A Rogaine is all foot travel using map and compass. No bikes, paddling, or swimming in this event!

No solo – teams of 2 to 5 folks. The world’s best teams are typically two people. 

Hash House! The Hash House is a larger picnic shelter - (10) 10-person picnic tables. It is open air, sides about 3 feet high with walkways on various walls. It has lights and electricity. The kitchen will be on one end. If the weather gets ugly, we have permission to enclose some of the shelter with plastic.

The Hash House will be the racers center of activity. We will also have pop-ups for various functions (registration, medical, etc.). We will be encircling the shelter with the pop-ups on the west and south sides. We also have additional picnic tables that will not be under cover, but can also be used for map work.

Here are pictures of the group campground, http://www.sdgfp.info/Parks/Regions/Custer/GroupCamping.htm. Tenting will be level and very close. The pictures are older. The upper left picture  shows the shelter on the left and the bathrooms on the right. There is now a shower room building off the right corner of the shelter. Tent camping is in the open area behind.

Update! The map scale is now 1:30K enhanced USGS so the entire Rogaine area will fit on a single 24”x36” map.

New! Looking for a teammate? Contact Rick Emerson to express interest and he will coordinate introductions with potential teammates.

Clarification! Custer State Park has the following rules about pets. All pets must be on a leash less than 10 feet long when in designated campgrounds and other public use areas. Outside of  campgrounds and day use areas pets must be under immediate control and more than 200 feet from other park guests.

As the Park allows dogs and many of us may be dog people, I am not against having the dog along, but caution about the animal hazards and stress that you be responsible for your pet. If you do bring your pal, please remember that others are there to enjoy the experience and quietly control it accordingly. Also, pick up the poop if it is not backcountry and please do flick it off trail if it is backcountry. If you have any concerns on behavior, please play it safe and leave the buddy home.

The 12-in-24 event is a consecutive 12 hour race. If a team starts at 3 PM Saturday, they need to be off course by 3 AM Sunday.

Yes, the rules require the team be together. The rules state: members of a team shall remain within unaided verbal contact of one another at all times while on the course and all team members shall simultaneously approach to within 20 meters, and within sight, of each checkpoint for which points are claimed.

Each flag is worth different points. Teams receive maps two hours before the start and plan their routes of travel. The harder the checkpoint is to find or the more distant – the higher the point value. The team with the most points is the winner.

While some teams are competitive, many people orienteer for the exercise and the aesthetics. This is a great opportunity for a backcountry walk in the Park. The flags will be scattered across a large expanse and I look for spots that are beautiful and/or educational. Most off the beaten path, but still allow folks to have fun while being challenged. FYI, there are numerous little two-tracks out there. My goal in course design is everyone who participates should feel like they are a winner.

The race is centered out of a group campground. This allows teams to come back to rest, change clothes and fortify. You can plan more strategy, grab food and drink, and get warm. In a Rogaine, food is provided by the organizers, served a few hours after the start through the event. We will have a roaring fire, as evenings in May can be cool. We also have a large picnic shelter if the weather is inhospitable and pop-ups for additional shelter.

Directions! Driving-wise, there are about six ways into Custer State Park, but the most direct way for accessing the Hash House is from the east. Take SD 79 to just south of Hermosa and turn west on SD 36. Stay on SD 36 all the way to the Park. SD 36 merges into US 16A near the Park boundary. The Hash House is just north of the junction for US 16A and the Wildlife Loop Road. It is about 11 1/2 miles from SD 79 to the Hash House.

Thanks for the questions!