Orienteering is a sport where you use a map and a compass to navigate around a forest to find various checkpoints as fast as possible. We have been orienteers for over 25 years and have held many orienteering events at Beaver Brook Farm. In 2002, we held the US Relay Championships where over 400 orienteers attended from over 30 states and half a dozen European countries.
Ski Orienteering adds another level of challenge by doing the sport of orienteering on cross country skis. The trails at Beaver Brook Farm were actually designed with cross country skiing and ski orienteering in mind. Part of the "maze effect" of the trail network, that might cause cross country skiers to scratch their heads at times, is meant to really challenge ski orienteers.
On Saturday, February 13th, 2010 Beaver Brook Farm will be hosting the US Championships for Ski Orienteering. Entrants will come from all parts of New England and as far away as California to compete for the top prize. Most of these entrants will be skate skiers, moving along the ski trails at high speed, and navigating a challenging course with a map and compass at the same time. Should be an interesting day. By the way parking will be a mess that day and if you can ski in from one of our neighbors that would be great.
