A brand new event, the Dakota Rogaining Championships, will take place in Custer State Park on Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9.

And, No – this event has nothing to do with the hair care product.

A “rogaine” is a long-distance, cross-country navigation race for teams traveling on foot, using only a map and a compass for guidance. The term “rogaine” is a combination of letters from the names of three Australian adventurers who began the sport. It also has come to stand for “Rugged Outdoor Group Activity Involving Navigation and Endurance.”

In simplest terms – this event is a competitive, timed scavenger hunt. Teams of two to five people will explore Custer State Park looking for and documenting locations of numerous checkpoints. This is basic orienteering at it finest; no GPS units, no altimeters, no pedometers. Just a map, a compass and your own two feet.

I called Rick Emerson, event coordinator, and he was able to boil it all down to make more sense.

Photo courtesy of Rick Emerson

“There will be several different rogaining courses, for all skill levels. We’ll have everything from a four-hour course, covering just a few miles for the junior division all the way up to a 24-hour course spanning 50 or so miles for the experienced racers,” Emerson told me.

Emerson was also involved in the planning and direction of last year’s hugely successful Primal Quest Badlands race. He said the new Dakota Rogaining event will be another way for people to enjoy outdoor recreation in the Black Hills. “This race won’t be nearly as intense as Primal Quest Badlands. We want the course to challenge people, but not kill them in the process,” Emerson laughed.

Emerson said that one of his favorite parts of Primal Quest Badlands was how excited the young kids got watching the experienced athletes compete and he wanted to give youth an opportunity to be a part of this new event. The junior division will be for youth ages ten and older accompanied by one adult.

The event will be open to the public and promises to be a great new addition to the Black Hills’ outdoor recreation scene. For more details, check out the Dakota Rogaining Championships website.