Revision 41775173 of "Dartmoor Beast" on enwiki

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The '''Dartmoor Beast''' is an annual charitable fundraising challenge run in aid of the charity ''Cancer Climber Association (CCA) UK''. The challenge takes the form of a daytime navigation exercise held in the Dartmoor National Park in the county of Devon, United Kingdom. 
[[Image:Dartmoor Beast 2.jpg|frame|right|Team Members at a Checkpoint on Dartmoor]]
==Teams==
Teams of between 4 and 8 participants hike or 'yomp' either a 20km or 30km route across Dartmoor carrying a pack of either 10kg or 15kg respectively. No prescribed route is laid down for teams entering the challenge, but various checkpoints must be visited at places around the moor. Teams are left to plot and navigate their own route between checkpoints, making use of map, compass, map reading skills and global positioning systems. Whilst the challenge is not a competition, a climate of friendly and sportsman like rivalry contributes to the sense of achievement for all teams participating in this race against the clock.
==Payload==
Each individual participating in the challenge is required to carry a backpack of equipment aimed at ensuring safety whilst on the moor. Adequate clothing, food and water must be carried by each team member, in addition to maps, first aid kit, torch and other important items. The weight of each team members backpack is checked at the start, finish and various points along the route, and time penalties are levied for every kg under the prescribed weight that each team member is found to be carrying. In practise this means that the 10kg or 15kg must not include the weight of food and water that will be consumed on route.
==Navigation==
The Dartmoor National Park is notorious for being a difficult environment in which to navigate, especially if visibility is poor. The moor often experiences extensive hill fog, or 'clag' as it's locally known, which combined with the absence of many linear features (such as walls, paths, fences, forest edges) provides a challenging test for even the most confident navigator.
==Staffing==
In previous years the challenge has been staffed by voluteers from the Royal Marines Reserve (RMR) Bristol and representatives of the CCA. Each team member who completes the challenge receives a certificate and prizes are awarded for the fastest team and various other notable achievements. The event culminates in a barbeque hosted by the RMR and CCA at the Fox and Hounds Public House, in Bridstowe, Devon - which acts as the start/finish and command post for the event.
==External Links==
[http://beehive.thisisplymouth.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=11396&PageID=67755 Dartmoor Beast Website]