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PDF versionShareThisMay 10
Sunday
Welcome to Pohick Bay Regional Park for a Mothers Day orienteering event! This year, we'll be in a new location for registration and start/finish (see the locator map below.) We will operate out of the Eagle's Nest Veranda (pictured below), down the hill from our usual area and located right on the Pohick Bay shoreline. It is important to note that, because of an acute shortage of parking spaces on what park authorities anticipate to be a VERY busy day at Pohick, we will use the same parking lot as in previous years. Please park in the lot identified by signage and then walk down along the footpath next to the access road to the shoreline and the Eagle's Nest for registration. The trail head is clearly identified at the Northeastern corner of the parking lot. Traffic may be heavy so please use the trail and not the road. The Eagle's Nest Veranda is equipped with its own rest rooms.
A full set of courses from beginner (white) to advanced (blue) will be available thanks to course setter Tom Strat. The start and finish will be somewhat remote from the registration site in order to avoid running through potentially high traffic and picnic areas.
Other event details you should know about:
- When you arrive at the gate, tell the attendant that you are there for orienteering and you will not have to pay the entry fee.
- NEW! Bring food or drinks to picnic on the veranda after your run! We will have use of a refrigerator, and tables and chairs for you to relax in and enjoy the view from this shady veranda.
- The park's refurbished boat ramp will be available for those who want to bring their boats, and kayaks may be rented as well; full rental details
here.
- There is also a children's play area just 50 meters from our registration pavilion.
Nearby Attraction: Want to combine some history with your orienteering? Nearby Gunston Hall was the home of George Mason, "the father of the Bill of Rights" and has an impressive mansion and over 500 acres of grounds and hiking trails. (You can also get a preview of the site for next year's Pohick Bay orienteering event which is planned to start on a newly mapped section of Gunston Hall.) This year, on our event day (May 10) Gunston Hall will be hosting special Mothers Day activities from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Tours will highlight the roles of women at leisure in the Mansion and at labor in the hearth kitchen. Mothers and grandmothers receive free admission. The entry road for Gunston Hall is just 500 meters beyond the Pohick Bay Park entrance, off of Gunston Road. Head to their website for hours and admission prices.
| Location | Pohick Bay Regional Park, Eagle's Nest (Classic) |
| Registration | No advance registration required. Just show up and have fun! |
| Start Times | Start anytime between 11 - 1:30, and be back to download no later than 3pm. |
| Schedule | Sunday, May 10| 11:00 am - 3:00 pm | Classic: |
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| Volunteers | |
| Location Details | Classic
Pohick Bay Regional Park
Eagle's Nest
Google Map | From southbound I-95, take exit 163 (Lorton). Go left onto Lorton Rd at the end of exit ramp. Go under the 2nd overpass and turn right onto Lorton Market St (Z-pizza is in the shopping center on the left), then go about 1.5 miles to the traffic light at Route 1. Go straight through light (the road name changes to Gunston Rd) and go about 4 miles to the park entrance on left. Let the entrance staff know you are part of the orienteering event so you don't pay admission.
Park in the large lot on the right just beyond the mini-golf course and near Pavilions 1 and 2. Then find the trail head that is clearly identified at the northeastern corner of the parking lot, and walk down it to the shoreline and to the Eagle's Nest pavilion where registration will be. Traffic on the road may be heavy so please use the trail as indicated. |
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| Course Details | Classic| Course Name | Length (km) | Climb (m) | No. Controls | | White | 2 | 95 | 9 | | Yellow | 2.8 | 85 | 11 | | Orange | 3.7 | 195 | 12 | | Brown | 3.9 | 195 | 12 | | Green | 4.9 | 265 | 16 | | Red | 6.1 | 380 | 17 | | Blue | 7 | 440 | 20 |
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| Course Notes | Classic Map Scales: 1:5000 for the white course, 1:7500 for yellow, 1:10000 for all others.
Roads: All courses cross the main park road or parking lots. While most crossing points have good sight lines, runners should pay attention for cars, bikes and trucks towing boats. Additionally, runners on Blue and Red courses will cross the main road in Camp Wilson, heavily used this time of year by campers and day trippers.
Private Property and Out of Bounds: Pay close attention to and respect the Out of Bounds and Private areas marked in magenta on the map. Courses are designed to avoid crossing into these areas; fence lines or trails provide a mapped border. Pohick Bay Golf Course is likewise not part of any course; if you find yourself on a fairway or green, you have gone too far!
Horses: Many trails in Pohick Bay Regional Park, including Camp Wilson, are multi-use. If you encounter equestrians, give right of way to horses/riders.
Campers: Several courses have route choices that may cross through camping areas. Many campers will be checking out on a Sunday, but please respect privacy of other park patrons by not running through areas with tents and campers/trailers.
Vegetation: White woods are indeed open and runnable this time of year. Advanced courses provide expansive view both the spurs and stream valleys in the western portion of the park. Light green is mainly stands of luxurious laurel and/or holly. Game trails/unmarked footpaths provide some relief, while medium green is thicker, and features blackberry, greenbrier and young blueberry in the understory. “Rough open” is mowed in main park areas, but power line/pipeline area contains high grass and saplings. Unmapped deadfall is out there, but mainly along windy spurs/flat areas near the road, and on steeper slopes.
Trails: Park staff, volunteers, and Scouts have been adding to the trail network, especially in northwestern portion of our map. Newer trails may not be mapped, but nor are they heavily used. Mapped trails do exist, and are in good shape. We have updated some trails in vicinity of controls, but runners are always advised to pay attention to terrain and point features for navigation to controls.
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| Entry Fees | Individual Entries
Note: juniors = under 21
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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.
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