A core wilderness skill is navigation and a great way to learn this, is in a race at an Orienteering Weekend. On such a weekend, typically organised by scouts, each participating team gets a map and coordinates of a number of posts. The team that visits the most posts, in the shortest time, wins. It can be challenging because you’re only allowed to use a map and compass (no phones, GPS, etc.) and it’s a solid workout because you walk about 30 km per day in hilly terrain with a backpack.
Here are two fun Dutch organizers of Orienteering Weekends:
Ardennen Oriëntatie Tocht (AOT)
My races
These are a number of Orienteering Weekend races I did:
| Weekend | Country | Distance | Year |
| 5: Pooltocht | Germany | 66 km | 2015 |
| 4: AOT | Belgium | 59 km | 2012 |
| 3: Pooltocht | Germany | 65 km | 2012 |
| 2: AOT | Belgium | 47 km | 2010 |
| 1: Pooltocht | Germany | 60 km | 2009 |
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