Cross-country Navigation Camp

February 25-27, 2005
Camp Tamarancho, near Fairfax, CA
Start: Friday, February 25, 6:00 p.m.
Finish: Sunday, February 27, 4:00 p.m.
Instructors: Eric Bone and Vladimir Gusiatnikov

This training camp is aimed primarily at adventure racing and rogaining-type navigation, using USGS topo maps. This is not a beginner camp. Some navigation experience is assumed, and exercises will mostly be aimed at building intermediate to advanced level skills. The emphasis will be on in-the-field practice, so expect to be on your feet for much of the time. The program is limited to eight people, and the camp is expected to fill. To register, e-mail your name and phone number to eric (at) mergeo (dot) com. You will be asked to mail a deposit, so that it is received by January 24.

Topics
The camp will cover such topics as basic techniques, map reading and terrain association, navigation routines/systems, teamwork, compass use, route choice, precision orienteering navigation, night navigation, pacing, terrain evaluation and strategy, and some skills/techniques for specific situations. For simplicity, the practice courses will be designed for foot travel, and there will be longer and shorter variations to accommodate different ability levels. The camp will be physically and mentally rigorous and will require a good fitness level for maximum benefit.

Registration Fee

$295, including 6 meals (dinner Fri. thru lunch Sun.)
Payment is due by February 23.
Make checks payable to "Meridian Geographics" and mail to:

Nav Camp
c/o Terry Farrah
1410 Murchison Dr
Millbrae, CA 94030

OR...

you can submit full payment via PayPal by clicking this button and e-mailing notice of your payment to eric (at) mergeo (dot) com:

Refund policy

For cancellations prior to 30 days before the start of the camp:

• Refund all but $30

For cancellations 30 or fewer days before the start of the camp:

• If we are able to fill the vacancy, refund all but $30
• If we are unable to fill the vacancy, no refund.

If we cancel the camp, registrants receive a full refund.

Lodging

The training camp is conveniently based at Camp Tamarancho, adjacent to much of the terrain we will be using for the field sessions. Lodging in four-person cabins at the camp is included in the navigation camp registration fee, however you bring your own bedding.

Food

Meals are included and will be served at camp, from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch. That means that we will return to camp from our field practice for meals. We will try to accommodate everyone's dietary needs, so please contact Eric with any dietary restrictions.

What to Bring

• Bedding, either a sleeping bag or sheets and blankets (bunks provided in four-person cabins)
• Outdoor clothing and shoes appropriate for cross-country travel in warm or cool weather (there may be some travel through thick vegetation, but probably not too much)
• Water and "trail food" (gels, bars, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or whatever you like to eat when you engage in endurance exercise). Meals will be provided, but we'll be burning lots of calories, so snacks will come in handy.
• A whistle (minimum) and whatever other safety gear you're comfortable with. We will try to look out for each other, but there is always some chance that you could get injured in a hard-to-find place and be alone for many hours. Cell phone coverage is spotty in the area, so don't count on using your cell phone.
• A small pack to carry your water, food, and safety gear in the field
• Maps and stories from previous races (for review; to suggest areas to target for improvement)
• Map case you usually use
• A compass (preferably the one you usually use or one you wish to practice with)
• A UTM plotting tool, if you have one and want to practice
• An altimeter, if you have one and want to practice
• A flashlight or headlamp for the night navigation course (and for use around camp in the evenings)
• Blister treatment if you are susceptible to blisters, because we'll be on our feet a lot over uneven ground
• Ankle tape or brace if you are susceptible to spraining your ankles
• Poison oak cleanser (e.g. Tecnu), if you are sensitive to poison oak

About the Area

Terrain
Hilly ridge and valley topography. Mostly forest and grassland, but some areas of chaparral.

Weather
It could be warm and sunny or cold and rainy. Check the forecast for Fairfax for the latest update.

Tentative Schedule

Friday, Feb. 25:

6:00-6:30 p.m. meet; discuss goals; review schedule
6:30-7:30 p.m. dinner
7:30 to 9:30 p.m. instruction: map preparation; basic skills

Saturday, Feb. 26:

7:00-8:00 a.m. breakfast
8:00-9:00 a.m. instruction: map reading and terrain association; navigation routine/basic skills review
9:00-9:30 a.m. prepare and go to field
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. basic navigation course (7.5 km / 4.7 miles)
12:30-1:30 p.m. lunch
1:30-3:00 p.m. instruction: precision map reading and orienteering technique; precision compass and distance estimation
3:00-4:30 p.m. precision orienteering course (about 4 km / 2.5 miles)
4:30-5:30 p.m. precision compass practice course (about 1.5 km / 1 mile)
5:30-6:30 p.m. dinner
6:30-7:15 p.m. instruction: night navigation
7:15-10:30 p.m. night navigation course (about 6 km / 3.8 miles)

Sunday, Sept. 19:

7:30-8:30 a.m. breakfast
8:30-10:00 a.m. instruction: terrain evaluation and strategy; route choice
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. advanced practice course (7.7 km / 4.8 miles)
2:00-3:00 p.m. lunch
3:00-3:45 p.m. review/discussion: Q & A; exchange ideas on gear, nutrition, etc.
4:00 p.m. departure

Eric's resume (in brief)

• 2004 Balance Bar 24-hour Adventure series, 5th place (Team Eastern Mountain Sports)
• 2004 PURE urban adventure race, 1st place
• 2004 World Rogaining Championships, 7th place (out of about 175 teams)
• 2004 Appalachian Extreme AR, 3rd place (Team Rock 'n Road Cycles, navigator)
• 2003 U.S. Orienteering Champion
• 2003 Six Degrees of Navigation AR, 1st place (Team Six Degrees in Navigation, navigator)
• 2003 U.S. Rogaining Championships, 2nd place
• 2002 U.S. Rogaining Championships, 1st place
• 2001-2002 Canadian national junior orienteering training camp, advanced group coach
• 1994-present U.S. Orienteering Team member

Vladimir's resume (in brief)

• 2004 World Rogaining Championships, 7th place (out of about 175 teams)
• 2002 World Rogaining Championships, 5th place
• 2002 U.S. Rogaining Championships, 1st place
• International Orienteering Federation Licensed Event Advisor
• Expert orienteering course designer and coach

Please feel free to write with any questions, and I will post answers of wide interest on this web page. I look forward to seeing you the weekend of February 25-27.

-- Eric

   eric (at) mergeo (dot) com