2016 Rogaine Championships

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Safety Sheet - The Stoneyard Staggers

24 and 7 hour Rogaines, 27^th - 28^th February 2016

This event will be cancelled only if conditions are extreme. The organisers reserve the right to shorten or modify the event for safety or other reasons. If streams are high some parts of the course may be notified on the day as out-of-bounds, or restricted to day-time only crossing.

You will be given “course notes” with the maps. Be sure to read these carefully before you plan your route as they may advise you on impassable areas, areas to avoid in the dark, and other useful hints.

Your gear is your own responsibility. There will be no compulsory gear check but the organisers reserve the right to do checks on a random or selective basis. You must be suitably equipped to start.

The COMPULSORY minimum equipment and clothing list is:

We strongly recommend you also carry:

You may wish to use walking poles.

Safety is a top priority during this event. Organisers and participants (you) have responsibilities for safety. Your responsibilities include:

• being aware of and meeting all safety requirements specified by event organisers in writing, on the event web site, or at verbal briefings,
• carrying sufficient protective clothing and other safety equipment,
• advising your team member(s) of any medical conditions you have, your general level of fitness and other factors that may affect you adversely during the event,
• staying together as a team at all times, and providing mutual support, and helping any other team you find in difficulties,
• depositing a ‘flight plan’ map showing your intended course at registration before you start,
• recording your team’s visit to a checkpoint with the electronic punch,
• advising organisers and returning your tags if you withdraw from the event or when you finish. This is our safety check that you are no longer on the course and IS COMPULSORY,
• being highly conscious of time and avoiding a late return - being late results in a hefty points penalty as well as raising safety concerns,
• being prepared to modify your plans to be more conservative if safety conditions dictate this, monitoring team and individual progress and fitness and modifying plans as required,
• looking out for hazards, such as:
  1. Hypothermia. Wind, water and cold temperatures can lead to exposure or hypothermia. Early symptoms are subtle (clumsiness, lethargy, slurred speech). Be prepared to seek shelter or to call it a day if conditions are severe, or if any of your team is becoming exhausted. In severe weather keep off high exposed ridges.
  2. Dehydration. Drink lots of water, but not too much - we suggest you carry at least 2 litres each.
  3. Streams. Do not cross streams if they are heavily swollen.
  4. Cliffs, slippery rocks, loose rocks, incised creeks, gullies, slippery grass, hidden obstacles such as logs, loose fencing wire, etc. may be present throughout the event area.
  5. Collapsed tunnels or ‘under-runners’, especially on farm tracks
  6. Fog/low cloud. If in fog, orientate the map and yourself with a compass. If in doubt, don’t climb into cloud but descend out of it as soon as possible.
  7. Road Hazard: There will be light traffic on roads. No roads are closed during the event. The road code applies at all times; keep to the side of the road and be alert to traffic. We recommend you wear clothing with high visibility from dusk.
  8. Hunters: We cannot guarantee that hunters will not be present in the area. We recommend teams carry a high-viz garment, and that you keep highly visible, and heard (shout and use your whistle) if you are concerned.
  9. Electric fences. Usually the top wire, but sometimes lower wires, may be hot (look for insulators on the post). Treat all electric fences as ON. Climb through unlivened wires, look for a gate, or use parka, pack or map for insulation.

Emergency

Cellphone coverage on the course is patchy but is often available on higher ground. There is no coverage at the Hash house/camping area.

Emergency signal - repeated (6 or more) short blasts on your whistle at about 1 second intervals, repeated every 1 to 5 minutes. Repeat if you hear one long blast from responders. Any team hearing the emergency call must respond and render assistance to the team that is in distress.

In the event of minor injury or exhaustion proceed to a patrolled road and await pickup. Specific roads will be patrolled at roughly 4 hourly intervals and these will be notified at the event.

In the event of serious injury or exhaustion, make the injured person warm and comfortable; if possible arrange to leave someone with the person; note your exact location on the map; seek help via the nearest road. You can request a road pickup by TXT to 027 351 0146 or 021 550 248. These phones will be monitored at roughly 2-hourly intervals by organisers driving to a reception area.

In EXTREME emergency dial 111 and ask for Police Search and Rescue. Tell them you are doing the Rogaine near Waikouaiti.

Environmental and farm care

Rogaining is an environmentally and socially friendly activity. We expect you to reinforce this ethic.

• Respect farm stock, fences and other facilities, and the right of landowners to operate their business, and lifestyle. Respect the privacy and security of houses and property.
• LEAVE GATES AS FOUND. If YOUR team opens a gate, YOUR team must close it SECURELY. Do NOT rely on people in another team to close it.
• Cross fences at a strainer post, or climb through. Do not spring off the top wire. Climb gates at the hinge end.
• Report any damage or distress to stock to the organisers. Do not spook or cramp stock into fence corners.
• Remove rubbish - more importantly, don’t create it in the first place
• Bury toilet waste - better still, don’t create it in the field. Use the toilets provided at the event centre where possible.
• Keep streams clean. Protect plants and animals

Possession of the map does not imply right of access at any time other than for this event. If you wish to visit a property at some other time then please contact the landowners for their permission.