In June of 1881, the early New England pioneers of Orienteering (then called 'The Sport of Reading a Map While In the Woods') first made their way to Hammond Pond to wander these boulder-strewn woods and enjoy the numerous mosquitoes. The following day the Boston Times remarked that there had been "no finer a day of bug swatting, ankle twisting or getting hopelessly lost than this, this day of The Sport of Reading a Map While In the Woods.

To celebrate this momentous anniversary at the hallowed grounds of Hammond Pond, the New England Orienteering Club has elected to run the most devious, dangerous, and diabolical of all "-Os", the Memory-O. Because it has been some time since a Blue State was allowed to run this kind of meet, we will remind you of the basic rules:

• While the Memory-O course is essentially Orange level in difficulty (in fact it is the Orange course), it should only be considered by those comfortable on a Red level course.
• At the start and then at every control, a map of only the next segment will be provided. These are to remain at each control. The runner will have to memorize each segment as they go.
• Each runner will have the option of carrying either a sealed blank map or sealed Orange course map
  • If the map is opened, the runner will incur a time penalty: 5 minutes for the blank map and a change to the Orange course if the full course map is opened
• In an act of uncommon generosity, the course setters will allow each and every runner to carry a clue sheet without penalty
• If you complete the course with your map still sealed, we will allow you to take that map home to join those wedding photos on the wall over your desk (you did pay $5 for it…)
• The runners may frequently feel the need to curse the course-setters, please remember that we did this for your own good

General course setter's notes:

1. It's expected to be extremely hot, plan on drinking plenty of fluids
2. Indistinct trails may in fact be quite indistinct
3. Use mosquito repellant, you'll thank yourself later