What is Orienteering?
Orienteering in the classical sense is "cross-country running using a map and a compass." Often called "cunning running" or "adventure running", this is a thinking sport where you have to navigate a preset course of "control" locations in a park or forest using only your map, compass and your wits. The controls are visited in order but you choose your own routes between controls based on your navigational skills and physical condition. Although orienteering meets are typically competitive events, you can also enjoy the sport as a recreational activity - navigating a recreational course at your own pace either individually or in a group. A beginner's clinic is usually available an hour or two before the first start of an event.
Orienteering maps are specially produced for the sport. They are usually highly detailed coloured topographical maps which show trails, fields, forest, boulders, ruins, fences and of course, contours lines indicating hills, valleys, reentrants, gullies, depressions, pits, etc. Common scales used are 1:5000, 1:10000 and 1:15000.
In addition to foot-orienteering, there are other forms of orienteering including ski-orienteering, bike-orienteering and canoe-orienteering. In broader definition, orienteering is any non-motorized sport involving navigation.
Heather Williams
of Massachusetts hosts a great website that explains the basics of orienteering,
orienteering maps, control descriptions, map features, courses and more.
Orienteering for beginners
Sample Orienteering Maps