2022 Ultimate Orienteer #2 – Summit Trails (Freestyle)
ULTIMATE ORIENTEER
Saturday, April 9 at Summit Trails/Rock Creek Natural Area in Maple Valley, WA
Meet Director: Ing Uhlin
Meet Documents:
- Online pre-registration closes Wed 4/6/2022 9:00 PM.
- COVID Health Check form is posted here. Fill it out by Friday 7 pm before the event.
- Start list is posted here. Select your own start time or we will assign you one. Please sign up before Thursday 4/7 at 9 pm for a start time. (The start list will be locked at that time.)
- The Parking is at the south end of Summit Trails Middle School. The Start is along the road at the first trail head closest to the school. The Finish is further away from the school, southwest along the road by the utility building. Porta potty locations.
- Here is a map with more details about the creek crossings. (The Short and Long Advanced courses will cross the creek.)
Event #2/7 in the Ultimate Orienteer Series!
The second event in the 2022 Ultimate Series will feature a new format: freestyle! It’s perfect for people who don’t like course designers telling them where to go. You must visit all the controls on your course but you choose the order. Unlike a score course, there are no time limits (except course closure time) and no points or penalties, just elapsed time.
COVID Operating Protocols
If you sign up for this event, you will be asked to read and agree to follow our COVID Operating Protocols. Our use permits are contingent on our ability to demonstrate that we can hold safe events, so we thank you in advance for helping us make this happen.
Please check back later for more information.
There will be pre-registration only, no day-of registration.
Only self-selected start times.
COURSES
Course designer(s): Ben Cooper, Chris Cooper
Since this is a Freestyle event, the only certain information here is the number of controls on each course. The distances and climbs are only approximations for one possible route option on each course.
- Beginner: 12 controls, 1.9 km, 10 m climb
- Intermediate: 20 controls, 3.5 km, 25 m climb
- Short Advanced: 26 controls, 5.5 km, 105 m climb
- Long Advanced: 28 Controls, 6.5 km, 130 m climb
What is my age class?
Freestyle Course/Class Assignments for Ultimate points
If you want to earn Ultimate points, check the table below to see which category you should sign up for. Find your age class in the left column, then follow the row across to the right until you find the dark orange cell. That is your “assigned” category.
For example, if you’re a female 16 or under, your Ultimate age class is F-16 and, for this event, is assigned to the Intermediate course. If you are up for a more challenging course, you can also earn points in F-18 on the Short Advanced course, or F-20 or F-21+ on the Long Advanced course. Just keep in mind that other courses are more difficult, both navigationally and physically. Also keep in mind that you’ll be earning points only in the class you sign up for.
How are courses measured?
Courses are measured as the crow flies, in a direct line from control to control. Unless you have wings, you will travel farther than this distance! Courses are measured in kilometers, so a good rule of thumb is to simply round up to miles to estimate how far you will go. So in a 5 kilometer race, you’ll likely travel up to 5 miles.
COURSE NOTES
Welcome back to another rousing romp through the woods of Summit Trails! We realize that after two years of Summit Trails courses you may have a “Been There, Done That” attitude. However, for this event you will be venturing to all new locations and tread through remote wilderness areas know only to the ghostly herds of elk. In addition, the creek is in play for this meet (Short & Long Advanced only) so bring your water wings and pool noodles!
Just a couple quick details before you arrive at the event. First, parking will be at the Summit Trails Middle School. However, for this race you will want to park in the school’s front (southwest) parking lot. Second, at this time of year there will be plenty of equestrians out ridings the trails. If you encounter horses while on the course, please step to the side and let the riders pass. If you are slightly off trail but close enough for a horse and rider to hear you, please announce your presence in a calm voice. Keep euphoric polka playing to a minimum (A good rule of thumb for all aspects of life).
In regards to the map, nothing much has changed from John Brady’s remarkedly detailed course notes from WIOL #7. Remember, deteriorated stumps are marked as knolls, deer and elk trails are marked as strips of open forest and the spring bloom is making the vegetation a bit tougher to see through. Oh, and don’t forget to wear pants! You have been warned! For a fun read, click on the following link to see all of John’s delightful details: 2021-22 Winter League #7 – Summit Trails/Rock Creek Natural Area – Cascade Orienteering Cascade Orienteering (cascadeoc.org) In particular, note that the stumps that are mapped are very large and mapped with a brown X. Rootstocks greater than 1m and visible from all directions are mapped with a brown triangle.
If you are running either the Short or Long Advanced courses, you will be crossing Rock Creek. Depending on your route of choice you might cross the creek numerous times. Runners who don’t mind getting a little wet can cross the creek wherever they so choose. However, for those that wish to stay somewhat dry, there are 6 log crossings depicted on the map. The two most secure crossings are crossings 4 & 5 (moving south to north). There is a marked crossing at the south end of the venue (crossing #1) but it can be slippery when wet. Best to just bring your swim fins and have fun!
The course is a Freestyle event but don’t confuse the map with a Score-O. (On a Freestyle course, you must go to all controls on your course but you choose the order.) A delightfully challenging and purposefully designed course was developed for your navigation pleasure. All manner of terrain and map features were used to create a singularly optimum route. Once the design was complete, the course’s leg lines were removed leaving what appears to be a purely random set of controls. However, deviating from the elusive route will result in additional distance, unnecessary elevation gain, debilitating sore muscles and an excessively grouchy disposition. We look forward to seeing you all at Summit Trails!
Ben and Chris
SCHEDULE
Pre-registration only!
9:00am-12:15pm – Check-in
9:30am-12:30pm – Starts (start times are pre-assigned; sign up for a start time (form provided soon) before Thursday at 9pm; if you don’t, we’ll pick one for you)
9:30am-10:30am – Newcomer instruction
2:30pm – Courses close*
*Wear a watch to ensure that you return to the finish by course closure time, even if you have to abandon your course to do so. Those returning after course closure will be disqualified and will make the volunteer staff very grumpy.
Why is there a start window?
This event uses an interval start, which means that participants are started in waves instead of all at once. When you arrive at the start tent, find the chute for your course and follow the start volunteer’s instructions.
PRICES
Pre-registration only!
$22 base price
– subtract $5 for CascadeOC members
– subtract $5 for using your own e-punch
-running as a group? Add $5 for each additional adult (16+) group member, no charge for additional children. Max group size is 3 due to COVID restrictions.
Become a member here.
What’s an e-punch?
An e-punch records your race. At each control, you’ll dip the e-punch into an electronic box, which will beep and flash as confirmation. After you finish, you’ll download the e-punch at the download tent and get a receipt that show which controls you visited and how long you took between each; these are your “splits.”
Part of the fun of orienteering is comparing your splits with people who completed the same course, and discussing the routes you took!
SIGN UP
Online pre-registration closes Wed 4/6/2022 9:00 PM.
Please sign up before Thursday 4/7 at 9pm for a start time.
LOCATION
PARKING
Park at Summit Trails Middle School, in the southwest parking lot.
CARPOOL
Looking for a carpool? Join the CascadeOC club email list on Google Groups and share your request to find a ride.
THE MAP
Summit Trails/Rock Creek Natural Area is part of the larger Danville-Georgetown Open Space. This moderately flat area has numerous contour and vegetation features, such as stumps, rootstocks, depressions, and knolls. Passage through the trees is often possible using faint elk trails. Adjacent to Summit Trail Middle School.
Read more on the map pageSAFETY & ETIQUETTE
Return to the Finish
All participants MUST return to the finish and download their e-punch or turn in their punch card.
Even if you have not finished your course, you must still return to the the finish and confirm with event staff that you have returned safely.
Out of Bounds
Some areas may be marked out of bounds. It is imperative to respect these boundaries to maintain our relationships with land managers. Participants MUST NOT go out of bounds. Any participant caught going out of bounds will be disqualified.
Course Closure
All participants MUST return to the finish by course closure time. If a participant does not return by course closure, event volunteers will begin coordinating a search party.
If you need a long time on the course, start as early in the start window as possible, wear a watch, and be prepared to cut your course short to make it back by the course closure time.
Whistle
All participants MUST carry a whistle on the course. Complimentary whistles are available at the start tent (please only take one).
If you are injured on the course and need assistance, blow three long blasts to call for help.
If you hear a call for help, abandon your course to find the person in distress.
Voices
Part of the fun and fairness of orienteering is navigating your own course, so please be polite when you find a checkpoint and don’t holler that you’ve found it.
