Are beginners welcome?

Yes, definitely. We provide a free, quick beginner's lesson so that you know how to do this. We recommend that beginners do a shorter course but all our four courses are available.

Do I do this alone or with a team?

Either way. Many people do this on their own but most bring friends or family members. Each participant must register and sign a waiver. Participants under 8 years are free but do not get a map. If you pay a registration fee, you get a map regardless of your age.

What do I need to bring to do this event?

We recommend bringing a compass but we have a few to loan out to beginners. Other than that, bring any clothing items (shoes, pants, coats, jerseys, hats) that are appropriate for exploring a city for the amount of time that you signed up for this event. We also recommend bringing some form of hydration (water bottle or camelback), especially for the longer courses. Bring some money or credit card in case you want to take a break at a local eatery.

Are there prizes for winning?

Only bragging rights for this event. Starting next year, we will record the points earned at each metrogaine and will provide awards for the top three finishers for five metrogaine events that will happen throughout the Portland Metro area. The award that everyone gets is an unforgettable urban adventure. Just do it.

How much does this cost?

The base fee is between $16 and $35 depending on the course that you choose (higher fees for longer courses). Junior's fees are $3 less. Mt Hood Orienteering club members get a $6 discount, and members of other orienteering clubs get a $3 discount.

When do starts occur?

We pass out maps around 8 AM so that you can plan your course, and then have a mass start at 9 AM. If you are doing the 6-hour course, be sure to arrive around 8 AM and be ready to start at 9 AM because all courses close at 3 PM. If you are on another course, you may get your map and start later but you must finish either within the time allotted for your course or by 3 PM, whichever occurs first..

What happens if I take longer than the time allotted for my course?

You lose 30 points per minute that you are late. Do everything that you can (within the rules) to return before the maximum time allotted for your course.

How are placements determined for this event?

Primarily, placements are determined by the number of points that each person or team finds on their course. Each point on your map has a point value specified by the 10s digit of the control number (control 38 is worth 30 points). If you are late, you lose 30 points for each minute or fraction of a minute that you are late. Tie scores are broken by time on the course (if two people score 520 points, the one with less time is placed ahead of the one with the longer course time).

What are the basic rules?

You must use a phone app called MapRun to record your start time, controls visited, and finish time. To get credit for a control site, you must come within 15 meters of the site and hear a sound from the MapRun app to verify that you found the site. You must run or walk between sites (no motorized or wheeled vehicles are allowed without the director's approval (wheelchairs for disabled participants are typically allowed). Teams must stick together at all times (okay, you can split up for using restrooms). You cannot use any GPS devices for navigational aids but you may use them to trace your route so that you can compare what you did with other competitors.

How can we compare our GPS routs with other competitors?

You can download your GPS routes onto the LiveLox online site for this event. After you do that, you can then compare your routes to anyone else who has also downloaded their routes to LiveLox. This is a great way to learn how to better select routes for future events.