Going the Distance: Rogaining

Rogaining is a version of orienteering that is based on time rather than speed through a designed course. It is team based, with 2 to 5 members on a team. It is long distance cross-country navigation where the team decides its own course. The team does their route planning and navigation on larger maps that have scales between 24,000 and 50,000, and the team must make decisions as to which controls they can reach and still get back to the finish within their allotted time. Teams that go over their time limit lose a certain number of points for each minute overtime.

Rogaines are usually designed in terrain that varies from open countryside to hilly forest; however, “urban” or “metro” gaines now occur. The time period for rogaines is usually 6, 12, or 24 hours. The sport also embraces other cross country navigation activities such as canoeing, bicycling, or cross country skiing.

At 24 hour rogaines, a central base camp provides a 'hash house' that serves hot meals and teams may return at any time to eat, rest, and enjoy the fellowship. Teams travel at their own pace, and anyone from children to grandparents can experience the personal satisfaction that comes from cross-country navigation at one’s own level of competition.