Map for the WRC 2008 and wheather

Hi, thanks to Lauri for perfect information service. I have few additional questions:
1) the competition map/terrain - do I understand right that the mapping/drawing style will be similar to the previous Estonian ROG maps (ERC 2005, TA OK Rogains...) which were mentioned as an example of Estonian rogaine maps in the Bulletin III? I would appreciate a small extract of the WRC map on the web if it is possible. The part of the map would show us which marches are passable/impassable or passable with some problems.
2) weather conditions - I consulted website of Tartu university. Sum of precipitation during the last 7 days was about 11 mm. But was it raining dramatically in August or not? Is it possible to estimate how “soaked” the marches are now? I suppose heavy raining improves “squelching” properties of the bogs, doesn’t it? Or do they always hold the same “water” line? Best wishes,

J. Tojnar

Indeed, the mapping/drawing style is similar to the previous Estonian rogaining maps. Description of map symbols is now available under the News section.

The weather has been quite exceptional this August. It has been raining almost every day! The terrain is currently quite wet and the water level is high. By now, it is also clear that the terrain will not dry off by the time of the event, considering also the weather forcast, which you can consult at:
http://www.emhi.ee/index.php?nlan=eng
The long term forecast of the Estonian Meteorological Institute predicts a dry period for the second decade of September, but you never know.

As far as wetlands are concerned, you should note a difference between bogs and marshes (see the map symbols under News). In bogs (brown raster), the ground is peat and trees are scattered. In bogs, as a rule, visibility is good, but passability may be physically demanding due to undergrowth (mainly wild rosemary). In bogs, you should stay away from the bog pools (swamps), some of which are rather small (be careful during night time!), otherwise bogs are not dangerous and are actually very pleasant.

Concerning marshes - there are very different kinds of marshes on the terrain. You should stay away from the flooded marshes. These are easy to spot on the terrain as the trees are dead due to excessive amount of water. The other marshlands are not dangerous, but in some marshlands, the bush is thick. You should also be particularly careful with ditches in marshes - even narrow ditches may be deep!

Lauri Leppik

Thank you very much indeed. J.T.

For those of us who have never been in Estonia, can you say a little more about --

1. The difference between "marsh" and "marshy forest" and "bog", in terms of appearance and passability.

2. The difference between "wide watercourse (ditch or stream)" and "ditch (solid line)" and "ditch (dashed line)" in terms of appearance and crossability.

Thanks!

Peter Gagarin

I shall first refer to some pictures from our rogaining events. However, please note that not all bogs, marshes or marshy forests will look alike.

Some pictures from bogs:
http://8wrc2008.rogain.ee/img/album1/photos/photo_12.html
http://www.rogain.ee/Kolga2006/photos/photo_13.html
http://www.tak-soft.com/tarmo/osport/taok05/foto_36.htm
http://www.tak-soft.com/tarmo/osport/taok07/foto_20.htm
http://www.tak-soft.com/tarmo/osport/taok06/foto_30.htm
http://www.obs.ee/~helle/ilves/rogain01/raba3.jpg
http://www.tak-soft.com/tarmo/osport/orionrogain04/foto_26.htm

Pictures from marshes:
http://8wrc2008.rogain.ee/img/album1/photos/photo_16.html
http://www.tak-soft.com/tarmo/osport/taok06/foto_37.htm
http://greta.cs.ioc.ee/~taok/pildid/jagala07/Rogain%206.10.07%20507/slides/IMG_5666.html
http://www.pld.ttu.ee/~margit/Puhh2005/photos/PA080188.html
http://www.rogain.ee/vosu04/s_a-mul-poogen.jpg
http://www.tak-soft.com/tarmo/osport/orionRogain03/mainFrm1.htm

Impassable, flooded marsh:
http://8wrc2008.rogain.ee/img/album1/photos/photo_6.html
http://8wrc2008.rogain.ee/img/album1/photos/photo_19.html
(dead trees in the middle of the photo)

Ditches:
http://www.rogain.ee/album/photos/photo_10.html
http://nagi.ee/photos/RainRainRain/2522981/in-set/44603/
http://www.tak-soft.com/tarmo/osport/taok05/foto_13.htm
http://www.tak-soft.com/tarmo/osport/novaRogain05/foto_31.htm

Wide watercourse:
http://www.obs.ee/~helle/ilves/Rogain03/index.htm
http://www.rogain.ee/korvemaa04/imagepages/image6.html

Lauri Leppik

Some more comments on water obstacles.

In a bog, you may get wet feet and in some places the peat may be soft, but in general it is pleasant and passable (as can be seen on pictures). Unless you fall into a bog pool, you should be safe. The dominant trees are pine and the dominant undergrowth is wild rosemary. You can pick some cranberries in the bogs!

In marshes, there may be some water (may be even over your ankle) and, in general, it is soft ground, but passable. Do not step into a bottom of a ditch in a marsh - sometimes these ditches are narrow and have some grass growing in the bottom, but these grass clods may be real 'traps', you may have difficulties to get your legs out.
There are open grassy marshes and there are marshes with thick nasty bush. Indeed, there are very different types of marshes.
The trees growing in marshes are mainly birch, but may also be spruce or pine.

Marshy forest - may be a bit wet, (sometimes more wet). Vegetation is often thick and/or there is nettle undergrowth.

Flooded marsh - dead trees, water over your waist, bottom muddy - stay away!

Wide watercourse - as a rule, 4-6 meters wide, water over your waist, which means swimming, unless you find a beaver dam or fallen trees. But in case of a single fallen tree, it may be difficult to maintain balance. Look for a stick to keep balance!

Ditch - in general, 1-3 meters wide, water level below your waist. Some ditches are nearly dry and easy to cross, some other ditches (3 meters wide) may proove difficult to cross.

Ditch indicated with dash line - narrow, weak or dry ditch

Finally, I shall say that I have visited all the controls myself and have passed many (but not all possible) legs that you will pass. It is doable. But there are areas where you will have to watch your step. If you plan a reasonable course and take reasonable routes, you will be safe and you will enjoy it.

Lauri Leppik

Nice Estonian swamp pictures from last XDream adventure race.

http://nagi.ee/photos/arborist1/sets/121253/?init=15&start=90&seek=15

Siim

Considering XDream pictures; Estonians seem to enjoy wetlands and bogs.

It is trully nice to enjoy the bogs, ditches and water in general when the competition lasts 4-6 hours, temperature is +18 and no night.

It's different during 24h rogain if temperature at night can be +5..+10 and body is getting exhausted. So it really depend on weather.

An XDream and WRC participant

We don't see "bridges" on the page of map symbols.

Haha.. maybe it's because there are none :)
OOh, scary...

Beaver dams and crossing points are marked with the black dash: l

Lauri Leppik

What will be the scale of the map used for the 8wrc rogaine? Will plastic bags be provided as protection for the maps from rain, etc., or are competitors expected to provide any plastic bags or lamination materials?

Eric Smith

The map scale is indicated in Bulletin No3, page 1:
The map scale is 1:40000, contour interval 5 meters. The size of the map sheet is
50 × 55 cm. The map is printed on water- and tear-resistant material Polyart.

Even though the map is printed on a plastic material, it is not completely tearproof. In case of rain, please avoid intensive folding or rubbing of the map as this may damage the printed layer. It is possible to write (draw your course) on the map using a regular graphite pencil or permanent ink pen. Plastic bags are not provided. If you want to protect your map additionally, please bring your own map cover.

After the finish you will get a clean copy of the WRC map. However, this additional copy is printed on the normal paper, not on Polyart.

Best wishes,
Lauri Leppik

Lauri,
Are there any slippery boadwalks like those we have just experienced in Lahemaa?
Arthur Ward

There are some quite short boardwalks through impassable marshes. That will basically concern only a short section of one leg. For the rest of the terrain, no slippery boardwalks. But you will yearn for these in many places ;-)

Lauri Leppik