Leaving equipment on course

I start a separate topic on this matter and re-post below the previous messages on this issue.

LL

Dear organizers,

in regards to the first question, with all due respect the English language is ambiguous, and Rule B13 is a prime example. It is quite unclear to me what the reading of "no food or equipment shall be left on the course" should be. Namely, the meaning of "left". It can be read as "abandoned [to remain on the course] (until at least the end of the 24-hour period)", or it can read "not carried with the competitors at some time [while on the course]". Both meanings are valid according to major English dictionaries. The second, more restrictive reading is uncommon as far as rogaines in North America are concerned. Personally I'm fine with either reading, but perhaps the organizers should validate one of them in advance, say in Bulletin 4 if one is forthcoming or on Friday before the event at the latest, so that all teams can act based on equal information.

Lauri

I saw a post from Canadians pointing out that the rule about leaving gear on the course is ambiguous. In Australia it is quite accepted and done that you can carry things into the course, drop it off and then pick it up again during the event. It would be good if there were clarity on this. I suggest that the Canadian and Australian interpretation is preferable.

Jonathan Miller

Leaving stuff on the course to be picked up later will certainly lead to stuff and trash (food bags etc.) being left on the course and not picked up. The bags/equipment that would be left on the course don't have to marked so it would be impossible to monitor if teams would actually pick up the stuff they left behind.

Carry all gear at all times and no drop-offs allowed is the simplest and best way to go.

Having considered the different arguments, we have decided to apply an interpretation of the IRF rule B13 along the lines it is interpreted and applied in the Australian rogaining rules where the respective provision is not ambiguous:
R14
No food nor equipment shall be left on the course before the event for a team’s use, and no food or equipment shall be discarded on the course unless retrieved by the team during the event and brought by the team with them to the finish.

In more simple words, nothing should be left on the terrain before the event to be used during the event, and all you take to the course you'll have to take back with you to the finish.
You will not be punished for a temporary pack drop, but leaving any gear (e.g. headlamp, batteries, backpack) in the woods would be a serious violation of the rules. You can leave trash (e.g. plastic bags, energy gel tubes) in trash bins at water stations.

Lauri Leppik

As I understand, the rule applies to the course, but not visiting the hash house.
Can we change clothies and take some more food/drinks, that were left in a tent, when we visit hash house? Can we sleep a couple of hours in our tent?

Thanks

Q: Can we change clothes and take some more food/drinks, that were left in a tent, when we visit hash house? Can we sleep a couple of hours in our tent?

A: Yes, it is fully permissible to change clothes and eat at the hash house. You can eat your own food, if you do not like the food that is offered at the hash house.
You can sleep a couple of hours or you can sleep the whole night ;-)

Lauri Leppik

Hey Jonathon - how about an 'air drop' :)

Good Luck

Mike H

Sleeping all night-cappuccino rogaining-are the espresso machines fired up!