stephanie powell :: articles :: x marks the spot

X Marks the Spot

Stephanie Powell races through the woods on a high-speed scavenger hunt.

Standing in a boulder field in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies, I turn my compass in circles in my palm. According to my map, I'm supposed to see a cliff face due west and a dirt road just north. But everywhere I turn, all I can make out are rocks—no sign of the orange and white flag that marks my destination. I jog frantically from one side to the other until I'm almost out of breath. I am officially lost.

I knew this could happen. But it’s sort of why I’m here. Bored with my hiking and cycling routine, I became interested in orienteering the moment my friend described it as a mind-bending scavenger hunt. The challenge: Using a topographic map and a compass, you race against other men and women, sometimes in teams, through gorgeous forests or parks to find a series of hidden flags. The person who reaches them all in order the fastest wins. Today, I’m up against 15 of the 113 competitors on the intermediate course, which includes nine flags (the expert level has 12), each about half a mile apart. Forty-five minutes into the race, I’ve already hit four.

Clueless where to go next, I decide to backtrack, marching downhill a quarter mile and recrossing a dry riverbed. Scanning my map, a skill I learned in a map-reading class at a Denver REI store, I realize that the skinny trail in the distance will lead me in the right direction. (Staying lost wouldn’t be such a big deal, though; in a briefing before the race, organizers assured us that search parties would be sent for anyone who didn’t cross the finish line.) As soon as I’m back on course I start to run—my favorite part!

As I jog along the edge of a stream, I debate whether to veer off course and head for a patch of 4-foot-high brush—a shortcut, according to my map. Pushing my way through is slow going. Too slow. I stuff my compass and map in my pocket and crawl along the ground where there are fewer branches.

A few minutes later, I emerge from the thicket and am surrounded by rocks again. I pick thorns out of my hair and quickly get my bearings. If I’m on the right track, that cliff face in front of me is due west, and I'm near my next target. I spot the bright orange and white flag tucked near the base of a 4-foot boulder. Attached to it is a hole puncher I use to mark my control card—proof that I've tagged checkpoint five. (Each flag has a different puncher so you can't cheat.) Only four more to go!

Making my way around a marsh, I practically ram into a guy hunting for the same flag. I apologize and study my map, which tells me to head toward a small hill. When he's not looking, I bolt in that direction. No way he's piggybacking on my find! I instantly discover the flag, punch my card, and duck out of sight.

Searching for the last and final checkpoint, I see a woman running through a field in my direction about 50 yards away. My heart jumps and kicks me into turbo gear. Nearly 2 hours into the race, my quads are burning, blisters are forming, and I’m more focused than ever on finding my victory flag. When I see a twinge of orange and white hanging from an aspen tree in the distance, I book it—and finish a strong second, about 13 minutes behind a guy named Bruce. Winning would be nice, but it’s thinking my way out of the woods that thrills me more than anything. With a compass and a map, I now feel like I can go anywhere and find anything. Hell, I may never set foot on a marked trail again.

Watch Your Step (sidebar)

Four tips for smooth running over uneven terrain.

Tone your core to improve your balance. Barbara Brehm, Ed.D., chair of the department of exercise and sport studies at Smith College, suggests this isometric stabilizing exercise: Get on your hands and knees. Keeping your back flat and abs tight, raise your right arm out in front of you and your left leg straight behind you, both parallel to the floor. Hold for 30 seconds. Do three reps on each leg four times a week.

Pick landmarks before you run to avoid getting lost, says Sherry Litasi, president of the Rocky Mountain Orienteering Club. Start with a large boulder or tree you can't miss, then take off. When you get there, stop, pick another point, and run. Repeat the process until you reach your target.

Lead with your hips when running uphill, Litasi says. Fight the urge to bend forward at the waist: Staying upright will keep your chest open and allow you to fill your lungs with more oxygen. Pick up your knees to increase stride length.

Avoid locking your knees and take long strides when running downhill for better balance and less chance of falling, Litasi says. As you go, alternate quick glances at the route ahead and the ground directly n front of you.

Stay the Course (sidebar)

What it takes to find the first flag

1. Navigate any terrain with the hands-free Brunton 6Spectra thumb compass. Its adjustable ring-like strap lets you slide the compass over your thumb, which rest on a nonslip grip. A lefty version is also available. $89, brunton.com

2. Made for orienteering, the Inov-8 Mudclaw O 340 shoes will wave your soles whether you're sprinting through a forest or dashing over snow. Its tiny metal studs and sticky rubber offer extra traction. $100, inov-8.com

3. Zip on the Treklite ThornGaiters to protect your ankles and claves from stinging branches. With removable foam shin guards and adjustable Velcro straps, they stay put while you're in action, then come off easily postcourse. $36, treklite.com

4. The lightweight, wrinkle-resistant Prana Trinity pants will cover your butt no matter what the conditions. Made from a soft poly/cotton/nylon blend, they offer reinforced protection around the knees and an adjustable waistband. $64, prana.com

5. Your may not leap tall buildings in the Marmot SuperHero jacket, but this lightweight, durable soft shell will make you feel faster than a speeding bullet as you zip between flags. Bonus: The polyester blend will hold up in sun, cold, or rain. $260, marmot.com

6. Wear your punch card on your sleeve with the Nordenmark Control Card Holder. The see-through plastic case holds the card snug on your forearm, freeing your hands for better uses—like scrambling over rocks. $9, nordenmark.com

7. Strap on the New Balance N5 Max heart rate monitor to keep track of your beats per minute and calorie burn during the race—or any kind of workout. Big numbers give you at-a-glance info. $90, 888-317-9189

Amazing Races (sidebar)

Turn Stunning Scenery into a Game at These U.S. Hot Spots

1. Northeast
The thick forests, rolling hills, and crystal-clear waters of Pennsylvania's French Creek State Park look like Scandinavia, where orienteering got its start over a century ago. The Delaware Valley Orienteering Club hosts regular events at French Creek, but the park also has a DIY course you can try anytime. Starting at $6 (members, $7 (non-members), dvoa.us.orienteering.org, 610-792-0502.

2. Southeast
Hook up with the Florida Orienteering Club at an event in Wekiwa Springs State Park outside Orlando. You'll navigate cypress swamps, pine woods, and sand scrub—and likely spot river otters and deer. Afterward, take a dip in a natural spring, the park's biggest attraction. Starting at $6, plus park fees, floridaorienteering.org, 407-672-7070.

3. West
For a crash course in orienteering, join the United States Orienteering Federation's 2007 convention at Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch in Elbert, Colorado, from August 3 to 12. The "Zero to Orange in Three Days" class will have you sprinting through intermediate courses in no time. Later, watch elite racers in action. Starting at $75, colorado5day.com.

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