Another Lactic Turkey rogaine done, we generally come away from these feeling well cooked and rather tender. They are great events, navigation isn’t difficult, and they are an event where you can learn how to handle a map during racing. Huia is a great spot, tucked on the shores of the Manukau Harbour (picture); there is only really one direction to choose, north into the Waitakere Ranges.
The ranges contain some of Auckland’s water supply, and are pretty spectacular, even the dams are something to marvel at. There was a big turnout; people from all walks of life, families, first-timers (wondering how they were going to get out of bed the next morning), trampers, orienteers right through to the hardcore adventure racers. The bonus about rogaine is that you more or less all finish together, making it really social, with a lot of discussion and map studying. The hot topic was the depth of mud, this seems to be a great leveller at Huia, both times the Huia rogaine has been run, a mixed team has won. There was a 1.5 k section of track that was mud all the way, varying from ankle deep to knee deep. It made for slow progress and the use of contingency plans. (And the need to wash up after.)
The Lactic Turkey organisers have thrown in a couple of “specials” in their rogaines this year; Piha had a “Wild Turkey” control, a 150 pointer up a gnarly stream. Huia had a score-orienteering section using Huia’s permanent orienteering course, there was a 1:5000 map just for this section, 200 points spread over 6 controls. This got the brain going switching to and from the 1:40,000 rogaine map.
Great events, well run and fun. Results when available will be posted here.
This page written by Alistair Coulter, and installed on 13 July 04.
