Adventure Racing Clinics *(note all courses are free for anyone registered to participate in the Wilderness Traverse)

Introduction to Adventure Racing

This free, 2-Hour clinic is for anyone interested in learning more about adventure racing, but will focus on topics geared towards longer overnight events. Topics covered include: Training, Nutrition, Sleep Strategies, Gear, Teamwork & Efficiency, Advanced and Night Navigation, Skills Development. The clinic will be led by Wilderness Traverse organizers and long-time adventure racers Bob Miller & Barb Campbell.

Pre-registration required. To register, e-mail bob"at"wildernesstraverse.ca or call 416-735-4021.

Date:

Thursday April 18, 2013 (6-8pm)

Hosted at:

Running Free Markham (click on the link for directions)

708 Denison Street

Markham, ON

L3R 1C1

Navigation Seminars & Field Courses

In-Class Seminar

The 3-Hour in-class seminar has been designed to teach the fundamentals of wilderness navigation by map and compass. All of the following topics will be covered: reading and understanding maps, latitude and longitude, Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), scales, contours, legends, declination, map and field bearings, triangulation and altimeters. After everyone has a firm grasp of the basics, we’ll move onto route-finding techniques, which include, following baselines, aiming off, pacing/timing, and selecting the fastest route. To finish things off we’ll examine maps from past adventure races and discuss how to properly prepare the map and select your route.

In-class sessions will run from 10am to 1pm and will be hosted at the Collingwood Public Library in the "Grant Martin Egan Technology Suite".  Directions to the Collingwood Public Library can be found at this link.

Field Course

The field course will run for 3 hours and will traverse a mock trekking section from an adventure race. We’ll start by applying the techniques learned in the In-Class Seminar, including route selection, pacing and timing over varied terrain, following bearings and relocation strategies. Once participants become comfortable traveling in the wilderness they’ll be able to attempt stages of the course on their own. We’ll conclude with a debrief of the course and discuss what routes worked and how teams can move more efficiently in a race environment. Participants in the Field Course should have taken the Navigation Seminar, or have a firm grasp of fundamental map & compass skills.

The field courses will run from 2pm to 5pm and will be hosted at Loree Forest, near Blue Mountain Resort in Ontario.  Directions to the meeting place will be provided upon registration.

Dates:

Saturday March 23, 2013 - Navigation Seminar (10am - 1pm), Field Course (2pm - 5pm)

Saturday April 20, 2013 - Navigation Seminar (10am - 1pm), Field Course (2pm - 5pm)

Saturday June 1, 2013 - Navigation Seminar (10am - 1pm), Field Course (2pm - 5pm)

Cost:

3-Hour In-Class Seminar: $50

3-Hour Field Course: $50

Combined In-Class Seminar and Field Course: $75

(payment by interac etransfer (to bob"at"wildernesstraverse.ca), or by cash, or cheque at the courses)

Pre-registration is required for all courses by email (bob"at"wildernesstraverse.ca), or calling (416-735-4021)