Sat, Sep 6 2014 - Orienteering with Map & Compass by the Hooch + Free Cookout (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Charlie Cottingham Participants: Charlie Cottingham, Shane, Jay, Joyce T., Elizabeth K, Milt K, Mike C, Agnieszka S, Jim M, Mark F, Wayne A, Dora, Heidi W., Thomas W., Erin B, Suzanne, Coco, LINDA D, Julie, Roberto

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We 20 had lots of fun together today at this annual event hosted by our friends in the GA Orienteering Club (GAOC) and enjoyed sticking around a few minutes afterward for their delicious hotdog cookout.
This was the 7th year in a row that we've organized "teams" of AOC map & compass enthusiasts of all experience levels to participate. The big free event and cookout celebrates "National Orienteering Day," and is offered as a gift to the general public each September at the CRNRA Jones Bridge "Environmental Education Center."  We AOCers begin the event each year with our own private informal "map & compass" tutorial session on the breezy upstairs covered deck of the Ed Center.
The volunteer GAOC "O Meet Director" sets up several exciting "O courses" (a couple of days prior to O Day) in the wooded terrain along the Chattahoochee River, and the idea is for each participating team or individual to use their topographic maps and simple magnetic compasses to locate a series of orange & white "control flags" that are hung at various interesting features in the terrain.
I want especially to thank Milt Kochenach and Mark Fogarty who each led one of our 3 AOC "wayfaring teams" in successfully locating all nine flags on the 3-km "Yellow X" Course."  Likewise I'm proud of the other six AOC map & compass novices in my own team who did a great job helping me find all of ours in less than 90 minutes.
We O Day participants are deeply indebted to our GAOC friends Jeff Lybarger, Bill Farrell, Martha Carr, Sam Smith, Les Hollingsworth, Charlie Bleau and their numerous other dedicated O Club volunteers for their gracious hospitality and hard work at this and other fine O meets year after year!
Thanks to Mark for sharing this link to his colorful Facebook album of snapshots that he took during the event!
https://www.facebook.com/charlie.cottingham1/media_set?set=a.4617423849049.1532899661&type=3

Thanks also to Joyce for sharing this link to her lovely Facebook "Nat'l O Day" photo album! https://www.facebook.com/charlie.cottingham1/media_set?set=a.10153359528380260.1532899661&type=3

-Submitted by Charlie, Sat Sept 6 at 4PM