Patapsco Granite

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April 30
Saturday

Welcome back to Patapsco Granite! In addition to classic beginner and intermediate courses, this meet will offer advanced courses and a special Granite Sprint course. The classic courses are designed as middle distance courses, offering typical D.C.-area orienteering, while the Sprint course uses the complex rocky part of the park resembling North-East U.S. terrains. Course details and course setter comments are now posted below. Note that this is a *Saturday* event.

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.

Advanced Orienteers: This event allows you to experience a double event: both a classic middle distance style event plus a classic sprint event, for just one entry fee! The idea is that you should run your normal 'color' Middle course first, and then, run the (advanced) Sprint course. We will post both times per course and combined times for Middle + Sprint. Intermediate orienteers may also try the Sprint course, but be aware this is quite technical terrain.

If you will be bringing a large group (youth or otherwise), please contact Event Director Dasa Merkova 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.
  • Map scales are 1:5000 for white and Sprint courses, 1:7500 for yellow, and 1:10000 for all others.
  • 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 & (new!) Kanpas compasses will be available for loan for those who wish to try them.
  • Have any questions? Just use our handy Contact Us form.

Location

Patapsco Valley State Park, Granite Area, Woodstock, MD (Middle/Sprint)
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, April 30
11:00 am - 3:00 pmMiddle/Sprint:
Volunteers
Event Director:
Course Designer:Jan Merka
Location Details

Middle/Sprint
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 DetailsMiddle/Sprint
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
Combined
White 2.2956
Yellow 3.21108
Orange 3.81559
Brown Middle 3.414010
Green Middle 4.118510
Advanced Sprint 2.611513
Red Middle 4.822512
Blue Middle 5.526514
Course NotesMiddle/Sprint

The park offers very open woods with little dead fall and occasional prickle bushes. The thorns are usually clustered leaving enough room to run around them so even green areas are passable with moderate slow down. There are few ditches or small re-entrants so many controls use features like pits, boulders or small cliffs. Vegetation boundaries are clearly distinguishable. Mapped root stocks are old so if you see a fresh one, it is not likely to be found on the map. Isolated rocky features shown on the map can be small in reality, starting around 0.5m.

Beginner/intermediate courses White, Yellow and Orange are longer than usual, especially when runners follow trails. Advanced courses Brown, Green, Red and Blue are shorter (Middle) so the runners can run also the Sprint course. The times from Advanced and Sprint courses will be combined into one ranking.
Entry FeesIndividual Entries

Note: One advanced course (Brown, Green, Red or Blue) plus the Sprint course will be charged a single entry fee.

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.