The Purple Guide to Learning Orienteering in 10 Days
A day-by-day plan to get you from total beginner to confidently navigating your first orienteering course in 10 days
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
Ten days, one new skill. A honest, hands-on guide to see if orienteering is for you.
About this book
You have seen people running through the woods clutching a map and a compass, and you have wondered: could I do that? But where do you even start? You do not need to buy expensive gear, join a club, or commit to a weekend course before you know if you like it. This guide gives you a practical, day-by-day plan to try orienteering properly, starting from absolute zero.
Over ten days, you will take real, incremental steps. Day one, you will walk around a small area with a simple map and a compass, learning what a bearing even is. By day four, you will be navigating by handrails and attack points. By day eight, you will attempt a short course and work through the frustrating bits of getting lost. This is not a motivational speech; it is a structured plan with specific tasks, real-world gear comparisons, and honest advice about what ten days can and cannot achieve.
Whether you are looking for a new outdoor hobby, a way to exercise your brain and body, or just a curious challenge, this guide will give you a genuine taste of the sport and a clear verdict on whether to continue.
Reader Reviews
Daniel Smith
★★★★★This guide was the kick in the pants I needed. I kept saying I wanted to try orienteering but had zero idea where to start. Day one was perfect - it told me exactly what to bring, what the first session would feel like, and it set a realistic goal that I actually hit. I liked that it didn't promise I'd be a champion by day ten; it just gave me a solid taste of the sport. I've already signed up for a local beginner meetup.
Richard Hill
★★★★★Solid, honest plan. The gear comparison on day three saved me from buying a fancy compass I don't need yet. Day eight's narrative was a bit tedious in parts, but it was also accurate - I did get lost and frustrated, just like the author said I would. My one gripe is that the 10-day timeline felt a little rushed for my schedule, but I just stretched it over two weeks and it worked fine. Useful, practical, and no fluff.
James Wilson
★★★★★It's fine if you've truly never held a compass. The author is encouraging like a friend, and the daily tasks are concrete. But I found the pace uneven - day one was very gentle, then day four jumped into map reading which took me longer than one day to grasp. The progress milestones table helped me see I wasn't completely behind. I didn't love the tone sometimes (a bit too chatty for me), but I finished the plan, which is more than I can say for other 'starter' guides. A decent starting point, but manage your expectations.