Just you, your horse, a compass and a terrain map. Your team of three to six people. You may NOT use: GPS, cell phone, any map other than the one provided you. You may not hide the markers from another team.
On your terrain map, a number of large circles are drawn.
On the back of your map, 10 sets of three clues.
Inside each circle, the clues lead you to three reference points, each which is assigned a degree. A pile of rocks, a stump with a rock on it, a soda bottle hanging from a tree. Using the three points and your compass, you will triangulate to find a paper plate with a code written on it which you must notate on your map.
Your goal: Don't get lost. Find the most correct codes and return to base camp with the fastest time.
We started sometime at 9 am up in the woods on top of a mountain. We finished sometime after two. I'm going to guess we covered somewhere between 15 and 20 miles. I am going to be very saddle-sore tomorrow, but thanks to our two other experienced team members Debbie and Megan, Michelle and I won on our first time trying Competitive Mounted Orienteering.
Most fun I've had on a horse in years. Excuse me, I need to go soak my backside in some hot water and epsom salts.
