Orienteering FAILURE

I've been orienteering since 2001. Today was my worst orienteering failure ever. I started the Green course (5.4 km) at the Rockwoods Range near St. Louis at 10:10 a.m. I thought I was working with a 1:15000 map. Later I learned it was a 1:10000 map. My first mistake. The first control seemed easy but I overshot and it took me a while to find it. Control #2 looked like a real challenge, but I had a plan. Go back to the top of the hill and follow the trail around the long way which I thought was the sure way. The trail at the top of the hill didn't look right. It was too dim, but I followed it west none the less. After a while it played out so I knew I was not on the main trail. I thought, no problem, I think I know where I'm at, so proceed on. In a little while I knew I was lost. After relocating twice I found control #2 at 11:15 a.m. By this time I was pretty upset with myself, but at least I knew where I was. I had no problems finding control #3. I thought I better use the trails to control #4. Simple I thought, just take the 3rd right on the trails. That didn't work. I came to a "T" in the trail that was not on the map. I had to go left or right. The map showed straight. I choose left. Somewhere along here I just gave up. It was approaching 12:00 noon. I headed to the start and called Mary to pick me up. WHAT AN UTTER FAILURE. I'm really upset with myself. Is there any hope that I'll ever learn to orienteer?

We stuck around at the finish for a while and I was so upset with myself that we just headed home. Mary got us home in 4 hours at 4:30 p.m. I'll be hard pressed to try this again.

Today's Stats:
0 Geocaches.
10292 Steps Today - 4.87 miles.
3553 Aerobic Steps.
482 Calories Burned.