Few expected that The Sport of Reading a Map Whilst in the Woods – later to become present-day Orienteering – would take-off after its inauspicious beginnings in the late 19th century. Those were the days of the giants of orienteering: uni-feature maps ("Wooded"), no controls, and ever-present wild boars. Courses were run only if it was raining – mostly at night – and navigation relied heavily on the sextant. Modern Orienteering is a sometimes more civilized affair with (strangely) colored maps showing up-to-date 20th century features, compasses, and the famed O-suit-o-nylon. Today, the "Bog-O of yesteryear has been slightly re-branded as the "Re-sprint-trant-O"; the "Eyes-closed-O" has become the "Memory-O"; and the "Unclothed-O" was banned altogether. Hammond Pond has featured prominently in the storied evolution of Orienteering:

1. First site of a non-in-race moving Start and Finish line.
2. First site to use artificially-colored controls – formerly punches
   were simply hung from trees.
3. First site where times were recorded – formerly if you returned,
   that was usually sufficient to win.

Helpers included:
Doug Martin
Amy Martin
Doug Martin
Barbara Martin
(it was a family affair)