Which description best captures orienteering?

• A. A recreational hiking activity with no navigation.
• B. A non-competitive group activity with no map.
• C. A competitive sport in which participants use a map and compass to locate checkpoints across rough terrain, the winner determined by the lowest elapsed time.
• D. A water-based activity with no navigation.

Answer: (C)

Orienteering is a sport where navigation drives performance. Participants carry a map and a compass and must locate a series of control points spread across varied terrain. The challenge is to read the terrain, choose efficient routes, and move quickly while staying on course. Because success depends on both accurate navigation and speed, the winner is the one with the lowest total time to complete all controls. This sets it apart from simple recreational hiking (which may not involve navigation), non-competitive group activities without a map, and water-based activities that don’t involve navigation.