Pohick Bay

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February 12
Sunday

2017 marks our return to Pohick Bay Regional Park (PBRP) after a year's absence. Hannah Culberg is designing a full set of courses, white through blue. Special thanks to Jon Campbell for having completely updated the PBRP map, which was significantly out of date at our last event there in 2015. Full course stats and course comments are now posted below. Event timing is our usual: register between 10:45 - 1:15, start any time between 11 - 1:30, be back before 3pm.

This year, we are varying the traditional meet location by running the meet out of Camp Wilson, a former Boy Scout camp that now constitutes the northernmost part of PBRP. To provide even more variety, the Green, Red, and Blue courses will entail a road crossing from PBRP across Gunston Road and onto a section of Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) that we have not used in more than five years. All the courses, from white to blue, should provide participants with a new and enjoyable Pohick orienteering experience. For an overview of the areas being used for this event, see this map.

The entrance to Camp Wilson is SEPARATE AND DISTINCT from the park main entrance that many of you are used to using (see photo to the right). It is located just before the Gunston Fire Station. It's easy to miss, so slow down after you pass the entrance to the Pohick Golf Course and be on the look-out for the event signs.

PBRP has made a significant improvement to the parking area at Camp Wilson with ~60 new right-angle parking slots along the entrance road. Overflow parking will be in the camping areas off the access road. No parking is permitted along the sides of the Camp Wilson entrance road, except in designated slots, in order to avoid any impediment to emergency-vehicle access.As you enter Camp Wilson, look for parking volunteers in reflective vests who will direct you to the appropriate parking areas and spaces.

Important notes:

• For the courses crossing Gunston Road, there will be controls on both sides of the designated crossing point (see course notes). This point, just adjacent to the Camp Wilson entrance and clearly marked on the pavement, is the only permissible crossing point to and from Meadowood. The visibility from the crossing point in both directions along Gunston Road is excellent, but the speed limit is 50 MPH and cars often exceed that speed, so make sure to stop and observe carefully before crossing. A road guard, wearing a reflective vest, will be in place at the Gunston Road crossing point to watch for approaching vehicles and warn them, as necessary, that there is foot traffic at the crossing point.
• Do not cross any part of the Pohick Bay Golf Course, which is located north of Camp Wilson.
• You may encounter horses and riders on Meadowood East, which is a local center of equestrian activity and features trails specially designed to withstand the effects of horse traffic. When moving near a horse and rider, please slow down until you pass them and yield the right of way, if you encounter one while running on a trail.
• Any significant accumulation of snow prior to the event could potentially have an impact on our ability to use Camp Wilson with its dirt road access. Check this page for any last-minute changes.

AED Demo Would you know how to use QOC's AED unit in an emergency? Come find out! Aided by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy Instructor Rich Hall, QOC member Keg Good is organizing the first of several informal AED training sessions at this (Pohick) event. Meet around 1-ish near the main registration area.

Special Post-Race Meetup Discount! Quiznos will be happy to host our post-race meetup. Just show them your map and get 15% off your order. As you leave Pohick, it's located less than a mile from the intersection of Route 1 and Gunston Road in the Lorton Station Marketplace, at 9433 Lorton Market Street, on Google maps (here) just east of the I-95/Lorton exit 163.

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. The entry road for Gunston Hall is just 500 meters beyond the main entrance to Pohick Bay Park entrance (2 miles beyond Camp Wilson), off of Gunston Road. Head to their website for hours and admission prices.

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.