By Theo Verhoeven & Tom De Vre
Coyote Lake – Harvey Bear Ranch County Park features open oak forests covering the rolling hills west of 3-mile-long Coyote Lake.
The Map
The map was last updated in 2019, but is still quite good and reliable. Note however:
- Vegetation boundaries might not always be accurate.
- It might, at times, be hard to distinguish mapped individual trees from forested areas or copses.
- There are many unmapped fallen or dead trees, and some mapped ones have disappeared or are difficult to recognize. However, when these features are used as controls, they are in an area of the map where they can't be confused.
The magnetic-north lines on the map are not parallel to the edge of the paper — they are at approximately a 15-degree angle. The horizontal distance between two magnetic-north lines is 500 m. The map contour interval is 5 m.
A brown × denotes a root stock (with or without the trunk) or a tree stump. When used for a control location, both features use the root-stock symbol in the control description. We added a height in the control description when it is for a tree stump.
A green × denotes a dead tree that is still standing.
Green dots of various sizes can either denote a (small) lone tree or a thicket. When used as a control feature, the control description will use the corresponding symbol.
Courses
The course details are as follows:
Map Map
Course Distance Climb Controls Scale Size Navigation
White 2.9 km 115 m (4.0%) 10 1:7500 8½x11 Beginner
Yellow 2.8 km 120 m (4.3%) 10 1:7500 8½x11 Adv. Beginner
Orange 3.4 km 215 m (6.3%) 13 1:7500 8½x11 Intermediate
Short Brown 2.4 km 135 m (5.6%) 9 1:7500 8½x11 Advanced
Brown 3.5 km 190 m (5.4%) 12 1:7500 8½x11 Advanced
Green 5.0 km 265 m (5.3%) 12 1:10000 8½x11 Advanced
Red 6.6 km 295 m (4.5%) 18 1:10000 11x17 Advanced
Blue 8.0 km 320 m (4.0%) 20 1:10000 11x17 Advanced
Notes:
- The Start for all the courses is an 800 m, mostly flat, walk from the assembly area. Please follow the streamers to the Start area.
- Maps for the Beginner courses (White and Yellow) are given out at registration, and can be looked at before starting the course.
- Maps for the Intermediate course (Orange) and Advanced courses (Brown through Blue) are provided at the Start, and must not be looked at before starting the course.
- Beginners should be aware that the course lengths shown are the cumulative straight-line distances between controls. Your actual distance will be somewhat longer, even if you don't make any errors. The climb numbers represent the amount of ascending that would be done on the "optimum route" (in the Course Setters’ opinion), without regard for any descending.
- Orange is a challenging intermediate course at this event. You don't need to use a compass (though it might be handy), but it might be a challenge to step up from Yellow to Orange at this event.
- Everyone who will do either the Short Brown or Brown course should register for their best guess at the course they will do. The two courses share a map, and orienteers can decide in the field whether they want to finish with the Short Brown course or continue on for a few more controls to complete the (full) Brown course. However, if you change from your initial plan, please tell the E-punch crew before you download.
Course Comments
The White (beginner) course follows trails. All the controls are located on trails, and the control descriptions use text (i.e., not international symbols). There is no water on the course.
The Yellow (advanced beginner) course follows the same trails as the White course, but the controls are located off-trail, and you will have to leave the trail near a control area to find and punch the control. The control descriptions use international symbols (i.e., not text). Some of the symbols are explained on the map, but check your map before you start to ensure you recognize all of them. There is no water on the course.
The Orange (intermediate) course is a bit more difficult than usual. It might be a challenge to step up from Yellow to Orange at this event, and you might not complete the course (which is perfectly fine as long as you check back in at the download station). The course is mostly off-trail, but designed to guide you along recognizable features such as spurs, reentrants, and gullies. Note that although a trail is always close by, you will not always see it. The course is also longer, with considerable climb (215 m). A compass is not needed (it might help though), but always be aware of your location on the map (“keep in contact with the map”). This is often achieved by placing your thumb on your current position, and move it along as you navigate the course. And don't forget to check the control descriptions before you start to make sure you recognize all the symbols (including rootstock, open land, thicket, and erosion ditch). There are two water controls.
The Short Brown and Brown (advanced) courses use the same map. After the seventh control (after about 2/3 of the course), you can continue on the full Brown course, or you can go directly from control 7 to control 11 (i.e., skip controls 8, 9, & 10) and continue on the Short Brown course. There are no fence crossings. There is one water control.
Note: You need to register for either the Short Brown or Brown course — make your best guess at what you will do at the event. If you change your mind during the course (which is perfectly fine), be sure to tell the E-punch crew before you download.
The Green, Red, and Blue (advanced) courses each have two water controls. The Blue course has multiple fence crossings, while Green and Red might have one depending on your route choice. If you do need to cross a fence, please go under it to not cause any damage.
Note that some open grassland can be quite deceptive in that it hides many, many scattered small rocks as well as deep pockets from cow footprints. This might cause a fall or a twisted ankle if one is not paying attention or going at very high speeds. Please take caution.
We hope you will enjoy your course!