March 26
th marked another "first" for the Crew as we visited Fort
Steilacoom Park and the permanent orienteering course they have set up there. The courses are set up to start from one common "control point" and then from there you orient your map, find the next control point, take a reading with your compass, set a bearing and start walking... Once you reach the next control point, you do the process over again until you reach the end of the course.
The course was designed by a Boy Scout from Summit as his Eagle Project and is listed among many others which are used by professional
orienteers, such as the Cascade Orienteering Club, and laymen navigators, like ourselves. It covers a huge area and offers 3 different courses and the ability to modify and
create your own.
One of the landmarks that you get to visit while on the courses is this historic site. This was one of the Wards of the "original" Western State Hospital and was used for the mentally insane...FREAKY!
Just walking on the grounds gave some the creeps!
These stones were laid in the area of the hospital ruins.
The trails covered a variety of landscape but were mostly on well designated and maintained trails through out the park.
Just to add a little more creep factor, after seeing this sign the boys asked to come back in the middle of the night to do it again.
March 26th marked another "first" for the Crew as we visited Fort Steilacoom Park and the permanent orienteering course they have set up there. The courses are set up to start from one common "control point" and then from there you orient your map, find the next control point, take a reading with your compass, set a bearing and start walking... Once you reach the next control point, you do the process over again until you reach the end of the course. 
The course was designed by a Boy Scout from Summit as his Eagle Project and is listed among many others which are used by professional orienteers, such as the Cascade Orienteering Club, and laymen navigators, like ourselves. It covers a huge area and offers 3 different courses and the ability to modify and create your own. 
One of the landmarks that you get to visit while on the courses is this historic site. This was one of the Wards of the "original" Western State Hospital and was used for the mentally insane...FREAKY! 
Just walking on the grounds gave some the creeps! 
These stones were laid in the area of the hospital ruins. 
The trails covered a variety of landscape but were mostly on well designated and maintained trails through out the park. 
Just to add a little more creep factor, after seeing this sign the boys asked to come back in the middle of the night to do it again. 
