Patuxent

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January 5
Sunday

Patuxent Park trail UPDATE: This event, snowed out in December, is now rescheduled for Sunday, January 5th. Welcome to one of our least steep parks - with a recently updated map and woods now quite open, plan on heading to Patuxent for this Sunday event. Event and course directors Patti & Mark Mace have a full set of seven courses on offer (from white through blue); course stats are posted below. Register anytime between 10:45am - 1:15pm, start between 11 - 1:30, and be back at the finish no later than 3pm. Pre-registration is not needed (or offered) for this event.

New to orienteering? We will hold beginner clinics continuously during the event; just tell the friendly folks at registration if you'd like to be in one and they'll take care of you. Also, make sure to check out our Your First Event and For Beginners webpages, and if they don't answer any question you have, just use our Contact Us form and ask away!

Group Leaders: please see our For Group Leaders webpage and then contact the Event Director so your group can get pre-registered in advance.

REMINDER! If you're even considering attending our January 26, 2014 orienteering event on the Quantico Marine Base, you must sign up by January 7 to get your name on the Base entrance list. Make sure everyone who might be in your group signs up too - all names (except for under 18s) need to be provided. Signing up is free - you only need to pay the regular registration fee for your course that day at the event once you're inside the Base - so why not sign up now? Head to the event webpage and when ready scroll down to the Registration "click here" button.

Location

Patuxent River Park, Barn parking area, Upper Marlboro, MD (Classic Orienteering)
RegistrationNo advance registration required. Just show up and have fun!
Start TimesYou may start your course at any time between 11am - 1:30pm [making sure to be back no later than 3pm.]
ScheduleSunday, January 5
11:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic Orienteering:
Volunteers
Event Director:Mark Mace
Course Designer:Patti Mace
Location Details

Classic Orienteering
Patuxent River Park
Barn parking area
Upper Marlboro, MD
Google Map

From the MD. Rt. 4 Capital Beltway exit, head south/east on Rt. 4 for 3 miles. Exit onto Woodyard Rd (Rt. 223) south. Immediately turn left at the light onto Osbourne Rd. After 3 miles you'll reach a traffic light and a junction with US Rt. 301. Turn left on 301 then immediately turn right at the next light onto Croom Rd. (Rt. 382). Signs for Patuxent River Park begin at this turn. After 3.5 miles, turn left on Croom Airport Road and continue for 2 miles to the park entrance, passing the junction with Duvall Rd. on the way. At the park entrance, continue straight towards the Group Camp Area (do not turn left towards the park's visitor center). Turn right onto the driveway leading to a barn and picnic pavilion when you reach a large field on the right hand side of the road. The parking, registration, start and finish areas are shown below on the arena map.

Alternatively, from the Capital Beltway (I-495), take Exit 11A, (Pennsylvania Ave), Route 4 east for 8 miles. Take Route 301 south for 1.7 miles. Turn left on Croom Station Road and continue for 1.6 miles. Turn left on Croom Road (Route 382) and proceed for 1.5 miles. Turn left on Croom Airport Road and proceed to the park entrance as described above.

From the junction of Route 50 and Route 301, take Route 301 south for 15 miles. Turn left onto Croom Station Road and go 3.5 miles before turning left again onto Croom Airport Road. Follow it to the park entrance and proceed as described above.
Google Maps Link
Apple/iPhone Link

Course DetailsClassic Orienteering
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 2.9158
Yellow 3.33510
Orange 4.510014
Brown 4.3758
Green 6.811514
Red 7.814515
Blue 9.822017
Course NotesClassic Orienteering

Map note: you are in luck! Our Patuxent map has recently been updated by Dave Linthicum.

Terrain notes: The woods are mostly open wood and are quite runnable and fast but with plenty of gullies. Although much of the terrain is mapped 'light green', it is quite runnable at this time of year. All the trails are clear and good condition. The forecast for this Thursday and Friday includes the possibility of rain showers so the marshes and ditches will be muddy. Please make sure tighten your orienteering shoes or you might lose them in the mud. For yellow and orange courses: make sure check the control numbers - some controls are quite close to others.
Entry FeesIndividual Entries

Note: juniors = under 21

Club Member, adult Club Member, junior Non-Member, adult Non-Member, junior
Epunch Owner $5 $5 $10 $5
Epunch Borrower $10 $5 $15 $10

Team or Group Entries

Participants are welcome to compete together as a single team entry. Teams containing one or more nonmembers are charged the nonmember individual rate. Teams containing one or more adults are charged the adult individual rate. For teams to receive member or junior rates, all members of the team must be members or juniors, respectively. Each extra team map beyond the first is an additional $2. Individuals or teams desiring to compete on a second course can do so for a reduced fee of $2/map.

Important Notes
  • At the event, we can only accept payment in cash or check; online, you may use a credit card or PayPal account.
  • You may become a member at the event or by joining online via this webpage (which also explains the member benefits). Membership is completely optional.
  • Most of our events use an 'epunch' timing chip for electronic timing. Individuals or groups without their own epunch pay a higher entry fee (see above), which includes the loan of an epunch for that event. Loaned epunches that are lost incur a $40 replacement fee. Epunches (also known as SI-cards or finger sticks) are usually available for sale at each event as described here.
  • Compasses are available at no charge, but if lost incur a $15 replacement fee.
  • Please provide collateral (driver's license or car keys) when borrowing a compass or epunch.
  • For additional safety, whistles are available for sale at $1/each.
  • Free beginner instruction is always available - just ask at the registration table.