Advanced Route Choice
Canadian Orienteering Federation
2004
Advanced Route Choice
 Aim
off
 Climb early
 Contouring
 Attack Points (Traffic Light)
 Rough Compass and map reading (red lining)
 Simplify
Aim Off

Advantage
Know which side of a catching
feature
 Increased running speed
 Simplify the map reading
required


Disadvantage
Longer distance
 Tends to promote carelessness

Climb Early
 Advantage
 Better
attack point
options
 Less fatigued when
attacking control
 Better visibility near the
control
 Disadvantage
 Eliminates
some route
choice options
Contouring

Advantage
Maintain height, energy
 Use contour as a “handrail”


Disadvantage
Rarely a straight line
 Easy to gain, lose height if not skilled
 Steep slopes are very slow to traverse
(steepness and vegetation grows at odd
angles)
 Tops of hills often open, easy running


General Rule: 10m climb = 100m flat
Attack Points
Traffic Light (Green Yellow Red)
 Green = Rough O to catching features
 Yellow = Rough/precision O to Attack Point
 Red = Precision O from Attack Point

Attack from above
 Attack cliffs (foot of) from below
 Boulders often more visible from below
 Reentrants can be visible from below
 Extend the control

“Traffic Light”
Attack From Above
Attack From Below
Redlining
Straight line compass
Map read ahead
Prevent errors by
looking for possible
parallel errors
Useful in flatter, open
terrain with good
visibility
Simplify
• Break it down
• Look for catching features
• Orienteer to the next catching
feature to shorten the leg
• “Long legs are just a series of short
legs”
Simplify
• Break it down
• Look for catching features
• Orienteer to the next catching
feature to shorten the leg
• “Long legs are just a series of short
legs”