Fountainhead

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October 2
Sunday

Fountainhead

Come enjoy orienteering in this classic QOC terrain, courtesy of course setter Jon Torrance. The full range of courses - white (beginner) through blue (long advanced) - plus an ultralong course will be on offer. For white through blue, no preregistration is needed, and event timing is: registration open from 10:45am - 1:15pm, start anytime between 11am - 1:30pm, and be out of the woods by 3:00pm. The UltraLong will have participant check-in at registration no later than 10:15am then a mass start at 10:30am, with participants required to be out of the woods by 3:30pm. There will be a mid-course control with a map exchange adjacent to the start/finish at which a time cutoff will be enforced - participants who don't get there on pace to finish by 3:30pm will not be allowed to continue.

Pre-registration and payment was required by midnight on Friday for the UltraLong, however you can still register by emailing the Event Director and letting her know that you are planning to attend the UltraLong. For all other courses (except the UltraLong), register at the event as usual. Approximate course lengths, subject to change, are given below. Full course details and course setter comments will be posted closer to the event date.

As usual, youth groups and other large groups planning to attend this event should contact the Event Director in advance so that we can coordinate pre-registration for your group; the group registration and waiver form is part of the information on our Group Leaders page.

Additional information:

  • As long as it's dry enough, the nearby mountain bike course is expected to be open (weather dependent), so bring your bike and get a great ride before or after running an orienteering course. PDF map via this page. In case of rain, call the trail hotline at 703-250-9124 to check on status.
  • Carpooling is encouraged as a courtesy to other park users.
  • Dogs on leash are welcome.
  • GPS watch loaner program continues, for anyone interested in trying one out. See Jon Torrance at the event.
  • FYI: at this time of year, the miniature golf course and the marina (including boat rental) are also open; details here.
  • Feel free to use our Contact Us form if you have any questions!

Location

Fountainhead Regional Park, Main parking area, Fairfax Station, VA (Classic + UltraLong)

RegistrationAdvance registration & payment is required only for the UltraLong course: register here. For all other courses, register at the event.
Start TimesYou may start your course at any time during the start window listed below for your event.
ScheduleSunday, October 2
10:30 am - 3:30 pmClassic + UltraLong: UltraLong - mass start to course closure time
11:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic + UltraLong: White through Blue - start window opening to course closure
Volunteers
Event Director:Laura Linville
Event Director:Aaron Linville
Course Designer:Jon Torrance
Location Details

Classic + UltraLong, Classic + UltraLong
Fountainhead Regional Park
Main parking area
Fairfax Station, VA
Google Map

One route among several: Take I-95 south of the Beltway, exit at Lorton Road (exit 163), go west 2.1 miles (4th stop light) and at the end of the road take a right onto Route 123. Drive 1.3 miles to Hampton Road, then turn left just past the fire station and drive 3 miles to the park entrance on the left.
Google Maps Link
Apple/iPhone Link
Course DetailsClassic + UltraLong
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 2.31008
Yellow 314013
Orange 4.320510
Brown 419012
Green 5.425013
Red 6.932016
Blue 8.842016
UltraLong 17.171023
Course NotesClassic + UltraLong

White and yellow maps will be printed at a scale of 1:5,000; all other maps will be 1:10,000.

The park is, as it has been from the beginnings of orienteering in the area, a fine sample of spur and reentrant terrain with generally open, runnable woods. Somewhat steep, as reflected in the climb numbers for several courses, but not outlandishly so. Visibility not as high right now with leaves on as at some times of the year but still fairly good - hark back in memory to our event last September rather than the one in January and your expectations should be well calibrated.

The map, dating back to our national meet in autumn of 2014, is holding up well so far though all, at least all running orange or advanced courses, should keep in mind that new root stocks can pop up anywhere at anytime and that knolls, cairns and boulders on the map may all be somewhat smaller than strict compliance with ISOM permits . White and yellow participants shouldn't encounter any major changes in the terrain from what is on the map. All other courses are likely to encounter a short section of the Bull Run Occoquan Trail that has been rerouted - where it used to climb straight up the nose of a spur, it now climbs up a broader, adjacent spur by making a couple of switchbacks. The new section of trail has not been accurately surveyed but has been sketched in on the competition maps using a dashed magenta line (the marked route symbol). Ultralong participants (perhaps others too but they were only seen during course design in areas visited only by the UL course) are likely to see some temporary hunters stands (metal ladders capped with seats and strapped to trees with several loops of webbing) which have not been added to the map, as well as at least one new unmapped trail that, while not extremely distinct on the ground, has been blazed with frequent patches of blue paint on trees near eye level.

Some courses have plausible routes along roads or the edges of parking lots and the UltraLong course requires two crossings of the park entrance road. Please exercise appropriate caution when running across or along roads and other paved areas where cars may be lurking.

Please also make every effort to stay out of out-of-bounds areas depicted on the map, including the archery area, the mountain bike trails, and areas outside the park boundaries.

Entry FeesUltraLong

Each participant will be charged $10 plus a $5 epunch rental fee for those who don't own their own epunch.

White through Blue courses

Individual 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.
  • If you have access to a smartphone, you may become a member at the event by joining online via this webpage (which also explains the member benefits). Membership is completely optional. If you wish to join or renew, we strongly recommend joining (or renewing) online before the event rather than at it to save time and because it's easier.
  • 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.
  • Former QOC members who have let their membership lapse pay non-member fees.
  • 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.