定向运动:在寻觅中作乐

翻译：许婉燕 People crouched[蹲] onto the tar, stretching. They pulled on pants and coats to combat[抗击] the chill in the forest. They had backpacks[背包] and running shoes. A few had dogs. And in the woods, spots of color decorated the thick brush as competitors in bright-colored clothing set out in a staggered start.

An orienteering club was holding a club meet, an unofficial training competition where members could master their speed and navigation[方向感] and where beginners could get lost.

And find their way again.

A Scandinavian sport (it is still more popular in Europe), orienteering is slowly catching on in America and other places around the world. Finding your way with a map and compass注1 through unfamiliar terrain[地形] is the technical definition of orienteering, but for participants and competitors it falls somewhere between an intense scavenger hunt注2 and a huge game of capture the flag.

Before getting onto the course, the instructor worked the registration[登记] table and provided advice for beginners. He explained to one first-time family that an orienteering map is different from a standard topographical[地形学的]. It uses a larger scale and the compass is aligned[结合] to be compatible[一致的] with the map itself.

The family rented two compasses and set off with maps encased[装入] in plastic. With a level-choice of white, yellow, orange, green, red and blue, they chose white the introductory course.

The difference between courses is distance and complexity. And orienteers are encouraged to go off the beaten path[在人迹罕至的路上]. A beginner can start at any level though a gradual progression is recommended.

ou can get yourself in as much trouble as you want, right off the bat[立即], the instructor said.

人们蹲在柏油路上，舒展四肢。他们穿上长裤和外套以抗御森林中的寒意。他们挎着背包、穿着跑鞋，有几个人还带了狗。五颜六色点缀着茂密的树丛―衣着鲜艳的参赛者陆续投身比赛。

一个定向运动俱乐部正在举行聚会，这是一个非官方的训练比赛，成员可以从中了解自己的速度与方向感，初学者则很可能会迷路。

然后，辨清方向，重新上路。

作为一项斯堪的纳维亚的运动项目（它还是在欧洲更受欢迎），定向运动逐渐在美国以及世界各地发展起来。定向运动的技术性定义就是利用地图和指北针在不熟悉的地形环境中觅路前行―但是对于一般的参与者来说，这项活动更像一个激烈的寻宝游戏；而对于比赛选手而言，定向运动则是大型的夺旗比赛。

在出发之前，教练会在登记处为初学者提供建议。他对一个首次参赛的家庭解释说，定向地图和标准地形图不一样，它采用了更大的比例尺，并且可以和指北针互相比照着使用。

这家人租了两个指北针，然后带着用塑料薄膜包裹的地图出发了。在选择用白、黄、橙、绿、红和蓝标识的不同难度的路线时，他们选择了白色的入门路线。

各种路线的不同点在于距离和复杂程度。俱乐部往往建议参加者选择没什么人走的路。初学者可以从任何水平开始―尽管教练更希望他们循序渐进地选择路线。

“如果想自讨苦吃，你一定可以如愿以偿，甚至从一开始就会遇到诸多麻烦了，”他这样说道。 Tips 1: What Should We Bring?

The club hosting the event will provide the map. A compass may not be needed for a beginners course. If you have one, bring it. Any compass in which you can see the needle will do for now. Some clubs have compasses to rent. If you want to buy a compass, get one with a clear plastic baseplate[底座] meant for orienteering. A lanyard[系索] for the compass is helpful.

Wear comfortable walking clothing that you don't mind getting a little dirty. If it's cold, wear several thin layers of clothing; you will get warm quickly and want to take a layer or two off. If it's warm, wear light pants but not shorts[短裤], since you may encounter brushy vegetation[植物] if you go off trail[小路].

Bring some water and, if you want, something to eat afterwards.

举办活动的俱乐部会提供地图。入门路线可能不需要指北针。如果你自己有，不妨带上。任何可以看见指针的指北针在这一阶段都可以派上用场。有的俱乐部会提供指北针出租。如果你想买，就要选购一个有透明塑胶底座的定向专用指北针。指南针的绳索也会很有用。

穿上舒适的步行装束，这样即使弄脏了你也不会介意。如果天气寒冷，穿几层薄衣服，因为很快你就会热起来，要脱下一两件。如果天气温暖，穿上轻便的长裤，但是不要穿短裤，因为如果离开小径的话，你可能会遇上丛生的灌木。

带上一些水，如果有需要，你也可以带上一些食物，运动后食用。

Tips 2: Some Special Terms

Control 检查点 This is the point, circled on the map, which you are looking for.

这是在地图上圈出的、要你去寻找的一个点。

Course 路线 The course is the set of controls you are looking for.

路线是你所寻找的一系列点标。

Leg赛段 A leg is the portion of a course between two consecutive controls.

赛段是路线的一部分，指的是两个连续的点标之间的线段。

注1:在一般情况下，compass解作“指南针”，但在定向运动中的compass特指“指北针”，因为它的指针一直指向北方。

注2:相当与treasure hunt，寻宝游戏，参加者要按照指示找到规定的物品。