The "O" stands for Orienteering ----- and I hope you know what GPS stands for!

Together, the GPS and the "O" mean that you use your GPS to negotiate an orienteering course as you search for specific permanent controls (markers) based on Latitude and Longitude coordinates.

Various orienteering organizations maintain permanent orienteering courses in many cities. For example, the Rochester, NY Orienteering Club has permanent courses set up at Durand Eastman Park, Letchworth State Park, Mendon Ponds Park, and Webster Park. The courses are set up so that a person can take a topographical map, with the location of several controls indicated on the map, then go out and physically locate the controls. They then mark their course punch card (provided with the map) with the letters that are on each control. The orienteer then sends his completed course card to the club and the club issues him an award.

To complete the course, the orienteer has to be able to read a topographical map and use a compass to orient his map properly. Between the compass and the identification of landmarks on the map, he can find the location of each control. Some of the controls are easy to find (on or very near to a trail); some are of a medium difficulty (off trail but on a distinct land feature), and some are still more difficult to locate (off trail with no specific features).

This is a unique opportunity for GPS'ers to become familiar with traditional orienteering while still using their GPS! Through the cooperation of the Rochester Orienteering Club, you will be able to obtain a topographical orienteering map of the course in Mendon Ponds Park, Durand Eastman Park, Letchworth State Park, and Webster Park. These courses have had the Latitude and Longitude recorded for each of the controls. You could use any other maps you have available, but the club maps are very detailed and therefore probably more helpful. The club also has a clue sheet, for each of the points to be found, and a course punch card to document your progress.

The orienteering maps, and other course materials, are available on-line under the course link below or you can purchase the materials at The Map Shop, Northfield Common, 50 State Street, Pittsford, New York 14534, (585) 385-5850.

As mentioned above, those who complete the course without a GPS are recognized by the club with an award. If you use a GPS, you are not currently eligible for an award.

So … get your GPS, a topo map, a list of clues, your course punch card, and let's do a GPS-O!

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