Orienteering- What is It?

Imagine walking or running in the woods.  Armed with only a map, compass, and your wits, you must find your way through unknown terrain…and follow clues to locate the orange and white flags in the forest.  You’re racing against time, using parts of your brain that have been shut off from depending on GPS devices. Navigating your way along trails and streams, across meadows and through woods, you feel a primal force rise from within; you are totally connected with your surroundings.  You are orienteering.  Want to try? Go to DVOA’s website to learn more.

My dad tried to get me to orienteer when I was little.  I was terrified of going into the woods alone, I mean who wants to be alone?  I didn’t.  My siblings were all superstars at it; it was their thing.  I decided I would stick to places that had people in them, people that would pay attention to me.  Until not long ago, that is.  I started liking going into the woods alone, because it was a way to triumph over my fears. (And experience Nature!) One reason I orienteer is because I like the feeling of winning out over my personal demons, aka Panic Disorder.  Panic Disorder sucks and I’m mostly cured of it…but it hasn’t been easy.  And orienteering has been one of the catalysts that kick-started my recovery process (a chemical-free one, I might add.)  I’m a beginner, with a lot to learn, but I’m starting to realize this could be a sport that keeps me in shape both mentally and physically for the rest of my life (I hope!)  This blog is a place for me to keep track of my goals, an online notebook of sorts, to goad me to do my personal best.  My first post has a lot of my original goals in it.