From here there are two options:
1. CRANES NEST SCENIC ROUTE
(High clearance vehicles only) Continue past MACHADODORP to the Toll gate; Go through the Toll Gate and continue for 3km; Turn left onto the R36 at the LYDENBURG sign Continue for 5km then turn left at GOEDEWIL sign (gravel road). Pass the Machado Stud sign on your left- do n o t turn off here!!! Continue for 16km passing BAMBI PARAGLIDING CLUB on the right; Come down Wilgekraal Pass (rocky section) until you reach CRANES NEST GUEST FARM No. 7 on your left, Now follow the signs to Reception.
or
2. CRANES NEST ALTERNATIVE ROUTE (16KM LONGER).
As above but continue past the Goedewil sign; Continue for 15km then turn left at the LYDENBURG - R36 SIGN; Continue along R36 for 11km and then turn left at the GOEDEHOOP SIGN (gravel road)
After 2km turn left at the T-junction (trading store); Continue for 5km to CRANES NEST sign on your right – FARM NO 7 (DO NOT TURN OFF AT THE DONKERHOEK TURN OFF) Look out for the signs leading to Reception.

Saturday
6.30am Registration re-opens
9.30am Registration closes
10:00 and 10:30am riders start
5.00-5.30pm riders finish at event center
6.00-7.00pm re-register for Sunday

Sunday
8.00-8.30am Riders start
1.00-1.30pm Riders finish
1.30-3.30pm Post race lunch
Approx 3.00pm Results and Prize giving

Saturday night camp:
Overnight will be back at the event center. Everyone will be staying at the same spot. The camp is an integral and social part of the event. As is the Polaris custom, the venue hosts will provide a Saturday night bar selling cold beer, ciders, wine and soft drinks. They will also cater for all our food requirements.
We hope to have interim results posted on Saturday evening.
Please note we expect all guests to leave the camp in the same condition it was found.


The controls:
For those not familiar with orienteering make sure you get this.
Your controls are numbered and consist of a device, which will imprint a unique series of dots on your control card. You place this device (like a stapler) over your control card and stamp in the correct block. Wrong box no score
It is your responsibility to look after your control card and keep it in a condition we can read it. Note you will be given a new control card for Sunday.

Navigation:
You will be expected to navigate using maps, a compass, the sun and your nose to get between the controls. No GPS (Global positioning system) type devices will be allowed to assist with your navigation. For newcomers there will be lots of experience to tap during the event, just get here early to get it done in a relaxed atmosphere.

Orienteering workshop
If there is a demand we can arrange a navigation workshop at registration on Friday PM. There may a minimal fee to tap the expertise of the instructor but this will be well worth it. People can collect their maps at registration and we’ll use that map for the workshop. During the workshop you will cover the following:
- Maps and how to read them
- Plotting of co-ordinate points
- Tips on route selection
- using a compass with the map.
Participants would need to bring along highlighters, pencil, long ruler, protractor, calculator, compass and board to plot on.
If you want to learn something bring along the toys.
Please let us know if you are interested in this workshop so we can make arrangements.

We could supply the following if ordered in advance:
- Navigation notes @ R30
- Plotting board @ R10
- Suunto A10 compass @ R90

Safety on your bike:
Remember we are using a large area and making use of public roads that are open to others. Saturday is shopping day for local labourers, local tourism picks up on weekends and the roads get very busy. Take note and take care. There will be some Out Of Bounds areas and roads, please obey these or you will have to be disqualified. In some areas there may be logging in progress so be aware of what is happening. Obey all traffic regulations and stay alert. Take care on down hills and on corners; stay on the left side of the road.
During this Polaris Challenge we realize that some may be good mountain bikers, but poor navigators, whilst some are good navigators, but poor mountain bikers. Please consider your capabilities when deciding the controls you are going to use and remember if you are late you will have well earned points deducted.

The terrain:
The Polaris Challenge traverses a variety of terrain encompassing single track, mountain tracks, forest tracks, fire trails, dirt roads, and tarred roads. Some trails will be fast and easy, others will be rough and in places not easy to follow.
All controls must be reached to within 5 metres by bike unless indicated otherwise and by both team members. It is certainly not possible to tell from the map how well or otherwise a track is maintained. Much will be discovered when you get on it. Please be aware that not all features and tracks that are on the ground are marked on the map. See this as part of the challenge!
The Polaris Challenge will traverse terrain managed by SAPPI, Kwena conservancy and about 30 different local farmers.

Please Note: Much effort has been required to get permission to use this land, please help us by obeying all no-go areas. Disregarding the no go areas will result in disqualification.
Also please pack out what you pack in, and lets keep the area cleaner than we found it

The weather:
This is summer and thunderstorm time of the year. You will be riding to on the edge of the escarpment and weather can close in rapidly. The mountains can be covered with mist and you can easily get lost. You need to be prepared for all eventualities and this is why teams must be self-sufficient. Make sure you have all the mandatory kit; there will be spot checks.

Stuff to do for non-racers
There is plenty to do for non-racers in the Kwena Bas. Chat to Rosemarie from Cranes nest or log on the Highlands Meander website.

About the venue-Cranes nest farm-:
Crane’s Nest is privately owned by the Middleton and Hughes families and is nestled at the foot of the Steenkampsberg within the Kwena Basin where the Crocodile and Lunsklip Rivers feed the Kwena Dam. It is a mere two and a half hours drive from Johannesburg International Airport and Pretoria.

The farm is almost 400 hectares in total and offers unsurpassed beauty. Day walks and more adventurous hiking trails are yours for the taking – be sure to look for a large variety of indigenous trees, wildlife, insects and reptiles – the abundant bird life is fascinating. We have 3 dams, which are well stocked with trout varying in sizes from 500g to 2.5kg The Wilgekraalspruit, which runs through our farm, has numerous pools, ensuring wonderful fishing for the river enthusiast – i.e. when there has been adequate rainfall. Mountain bikes are available to our guests at no extra cost and fly-fishing tuition can be arranged on request and with prior notice. THIS IS A MALARIA AND BILHARZIAS FREE AREA.

Our streams are home to the rare Southern Kneria (Shell Eared) fish, found only in our area. The historian will find a wealth of well-preserved stone ruins that archaeologists have identified as dwellings dating back to the early Stone Age. Fishing in the nearby pristine Crocodile River, is another option, at a set rod fee. Other activities in our immediate area include paragliding (also tandem), clay pigeon shooting, archery, horse riding, 4 x 4 training and trails, mountain climbing, abseiling and for the mountain bike enthusiasts - the forests are a major attraction! The Kruger National Park is an hour and a half drive to the nearest gate, namely Malelane

DO NOT SKIMP ON EQUIPMENT
The compulsory clothing and equipment list, as detailed in the Rules & Conditions, is a minimum and should be supplemented if the weather is bad. We advise that some or all of the following items may be useful for survival/safety in addition to the specified minimum requirement for the Event.
1. Warm layer e.g. fleece
2. Rucksack or panniers to hold all the kit! (This should have a waterproof liner!)
3. First Aid Kit – depends on your level of knowledge but a least plasters/wound dressing, bandage, tape and maybe surgical gloves.
4. Tool Kit – puncture repair kit, inner tube, pump, chain de-linker etc (make sure your bike road/mountain worthy prior to the event)
5. Watch (it is a timed event!)

THE GOLDEN RULE:
Once started all competitors MUST report to the registration centre, when finished, whether they have completed or not. This is essential since rescue teams will look for any competitor not recorded. Please do not waste their time! You could receive the bill for any unnecessary search and rescue!

1. MINIMUM AGE - Minimum age is 18 years on the day of competition. However young people over 16 on the day of the competition may compete if their partner is a legal parent or guardian.
2. MTB/HIGHWAY CODE - The MTB (or Off Road cycling) Code and Highway Code shall be observed at all times.

ALL FOOTPATHS ARE OUT OF BOUNDS.
3. START - Teams must be at the start at least 20 minutes prior to their official start time for a final briefing and to have their control card punched before starting. Any cards not punched will incur a 50-point penalty. Late arrivals will have to start with the next available group, however your start time will remain as per your control card.

Any teams found dumping essential equipment (see checklist) will be disqualified.
Day one results will be posted at overnight camp with query forms; these should be left at registration.

4. TEAM MEMBERS - Teams MUST remain in vocal contact throughout the event, must visit the checkpoints together and finish together. If one member is unable to continue, the other should assist him/her to safety or obtain assistance and report their retirement to the registration centre. Under NO circumstances must the unaffected member continue alone. Leaving gear or your bike at anytime will mean disqualification. Some checkpoints will be marshalled, anyone arriving without their partner, gear or bike will not be allowed to clip their card.

5. CONTROLS AND CONTROL CARDS - Each control site will have an orienteering punch, identified with a piece of orange tape attached to the feature described on the control description sheet. Make sure you punch the correct number box on the control card.
DO NOT WRITE IN THE PUNCH BOXES
WRONG BOX - NO SCORE


PENALTIES FOR ARRIVING LATE
1 min - 10 mins 1 point per minute
11 mins - 20 mins over 2 points per minute
21mins - 30 mins over 5 points per minute
31mins - 60 mins over 10 points per minute
Over 1 hour late Loose the days total points

6. OVERNIGHT -On arrival at event centre after days riding all teams must hand in their control cards to the marshals. During the evening all competitors must re-register and collect a new control card for Sunday

7. FINISH - On arrival at the finish, all teams must hand their control card to the finish marshal. Leading competitors may have their equipment checked. All competitors will be expected to possess their emergency rations and required specified equipment throughout the duration of the event (see clothing and equipment checklist). On Sunday afternoon a final set of results will be published 15 minutes prior to the prize giving, any objections placed after the prize giving will not be considered. If you are unable to stay, you must nominate someone to check your results for you.

8. WINNING TEAMS - The total number of points collected minus penalties will determine winning teams. The penalties for arriving late (over 7 hours on Saturday and over 5 hours on Sunday) are shown in the chart. It is the competitor’s responsibility to ensure that their control cards are legible and punch positions can be identified. Controls punched in the wrong box will not be scored.

9. KIT CHECK - Any teams found not to have the minimum specified equipment and clothing will be disqualified (see check list)

10. SOLO TEAMS - Solo teams will have a mandatory kit check at the finish

11. SELF-SUFFICIENCY - This is a self-sufficient event, any teams caught receiving outside help will be disqualified. The control card will have a sticker on the back with an emergency phone number. Only use the emergency number if you or your partner is injured. It is your responsibility to get back to registration if your bike breaks down, we will not collect you.

12. CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT – The minimum clothing & equipment requirements are specified on a separate page

13. LIGHTS - The event is planned to take place in daylight. Should you be caught out in the dark it is your responsibility to observe the Highway Code! A LED rear light, whilst some are not legal for riding on the road may prove useful.

14. SPIRIT OF THE EVENT – Any action deemed against the spirit of the event will result in disqualification. The organiser’s decision is final!