Gunston Hall
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Sunday
Welcome to QOC's second-ever event at Gunston Hall, the home of the father of our Bill of Rights, George Mason. The terrain includes forest of varying density, open fields, historic structures, and bluffs along the Potomac shore east of Lorton, VA, and we have a full set of courses (details below). Event timing is standard: register any time between 10:45 - 1:15, start any time between 11 - 1:30, and be back before 3pm.
The entrance to Gunston Hall (see directions below; overview map here) is about 600 meters beyond the Pohick Bay Regional Park entrance on Gunston Road. Please drive with particular caution as you enter Gunston Hall. The first 300 meters of the entrance road is curvy and hemmed in by vegetation reducing the visibility of oncoming vehicles. Parking will be in the lot adjacent to the visitors center. The parking lot and the registration site right across the entrance road from it will be easily discernible as you drive in. Rest rooms will be available inside the visitors center and also in a separate outbuilding adjacent to the mansion itself.
Guided Tour Included: At registration QOC will collect a $5 surcharge in addition to the regular meet fees. This surcharge covers Gunston Hall grounds fees for each participant, and it entitles participants to take one of the guided tours of the Hall offered during the day at no additional cost. [Gunston Hall staff would appreciate it if you would sign up before your orienteering run for a later tour so they know when to expect you.] Tours will be available on the hour and half hour starting at 10am, with the last tour at 4:30pm; just present your course map (before or after your run) at the front desk inside the visitors center to sign up (max tour group size ~20). To learn more about Gunston Hall, the home of the principal designer of the Bill of Rights, George Mason, visit the Gunston Hall website.
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.
Additional notes:
- Dogs are allowed, but must be on a leash at all times.
- Spikes are not allowed in the Visitor Center.
- Please respect the out-of-bounds areas shown on your course map.
Special Post-Race Meetup Discount at Quiznos, host for our Gunston Hall event post-race meetup. At their nearby location just show them your map and get 15% off your order. Quiznos is the place to go for offering flavorful chef-inspired menu items, including sub sandwiches, grilled flatbreads, soups, salads and wraps. As you leave Mason Neck State Park, it's located less than a mile from the intersection of Route 1 and Gunston Road in the Lorton Station Marketplace. Quiznos is at 9433 Lorton Market Street, on Google maps (here) just east of the I-95/Lorton exit 163.
| Location | Gunston Hall, Main parking area, Lorton, VA (Classic) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Registration | No advance registration required; however, be aware of the $5 surcharge (which pays for parking and a tour of Gunston Hall). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start Times | You may start your course at any time during the start window listed below for your event. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Schedule | Sunday, April 2
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| Location Details |
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| Course Details | Classic
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| Course Notes | Classic This is our second event on the Gunston Hall map. It is a relatively small area, but it provides a nice transition from the terrain at Pohick Bay to Mason Neck, providing some of the features of both. There are large open areas, fast open woods, thick woods with lots of downed trees, steep relief like Pohick Bay, and subtle features like Mason Neck. There are fewer features, trails and relocation opportunities than are found on most of our maps, so this is probably not an event to move up in difficulty. The woods are generally dry, with a few muddy spots. The areas mapped as marshy are mostly easily crossable, as are the creeks. So far the leaves are mostly still off, but that could change quickly as the weather warms up. Please be sure to respect the marked out of bounds areas and the many historic structures, gardens and features found in the park. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entry Fees | Individual Entries
Note: juniors = under 21
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
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