The Western Pennsylvania Orienteering Club had a meet in a park in Indiana, PA. Courses offered where White, Yellow, Score. Temperatures in this october day where about 88 F, very unusual for this time of year. Maps of the score courses where given to the participant just two minutes before start. Chose to go clockwise: 8, 13, 14, 6, 7, 8, 19, 20, 2, 9, 18, 16, 15, 3, 12, 10, 17, 1, 11, 4.
The first problem was with control 14. I missed it by passing it south and east, then found the creek about 100 m East of the control. Thinking it might be the re-entrant in the circle where the control is, I inspect some of the sides of the creek, but then I am suspicious of the size of the creek, and realize that it is the creek east of the control, fact confirmed when I reach the trail below stream, and see the edge of the clearing just North. Eventually find the control using trail as attack point.
Control 7 location was interesting for its cat tails and semi-swampy flora. Then realized the dilemma of which control to go for next: had a hunch that maybe I should go 20-19-8, but instead went 8-19-20.
Control 8 was easy. Control 19 was not that easy, but got extremely lucky and found myself right in front of it. For 20, descended back down to the trail below, and found the creek to use it as handrail to control 20.
Gained up the steep slope and reached the trail on the ridge. Decided that control 10 was for later on the return trip and went for control 2 using trails and bushwacking at the end.
For control 9, used trail and at a curve, went parallel to a creek, did not see it, until I found myself on trail downstream, and then realized there were several spurs. Climbed up the central spur, and saw the control. Some lost time here...
The run from control 9 to control 18 was easy and fast.
The walk from control 18 to control 16 was pretty direct, and spotted the control easily.
Overshot control 15 by going too much on the East, then turned around and swept a bit back on my tracks, and saw the control.
Lost alot of time going from control 15 to control 3: ended up on the trail South-West of control 15, followed it South to the major trail intersection. Was very confused on where I was. At the trail intersection, saw a large sign and tought that on the map it was marked as the blue "x" (special) that is just North-West of control 3. So, from the trail intersection, followed the trail going South-East and saw a control at a "T" trail junction, but it was a control for the Yellow course. At this point I really was confused, and realized that I was completely lost. Studied the map looking for a "T" intersection, and used the compass to confirm the bearings of the trail directions. Followed the trail in direction North-East, and found control 3.
Got back on the major trail next to the gas tank (the blue "x") and followed the major trail near control 12. Overlooking from the edge of the hill, saw a very convoluted and knolly terrain below, and using compass, chose a direction that got me directly to control 12.
From control 12 to control 10, followed beautiful jeep trails covered in fall leaves, and once reached the powerline, went North on a steep downhill and reached 10.
It was my intention to reach control 17 by backtracking on the powerline back uphill and then take the gasline in direction West. In my mind I had fixated with "follow the powerline", and from control 10, went uphill in North direction instead of South. Once reached the top of the hill, noticed park signage of a trail, got suspicious, and compass reading and map study later, realized I was on the wrong powerline. Followed a long trail and edge of a slope to reach control 17. (Major blunder: realized hours later, after discussing with others, that the best route from 10 to 17 was to follow a trail South-West to the creek intersecting the gas pipeline, and then follow the gas pipeline in direction West).
At this point I had 12 minutes left. Thinking (incorrectly) that control 1 was worth only one point, I sacrifice it and don't go for it, and stay instead in the gas pipeline clearing to get me closer to control 11.
Control 11 was a bit tricky, due to the somewhat low visibility with vines overhanging from trees, and other somewhat thick vegetation. Eventually saw the houses nearby, and took a North-East bearing, and found myself heading straight into the control.
Reached the paved road, and quickly found control 4.
Reached the finish with 2 minutes 50 seconds left.
A much better route is shown below (post-run analysis), with an estimated length of 7.6 km.
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