It will be a battle of great unknowns for Blue Mountains rogaining partners Andy Macqueen and Ian Brown.
The duo will take part in the Australasian Rogaining Championships in Tasmania next weekend. It's the first time the pair have competed in an Australasian championships together, and the first time they've competed in Tasmania.
"We will see how we go. We might blow up or we might do well," said Macqueen.
Held from November 9-10 near St Helens on Tasmania's east coast, the pair will compete in the super veterans category (over 55s) for 24 hours, against teams from all over Australia and New Zealand.
"New Zealand are often the dark horses in these things. There are pretty good rogaines over there," Maqueen said.
Rogaining is extreme orienteering, with the aim to collect as many points as possible from an array of checkpoints within 24 hours, using only a map and compass to navigate. It's a test of fitness, nimbleness in rough conditions, endurance, navigation and strategy.
Macqueen says after 20 hours on their feet, tiredness creeps in and they are prone to making navigational errors.
"We make a good team. We are well matched in navigational ability and fitness these days. We compete against each other as we go. We keep each other on our toes," he said.
Brown was part of a team of Australians to ski to the south pole unsupported in the 90s, completing the 1400km trek in 60 days, towing all their gear on sleds.
