Morning all!
One week till the OMM 2011 and after months of preparation and deliberation about kit, I am still not ready. The colder weather has prompted me to pack a lightweight balaclava instead of a hat and I have yet to receive the freeze-dried food that I ordered days ago from Expedition Foods. My backup food plan invovles Ainsley Harriott couscous, Cup a Soups and salami.
Tomorrow my OMM partner is coming up so we can discuss tactics. We’ve only run together once and I have know idea who’s going to be fitter or the more competent navigator. I picked up some good fundamentals at the Plas-y-Brenin OMM Training course last month. Some strategies that we’ll be covering:
- navigating using attack points
- avoiding using bearings where possible
- running up valley and down spurs
- thumbing the map
- light bag/heavy bag* (alternating who carries the heavier one)
- staying together (I’ve seen videos of pro teams tethered with a 2m bungee!)
- running at the pace of the slowest runner
- storing food in your partner’s pack for easy access
- feeding the navigator* (they’ll have their hands full and won’t be thinking of food)
- reading the map correctly
- not relying on water features on maps
*The navigator expends 10-20% more energy than the non-navigator, therefore giving them the lighter bag and keeping them hydrated and fed is important
None of the above is particularly complicated but it should be good getting this engrained a week before the event. Will let you know how we get on.
Off bouldering now!
-GeekintheHills
Geek in the Hills 