I love running at night – doing the Vermont Ragnar trails was one of the most fun runs I have ever done.  I am back to running with a relaxed 30″ run plus warmup tonite in the cold, on slightly snowy roads and my trail shoes (which I didn’t know about last winter).

Because I am afraid of getting lost up in the mountains, I decided to learn how to use my compass.  Saturday (yesterday) I did two beginner Orienteering courses at Beaver Brook run by upnoor.org, who were kind enough to teach me many things including:

• How to use my compass and a map
• How to use snowshoes and what different types there are – they loaned me a pair
• What snow gaiters are and let me wear a pair
• How you can buy different bottoms for your trekking poles or X-country skiis and let me try theirs out

Super fun 2.5 hours making some beginner mistakes but learned a lot!  Had to pay closer attention to the map (never really did that before) to notice when I should be passing streams or paths or boulders and the importance of orienting compass and map to north when you start vs. being turned totally around by accident…

Beautiful, beautiful day in the woods with about 20″ of snow.  I had to venture off the trails, forded a small river and even set new trails following the directions vs. taking the easy way!  It was also pretty cold in the 20s so got to try out my new Arc’tyrx jacket which was too hot with a midweight fleece and ski pants – went back to my running wear for these temps with the added snowshoes and gaiters.

 

I am so very happy I know how to do this now – it is like taking a test out in the wild!  Can’t wait to try an intermediate one next time.  Two organizations to look into:

• upnoor.org
• New England Orienteering Club

Barkley marathon here I come……in a few years 🙂