Rogaine 101: Route Choice and Getting Lost.

This is a three-part blog series all about Rogaining. In the first part, we went over what a Rogaine is and everything around Rogaine Maps. In the second part, we talked about compasses and navigation and in this, part three we'll talk about route choice, calculating distance and getting lost. 

Let's get to the most important decision you'll make in a Rogaine: Route Choice. 

Route Choice is the route you will take through the checkpoints and back to the finish. It's all about how far you can travel over different terrain in a certain time while stopping to get the checkpoints, so you aren't late back and lose all those points you went super far to get. 

If you're a numbers person, there are a few ways to, roughly, calculate how long it will take you to get from A to B, based on distance and elevation, in km and m respectively. 

'Nasmith's Rule' was a term coined in 1892 by a Scottish mountaineer. His theory was to allow 1 hour for every 5km forward and an extra hour for every 600m of elevation. This is not exact and will of course depend on factors like your fitness, how fast you're going and what the trail conditions are like.

The Munter Method is similar but came from a Swiss Mountain Guide and is a bit more techy. Originally used for ski touring, it can be applied to running, walking and hiking too. This calculation is: TIME = (DISTANCE [km] + (ELEVATION [m]/100)) / RATE (see what I mean about more techy!?) Now the variable here is the 'RATE' and this is how fast you are travelling - Downhill walking is normally a 6 and uphill walking is normally a 4 (but I think mine would be a 3!) and the max is 10. 

If this is all too much there are great online calculators, like this one which takes into account pack weight and terrain (and even puts Nasmith's Rule as an option for you): Hiking Time Calculator - quick & easy hiking time estimates.

NOTE: With all these methods you need to add bonus time for reading the map, pausing to check the map again and then checking in the bushes for controls - it ALWAYS takes longer than you think and these methods are just for constant walking not pausing to figure out if you're lost or not!

The last way, that is the most personalised is to record what you're doing and compare the data. Either using your phone or a smartwatch or doing it the old-fashioned way with maps and a stopwatch - how long does it take me in this terrain with this elevation? And you'll eventually get pretty good at figuring out your own method and rate of travel.

This is good knowledge to have for figuring out how many different checkpoints you can visit in the rogaine and still be back within the time frame. But while it's interesting, it's not necessary to get started and guesstimation is still a perfectly good way to travel, and can add to the fun! 

NOTE: there will always be things that don't go to plan in your rogaine, you didn't notice that it was a steep hill to climb, people in the way, chatting too much (guilty!) and then you notice that time slips away - so it always pays to check the time often to make sure you're on track. 

Here are two maps that show the same Halswell Quarry Rogaine course, and two different approaches to a 30-minute Rogaine (they're not normally 30 minutes but it's a good example!)

Map One

You can see two people with the same time limit go in completely different directions, based on how they calculate (or guesstimate) their own personal rate of travel.

So, getting lost. 

No matter how prepared you are, how well you know your map and compass and rate of travel, getting lost is inevitable. A farmer moved the fence and it's no longer where you think it is and doesn't match the map. You change direction a little because of a bull standing by the gate (both things that have happened to me) and then you get all turned around. 

Ultimately getting lost is good practise! If you know the general area you're in, you can take a bearing with your map and compass or you can check your map and see if any of the terrain matches what you're standing in and what's around you. And while one of the first rules I was told about Rogaining (don't follow other people because they could be going the wrong way) is the best advice ever, if you're lost, finding other people could help put you back on track - problem-solving your way out of the situation is going to help you so much more in the long run. 

Getting lost is also a great way to practise skills like staying calm under pressure, especially if you are part of a team. Nothing makes a Rogaine less fun than being berated or berating someone for messing up the navigation.

Making mistakes in a controlled setting is the best place to make mistakes too. You know that people know where you are, you have an emergency number to call on the map if things really hit the fan and you're generally pretty close to civilisation (especially in the Canterbury Rogaine Series Summer Series). So if you want to see how far you can push it in the time limit, you know you are pretty safe to give it a try! I mean you may lose all your points 😉 but at least you'll have some more experience and you may surprise yourself! 

And that's some rogaine info in a nutshell (over three blogs!), if you're keen for some more info, to talk to someone about rogaining (or even orienteering) here are some great resources to look at too! 

• https://www.canterburyrogaine.com/
• https://wickedrogaines.nz/
• https://papo.org.nz/
• https://www.orienteering.org.nz/
• http://www.rogaine.org.nz/nzra/
• https://ccc.govt.nz/rec-and-sport/activities/orienteering

If you're like us you can't wait till the next Summer Series that we sponsor with Canterbury Rogaine Series! There is a super fun Christmas Rogaine in December - Santa gives prizes, there's a BBQ, and people even dress up (not compulsory, but tons of fun!) and all the fun stuff! 

And then there are three Rogaines on three Wednesdays in January, and a prize giving after the last Rogaine! 

Make sure you're following the Canterbury Rogaine Series on Facebook, to get all the info about upcoming rogaines! 

If you missed part one:

and part two:

They're deffo worth a read! 

And I hope to see you at the next summer series! 

All Images by Hayden McCoy @haydenmccoyphotography

Our Top 5 Rogaine Tips:

1. Don't be late back! It helps to have some idea of how fast you move over certain terrain so you don't overstretch!
2. Getting lost in a rogaine is not a bad thing! It's good practise to get lost in a controlled setting!
3. Things will never go 100% to plan, creative problem solving is a great thing to practise in a rogaine.
4. Keep note of the time as you go, have a timer go off 15 minutes before the end, and start a timer when you start it goes a lot faster than you think!
5. Have fun! Ultimately you are outside in nature, on a big treasure hunt with your mates! How can that not be fun?