Ten Elements of Orienteering - Relocation

Relocation is the technique for getting back on track if you lose map contact. It is perhaps the most important skill in orienteering as being able to find out where you are after having got lost will minimise the time wasted.

Remember the common mistakes:

• 90/180 degree errors

• Over running

• Parallel errors

• Dragged off course by undergrowth, contours, other runners 

If this happens:

1. STOP! - Set about calmly working out where you are.

2. LOOK AROUND - for prominent features likely to be on the map, (contours, buildings, dense forest etc)

3. ORIENTATE THE MAP - check your compass and orientate your map in your direction of travel.

4. COMPARE GROUND AND MAP

• What is the area like – runnable or slow, flat or sloping or hilly, etc. to get an idea whereabouts you might be.

• Can you see anything big, obvious, or distinctive to help find your location on the map.

• If this gives you an idea where you may be but you’re not sure, go and check it out, see if other things fit, and remember you can see much better out in the open or from a hill.

STILL LOST?

If you cannot quickly locate yourself, it is best to head off for a prominent feature nearby and relocate there. One useful technique is to stand on a high point to look around.