Wrights Hill Rogaine

Kia ora rogainers!!!

Ever wanted to become a strategic navigational mastermind!? Yes! No? 

Regardless, there is a super fun event coming up that should be a bit of excitement for everyone! The Wrights Hill 3hr rogaine on Wed 18th November. NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED all you need is a love for the bush ;)

But hang on… ‘WHAT IS A ROGAINE?!’ I hear you ask.

Stealing a previous description that I used for the NZ 24hr Champs (which I have sadly had to pike on): rogaining is a thrilling way to plod around in the bush for a few hours, get lost, get unlost, definitely get lost again, become besties with your team-mates (trauma bonding?), refine your navigating skills, build endurance, get comfortable being uncomfortable, win a trophy!? and experience beautiful places in a way you never have before... all in the form of a treasure hunt.

The NZ Rogaining Association gives a more concise albeit boring answer to that question; “Rogaining is a long-distance cross-country navigation and team sport where small groups use a map and compass to find as many checkpoints as possible within a set time limit.”

Rogaines come in all shapes and sizes from 60 minute to 24 hr events. Course setters lay out a bunch of checkpoints (controls) in a given area depicted by a ‘course map’ that is aligned with magnetic north. Controls range in point-value typically depending on how hard they are to get to. It is up to each team to decide which controls they will try to collect and in what order. Typical rogaine operation is that everyone meets at the ‘hashouse’ (the start/finish base) before the event to collect their maps and plan out a tekky route (or just yolo). The organisers will then hold a quick briefing right before the event starts ON THE DOT at the prescribed time. Everyone gotta be back at hashhouse on time otherwise you lose hella points.

About this event: 

https://www.ohv.org.nz/rogaining 

This rogaine is part of a superrrr chill monthly ‘after-work’ series. This means it’s in the evening so cute sunset vibes with good views yahooooooo. Previous events in this series have been a mix of nature reserves and suburban exploring.

There are four categories: 90min walk, 90min run, 3hr walk, 3hr run. 

The 90min and 3hr events start at wildly different times. For ease of organisation I am making the executive decision to split us between the 3hr walk / run (however always open to negotiation if you flick me an email with any concerns or ideas). If 3hrs sounds like a long time DO NOT FRET... rogaines involve a lot of faffing and whiz by very quickly (you won't get very far in 90mins unless absolutely pacing it). Also you only get the free pizza if you do the 3hr.  

You can read up on the after-work rogaine rules & scoring here https://www.ohv.org.nz/rogaining/awr-series. But basically teams receive a Q&A sheet and each control has a unique question associated with it, e.g. ‘marker code on tree in stream’. Your answer proves that you have indeed visited the correct area. See example map below from a rogaine I did a couple months ago.

Signing up:

Rogaine teams are typically 2-5 people however there actually isn’t a limit on team size for this series lmao. How we split teams will depend on how many people sign up and if you want to walk or run. Please indicate this as you sign up - select E(easy) if you want to walk and select H(hard-extreme) for running. 

NOTE: this does not necessarily indicate how hard the event will be!!! The whole vibe of a rogaine is for your team to choose their own adventure both navigationally and physically, i.e. you could legit collect one easy control and then spend the rest of the time having a picnic and no one would gaf (although there will be some tryhards around so prepare yourself to see grown men in lycra).

I will ensure that each team has a somewhat experienced navigator / someone with their head screwed on so that everyone has an excellent time but overall this is a safe navigational learning opportunity for all! AGAIN: NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

Team registration closes on Sunday 15th Nov at 7pm, so I will close these signups on SATURDAY 14th. One person then registers online for their entire team - stay tuned for comms on this.

Plan:

Hashouse location will be sent out by the organisers in an email closer to the date but it will be somewhere in Karori I reckon.

Let’s meet at the hash house at 5pm SHARP (15 mins before maps are available) to make sure everyone has the right gear and go through a quick rogaining 101. Transport will be a mix of cars / public transport / bikes / feet depending on how far away it is.

Rogaine is 6-9pm. Then you will eat free pizza (not really free as there is a small entry cost).

Perhaps we can also go pub afterwards to celebrate our awesome achievements!!!!!!!!

For a more in-depth explanation / strategy session I can always bring some example maps along to the Welsh the day before (Tuesday 17th if Welsh meetups are still happening?)

Gear:

• Head torch & batteries

• Charged phone

• Compass (I will bring the gear-shed reserves so allg if you do not have)

• Rain jacket 

• Fleece / pullover (and other warm gear such as beanie & gloves just in case)

• 1L water & SNACKS

• Pens & highlighters 

• Watch (if you have)

• First aid kit (per team)

• Space blanket & whistle (per team)

If you have an ABSOLUTE BLAST on Wrights Hill then next month’s rogaine is a bit of a bigger deal - the yearly ‘big trig’ which has 3 & 6 hr categories.