We start the Tahoe 4-Day event with a full set of Middle-distance courses for beginners through advanced orienteers at Boreal Mountain Resort. An extra "treat" for this first day in the Lake Tahoe area will be the 7100-foot elevation!
Everyone is welcome to participate in this event, including beginners and non-members. Free beginner instruction will be available during the time shown below.
Schedule
The following non-standard event schedule will be followed:
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Registration is open
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Beginner instruction is available (free)
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Starts are open for all the courses
6:00 PM: Everyone must have returned to the Finish
Participants under age 18 who register at the event must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or bring with them a waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian. (The standard registration form is available here [12KB PDF]. Note, however, that some of the fees for this event are different than those on the form.)
The walk to the start will be slightly less than one kilometer. Be sure to allow about 10–15 minutes to get there. Note that you can register and start on the courses anytime during the open times above. Thus, for example, you do not need to be "punctual" at 2:00. (You can if you want, but please don't show up earlier and expect to be served.)
Beginner instruction is 15–20 minute, repeating sessions ("clinics") that introduce the sport of orienteering, and provide enough instruction to be able to complete the Beginner course.
Beginners are given their course maps at registration. You should get your map before joining a beginner clinic. Everyone must return to the Finish by 6:00 PM, and then promptly go to the download tent, even if they have not completed their course. Please do not leave without checking in! If there are unaccounted people after 6:00, we must initiate a search for them.
Costs & Registration
Since this is a "special" event, the standard BAOC registration fees do not apply.
The prices for the Tahoe 4-day Package and for individual events are shown on the main Tahoe 4-Day event webpage. (Be sure to read the notes below the prices table.)
Online registration closed at 6:00 PM PDT on July 23rd. However, registration for individual events (but not the Tahoe 4-day Package) will be available at the events.
Location of the Event
The Assembly Area (e.g., Registration and E-punch) will be located in the Woodward Tahoe parking lot. The driving directions and parking information are below.
Venue Facilities
There are restrooms in the Woodward Tahoe building, which is close to the Assembly Area.
Water will be available near the Assembly Area.
There is only one bar of 5G cell-phone reception in the parking lot at Boreal, maybe two bars on a good day. There is no reception on the courses, except at one advanced control.
What to Bring
For Beginner (White and Yellow) courses, comfortable outdoors attire and shoes are fine.
For the Intermediate (Orange) and Advanced (Brown, Green, Red, and Blue) courses, the steeper hillsides can be a bit slippery due to dry leaves and loose dirt, so shoes with good grip are highly recommended. Long pants and/or gaiters might be desirable because of undergrowth.
A compass is not required, but can be very helpful — and can improve safety — so is recommended. We have compasses available for a $1 rental fee.
We time the courses with the SPORTident system, so each entry/team needs to have a SPORTident E-punch fingerstick. If you don't have your own, you can rent one at Registration for $5. (Use of the "E-punch" system is easy. You can learn how at the event, or read about it here.)
Courses
The course details are below. Be sure to read the Course Setter's Notes for more information.
Course Length Climb Controls Navigation
White 1.5 km 30 m 8 Beginner
Yellow 1.5 km 40 m 9 Adv. Beginner
Orange 2.4 km 85 m 9 Intermediate
Short Brown 1.6 km 40 m 8 Advanced
Long Brown 2.1 km 50 m 9 Advanced
Green 2.9 km 110 m 12 Advanced
Red 3.5 km 125 m 15 Advanced
Blue 4.3 km 175 m 17 Advanced
Beginners should be aware that the distances shown are the cumulative straight-line distances between controls. 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. Because you won't travel in straight lines, and might not follow the optimum routes, your actual distance and climb will be somewhat more than what is shown above, and will depend on your route choices (and any errors you make).
The maps will have the scale 1:7500. The contour interval is 5 m.
The walk from the Assembly Area to the Start is about 900 m. Plan on taking about 10–15 minutes for that walk. The walk from the Finish back to the Assembly Area is a reverse of the walk to the Start Area.
Hazards
Fortunately, there is no poison oak in the Sierras! 😊
However, deer ticks are found in this area, and they might carry Lyme disease. So, please be sure to check yourself carefully after the event.
You should be mindful of dehydration because the high-altitude air will be dry. That concern will be even greater if the weather is hot. So, you should consider carrying water while on your course.
Also because of the altitude, there will be increased risk of sunburn, so be sure to use plenty of quality sunscreen.
Volunteers Needed
As always, we need volunteers for this event.
Please consider volunteering to help — even part of a shift will help! Previous experience is not needed (except for Beginner Clinics), and easy training will be provided as needed, so please don't hesitate to sign up.
The shifts and current assignments are shown in this form. You can check the form to see what's available, then send email to Rex Winterbottom, the Event Director, to indicate your interest or ask where he would like help. Rex will respond back to you.
Driving Directions
Boreal Mountain Resort (aka Woodward Tahoe) is right next to I-80, near Donner Pass.
From either direction on I-80, take exit 176 for Castle Peak/Boreal Ridge Rd.
Those traveling east will turn right at the end of the off-ramp. Those traveling west will turn left at the end of the off-ramp. Then, turn right at the T intersection.
Parking The Woodward Tahoe parking lot will be ahead on your left. Park beyond the Woodward Tahoe building (approximate coordinates 39.3358,-120.3520).
Note: Please do not park in front of the Woodward Tahoe building, or closer to the highway entrance.