavant.
Oct 12, 2003 5:54 AM
#
Karen,
Thanks for writing up such a thorough and technical picture of what we'll need to be prepared for in Sweden. I really hope I'm one of the people that needs to be prepared for it! (Although I'm really going to have to get over this slow running thing, esp. for the Wyoming trials...)
ps. Since Karen visited my scanner today, you can see the maps that go with the description at:
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/usoteam/lst
Then you should really get a feel for how flat, subtle, and hard-to-relocate some of this terrain is...
Thanks for writing up such a thorough and technical picture of what we'll need to be prepared for in Sweden. I really hope I'm one of the people that needs to be prepared for it! (Although I'm really going to have to get over this slow running thing, esp. for the Wyoming trials...)
ps. Since Karen visited my scanner today, you can see the maps that go with the description at:
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/usoteam/lst
Then you should really get a feel for how flat, subtle, and hard-to-relocate some of this terrain is...
Oct 13, 2003 3:40 AM
#
I apologize for not getting this info out more times than I already have. The maps from WOC 2004 Bulletin 1 are here.
Oct 13, 2003 7:45 PM
#
Thanks a mill' Karen for the write-up. Is anyone allowed on the usoteam group to see the maps?
Thanks Vlad for the WOC maps... a few Irish have been trying to get our hands on them for a while.... either some IOA people don't like us or are somewhat incompetent... I'm going to get in trouble now after directing the Irish squad here to look at Karen's report. Doh...
Thanks Vlad for the WOC maps... a few Irish have been trying to get our hands on them for a while.... either some IOA people don't like us or are somewhat incompetent... I'm going to get in trouble now after directing the Irish squad here to look at Karen's report. Doh...
This discussion thread is closed.