Map and Compass in a French Forest
Read the map, take a bearing and find the control points on your first French orienteering course.
Orienteering, « la course d'orientation », is run in France by clubs affiliated with the FFCO, and the rocky forest of Fontainebleau near Paris is one of the best-known terrains in the world. Many clubs set up permanent courses and open « découverte » races for beginners; you punch each « balise » with an electronic chip. For hiking, the reference maps are IGN « Top 25 » at 1:25,000, and club members use tu with each other.
- 1
C'est ma première course d'orientation.
It's my first orienteering race.
- 2
Je prends quel circuit, en tant que débutant ?
Which course should I choose as a beginner?
- 3
Voilà ta puce, ne la perds pas.
Here's your chip, don't lose it.
- 4
Il faut pointer à chaque balise.
You have to punch at each control.
- 5
Oriente bien ta carte.
Hold the map the right way round.
- 6
On est où, sur la carte ?
Where are we on the map?
- 7
On est à côté du gros rocher.
We're next to the big rock.
- 8
Prends un azimut avec la boussole.
Take a bearing with the compass.
- 9
Pars vers le nord-est.
Head north-east.
- 10
Suis le chemin jusqu'au carrefour.
Follow the path as far as the junction.
- 11
Les courbes de niveau sont serrées, ça monte.
The contour lines are close together, it's steep.
- 12
On contourne ou on coupe à travers la forêt ?
Should we go round or cut through the forest?
- 13
Je crois qu'on s'est perdus.
I think we're lost.
- 14
Revenons à la dernière balise.
Let's go back to the last control.
- 15
La voilà, je la vois !
There it is, I can see it!
- 16
Vérifie le code sur la balise.
Check the code on the control.
- 17
Je me suis trompé de chemin.
I went the wrong way.
- 18
On a perdu cinq minutes.
We've lost five minutes.
- 19
T'as fait quel temps ?
What was your time?
- 20
La prochaine fois, je fais le circuit plus long.
Next time, I'll do the longer course.