Patapsco McKeldin

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January 6
Sunday

Welcome to orienteering in 2013! The registration area for this event will be in Patapsco Valley State Park, Pavilion 501, not far from the entry gate house for the McKeldin area, and close to the only bathroom facility that will be open in the park. We fully expect that winter will have arrived by the day of the meet, and we will have a fire going in the pavilion grill and sausages and marshmallows available for roasting along with hot chocolate and coffee. We hope to see lots of folks out to experience McKeldin's hilly terrain and the challenging courses that Mark and Patti Mace have planned.

McKeldin Any youth or large groups attending, please contact the Event Director 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.

E-punching will be in use, and course details are now posted. If you are considering trying a harder level course than usual, you might want to consider it carefully since these courses have a greater amount of climb due to the nature of this terrain. Course notes are posted below. Note: there is a park entrance fee that will be collected ($2 per vehicle for MD residents, $4 per vehicle for others).

Location

Patapsco Valley State Park, McKeldin Area, Shelter 501, Marriottsville, MD (Classic Orienteering)

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.
ScheduleSunday, January 6
11:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic Orienteering:
Volunteers
Meet Director:Kim Jepsen
Meet Director:Anne Jepsen
Course Setter:Mark Mace
Course Setter:Patti Mace
Location Details

Classic Orienteering
Patapsco Valley State Park
McKeldin Area, Shelter 501
Marriottsville, MD
Google Map

From I-695/I-70 West take I-70 to Marriottsville Rd. (Exit 83). Go North on Marriottsville Rd. for 4 miles to the park entrance on the right. After paying park entrance fees, follow O-signs to shelter #501.

From I-70 East take Rt. 40 (Exit 82, Balt. Natl. Pike) to Marriottsville Rd. Turn left. Park entrance is 5 miles on the right. After paying park entrance fees, follow O-signs to shelter #501.

Course DetailsClassic Orienteering
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 1.8606
Yellow 2.710010
Orange 4.119012
Brown 3.41909
Green 5.722515
Red 7.627017
Blue 8.530020
Course NotesClassic Orienteering

The terrain is runnable at speed, except in some areas where dried Japanese stiltgrass obscures rocks and deadfall from view somewhat. Visibility will be very high unless Mother Nature graces us with heavy fog or a blizzard on January 6th. The map has been updated recently by John Blaisdell and Ted Good. Some now decayed rootstocks has been removed and new ones added where they were encountered during course setting but competitors may still see some unmapped rootstocks created by the storms of 2012.

For Green, Red and Blue runners: your courses will cross Marriottsville Road. Please be careful of oncoming vehicles.

Everyone: check control codes to avoid punching the wrong control; some controlsĀ are close together and could trick the unwary.

The printed maps will be 8.5 X 11 inches for all courses. The map scale will be 1:5,000 for white and yellow and 1:10,000 for all other courses. The contour interval will be 5m.

Entry FeesIndividual Entries

Non-Member: $10/adult, $6/junior (under 21 years old)

Member: $6/adult, $4/junior (under 21 years old)

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.
  • Most of our events use electronic timing. We will provide you with an electronic timing chip (aka e-stick, finger dibber, or SI-card) for free if you don't own one. Loaned e-sticks that are lost incur a $40 replacement fee.
  • 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 e-punch.
  • For additional safety, whistles are available for sale at $1/each.
  • Free beginner instruction is always available - just ask at the registration table.