Patapsco Granite

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionPDF versionPDF versionShareThis

May 6
Saturday

EVENT UPDATE, Friday 5pm: We look forward to seeing you tomorrow - our event will take place as planned. Please read the notes below!

Welcome back to Patapsco Granite! We will have a full set of courses taking advantage of this complex, occasionally rocky terrain. Course details and course setter comments are now posted below. Note that this is a *Saturday* event. Note also that the ground is wet and in some places muddy; please do what you can to 'leave no trace'.

Event timing: Register at the event anytime between 10:45am - 1:15, start between 11 - 1:30, and be sure to check back in no later than 3pm.

REMINDER: Use the cups we provide at each water stop. DO NOT CHUG directly from the water containers. We encourage event directors to void the results of anyone violating this policy. Every orienteer can take the extra few seconds to use the cups.

If you will be bringing a large group (youth or otherwise), please contact Event Director Anne Jepsen 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.

Granite Additional information:

  • Parking will be in the large lot of the St. Alphonsus Rodriguez church parking lot.
  • Registration will be in the nearby field.
  • Dogs are welcome, but please keep them on a leash at all times.
  • There are no entrance or parking fees at this venue.
  • GPS watches & Kanpas compasses will be available for loan for those who wish to try them.
  • Have any questions? Just use our handy Contact Us form.

SPECIAL VOLUNTEER REQUEST ON THE DAY OF THE MEET:
The managers of the Patapsco Valley State Park have a policy that requires large groups like QOC to put in some number of volunteer hours doing trail maintenance and/or cleanup at the various park locations. Since our club uses a number of areas in the Patapsco State Park (Hilton, Avalon, Orange Grove, Granite and McKeldin), and our participants are roaming through many sections of the park that may not be accessed normally, we have suggested that we would like to try doing some trash removal and cleanup on the day of our event in order to meet our volunteer obligation. So, after you have completed your course on Saturday, please consider giving the club and the park a half hour of your time to pick up trash and debris in the area.

We will have trash bags available for your use near the refreshment station. We would hope that you would take whatever you collect with you for disposal at home. This is our way of giving back to the parks and woodlands from which we derive so much pleasure. If this pilot initiative works out we may also try doing some invasive plant removal as part of this effort in the future. Thanks for your help.

Location

Patapsco Valley State Park, Granite Area, Woodstock, MD (Classic)

RegistrationNo advance registration required. Just show up and have fun!
Start TimesYou may start your course at any time during the start window listed below for your event.
ScheduleSaturday, May 6
11:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic:
Volunteers
Event Director:Anne Jepsen
Course Designer:Kim Jepsen
Location Details

Classic
Patapsco Valley State Park
Granite Area
Woodstock, MD
Google Map

Park in the large parking lot to the south of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church on Old Court Rd. From the Marriottsville Rd exit of I-70, go north on Marriottsville just 0.8 miles and then turn right on Old Frederick Rd (Rt 99). Go east 0.8 miles, then turn left (north) on Woodstock Rd. In 2 miles the church will be on your left, after Woodstock Rd has changed its name to Old Court Rd.
Course DetailsClassic
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 2.66010
Yellow 2.87012
Orange 4.515515
Beige 3.915011
Brown 4.920014
Green 6.123015
Red 7.524018
Blue 9.229517
Course NotesClassic

The map has received some minor updates, mainly due to a few new paths. Many of the mapped rootstocks have been around for several years, and the few that are used as controls on the courses are old and decaying. The woods are generally open and runable; except for a rough open field NE of the quarry, there is only little thorny undergrowth, although some barberry bushes may be encountered. The mapped vegetation boundaries in the woods generally indicate groves of coniferous trees, are easy to see while running, and can be a useful navigation feature.

There is a remote start, with a quick 400 m walk from the registration area for all courses.

The yellow course is a little harder than is typical for our events, in that it departs from the trail network more than usual. The course mainly follows linear features, but also incorporates two short legs (100 m) where the runner must leave a linear feature and enter the terrain. The controls flags in this area are easy to see, and the legs should not prove overly difficult for a yellow runner with a little experience; however, this would not be the event for a young runner to move up to yellow for the first time.

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.
  • 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.