Map Adventure 101

• Map Adventure: Also known as a rogaine is a special type of orienteering race in which you travel set mode (foot) while using a map and compass to locate various checkpoints over an area.
• Checkpoint(CP): A location that you will be visiting on a map. Some checkpoints are marked with orienteering flags while other remain unmarked. Checkpoints will have at least a punch or other means of identifying you have been there (such as a secret word).
  
• Team: Used to represent both solo racers and multiple member teams. Team members must stay together at all times unless otherwise specified. This isn't a relay race. 
• Passport: A punch card with squares used to indicate which checkpoints you have visited by punching them. 
• Punch: A multipin device used to punch a the passport. Each punch has a different set of pins as to represent a different checkpoint visited.
• Time limit: The amount of time you have to visit as many checkpoints as possible. A four hour race means you have four hours to finish. It may take you all the time or only a portion of it. You may only go after x number of checkpoints before calling it a day or push it to the limit. Just don't be late. 
• Mandatory Gear: Gear required to be carried by a team or individual throughout the race. Individual gear must be carried by each team member at all times. 
• Course Packet: Has everything you need to know about the race to include clue sheet, point values, out-of-bound areas, special rules and so on.

Ask, con, bribe or even trick others into signing up with you. Map adventures can be ran solo, but a so much more fun with teams.

Read the details on the race site to include the rules, mandatory gear and so on. Most of the race details are secret but sometimes race directors drop hints on the race page or social media. 

When registering the first participant for your group creates a team. Some teams select fun names and others are simply branding for their sponsors. Teams must remain as one unit throughout the race unless otherwise directed.

Prior to race day, make sure you have the mandatory gear for the team and individuals as specified on the race site.

At check-in you are given a passport, a map and a course packet. The map has a number of checkpoints plotted through out the area. The passport will come into play as you visit each checkpoint. It's an advantage to arrive early so you have time to prepare.

Using the details in the course packet and the map, your team will use the time prior to the race start to plan what checkpoints you plan to go after, your route choices and maybe even what checkpoints you want to drop that just aren't worth the time to get. New teams may not go after all checkpoints while more experienced teams will.   Pro-tip: If you are new to this, don't plan on going after everything. The course is designed with various skill levels in mind.

At the start of the race, everyone lines up in a designated area. Special instructions may be given for the race start such as: Use your mobile phone to scan this code.

During the race you will be looking checkpoints which are either orienteering flags or special markes as indicated in your course packet. All contain a reflective marker which makes them pop at night when your headlamp hits them. On the checkpoint there are two items of importance: punch and QR code. 

When time is getting close, you must return to the "Finish" area located on your map and in the race guide. Don't be late because their is normally a penalty for finishing even 1 second late. 

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