For this third day of the Tahoe 4-Day event, we have a National Ranking Event with a full set of Classic courses for beginners through advanced orienteers at Burton Creek State Park.
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:
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Registration is open
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Beginner instruction is available (free)
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Starts are open for all the courses
2:00 PM: Everyone must have returned to the Finish
Note: 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.) 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 9:00. (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.
Note: 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 2:00 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 2:00, 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
Registration and E-punch will be located at North Tahoe High School, near Tahoe City (2945 Polaris Rd, Tahoe City, CA). The driving directions are below.
Venue Facilities
There will be restrooms and a water fountain near Registration.
If somebody volunteers to help, we will have a selection of food items (i.e., snacks) available for after your course.
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.)
National Ranking Event (NRE)
The Burton Creek event has been approved by OrienteeringUSA as a National Ranking Event. That will in no way affect the nature of the event, but it is designed to ensure the quality of the courses. As an NRE, entrants will have the opportunity to earn national ranking points.
Since this event is an NRE, everyone on the intermediate (Orange) and advanced (Brown through Blue) courses — and optionally on the beginner (White and Yellow) courses — will be entered in an age-based class, with their birth year determining their "normal" class, and the class determining their course. (The classes and their respective course assignments are shown on page 13 in the Rules for Orienteering USA Sanctioned Events)
Note that in a National Ranking Event, no groups are allowed on Orange or an any of the advanced courses.
OUSA ranking points will be earned for the course that is completed.
There are two alternatives to entering in one's "normal", age-based class:
Everyone is free to enter in a "harder" class (i.e., "older" for youth under 21; "younger" for adults). Everyone is free to enter in an "open" class in which people of all ages complete whichever course they want. (The "open" classes are designated with "F" or "M" followed by the course color [e.g., "F-Orange" and "M-Brown"].)
Courses
The course details are below. Be sure to read the Course Setter's Notes for more information.
Course Length Climb Controls Navigation
White 2.0 km 45 m 12 Beginner
Yellow 2.6 km 60 m 12 Adv. Beginner
Orange 3.6 km 70 m 12 Intermediate
Brown 3.7 km 65 m 12 Advanced
Green 5.4 km 80 m 12 Advanced
Red 7.7 km 160 m 20 Advanced
Blue 8.8 km 160 m 22 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).
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 plan to carry 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.
The volunteer shifts and current assignments are shown in this form. You can check the form to see what's available, then send email to Emily Ellsworth, the Event Director (email), or to Rex Winterbottom, the Event Coordinator (email), to indicate your interest or ask where they'd like help. Emily or Rex will respond back to you.
Driving Directions
Burton Creek State Park is close to Tahoe City, off Highway 28 toward Kings Beach.
Parking will be at North Tahoe High School (2945 Polaris Rd, Tahoe City), which we have used several times in the past. The approximate coordinates for the assembly area are 39.1953,-120.1193.
From Tahoe City: Take CA Route 28 northeast for ~3.7 kilometers (Hey, we're orienteers and should know metric! OK, if I must, ~2.3 miles.), and turn left onto Old Mill Road. Head north on Old Mill Road for ~600 meters (0.4 miles) until reaching the three-way stop at Polaris Road. Turn left and proceed ~800 meters (0.5 miles) to the school on the right. Turn in at the first driveway and proceed ahead, up the slope, to the far parking lot.
Note: If you miss Old Mill Road, just keep going on Highway 28, and look for a sign pointing to Fabian Way and cross-country skiing [turn left just before a 7-Eleven on your right]—see below for directions from there. From Kings Beach: Take CA Route 28 west for ~10.8 kilometers (~6.7 miles), and turn right onto Fabian Way (across from the 7-Eleven on your left). Turn right onto Village Road (first intersection: ~130 meters, ~400 feet). Head north on Village Road for ~300 meters (0.2 miles), and turn left onto Polaris Road. Proceed ~1.1 kilometers (0.7 miles) to the school on the right. Turn in at the first driveway and proceed ahead, up the slope, to the far parking lot.
Note: If you miss Fabian Way, just keep going on Highway 28, and look carefully for Old Mill Road on the right, near where the road bents to the left—see above for directions from there.