Rogain 97

It’s time to start planning your clubs’ Rogaine teams. The site for this annual event has been selected but (as usual) we ain’t saying where it are! The only clue for the grapevine is north of Sydney Harbour.

The aim of the Rogaine is to make bushwalkers look good compared to the other rescue groups that are invited to attend. This is not hard to do even for beginners! Thus the course is set up to be straight forward. Checkpoints are always set in obvious places such as the top of hills or creek junctions. There is a choice of either the one day or overnight event. Everyone starts together and returns by 7pm Saturday night or 2pm Sunday. Capable one day bushwalking teams regularly do better than many two day teams from outside rescue squads as they do not have experience in bush travel.

This is a great opportunity to train club members in navigation. In my club I regularly hold a navigation training day prior to the Rogaine. The beginner navigators then enter the one day event on their own for some concentrated practice and usually end up around midway of the results. This gives them a tremendous confidence boost.

Food is available at the end of the day. So when you return tired and hungry there is a hot meal and drink just waiting for you. You can then do some serious socialising with the other bushwalkers present as you all wait for the presentation. We try to do the presentation no later than 90 minutes from the finish time. So when you head home you know your results and will probably be discussing how to do better in 1998.

So why not start planning your teams. The Rogaine is always on the last weekend of June so this year it will be on 28th / 29th. The entry forms have been sent to all the bushwalking clubs. The one day teams must be 2 to 4 persons while the limit on two day teams is 4 to 6. Now since this is just a variety of either a one day or two day bushwalk you must carry adequate equipment. Overnight teams must have sleeping bags and tents or tentflys. You can make the event as hard or as easy as you like but you must stay together as a team. Close to the event the details of the location will be sent to you. When you register at the event you will receive the necessary 1:25,000 map.

I hope to see you at this seldom visited bushwalking area (do I have to tell you that’s another clue?).