Patapsco Orange Grove

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March 25
Sunday

Patapsco Avalon Welcome to the first Avalon event of 2018, featuring a full set of 7 classic courses (white/beginner through blue/advanced) courses for you to choose from, courtesy of course setters Jan & Alexis Merka. Final course stats and comments will be posted soon below.

The event parking and registration will be in the "far" parking lot, located 1.5+ miles further (northwest) along the park road from the "closer" Avalon parking area that we used for our last Avalon event. Event timing is our usual: register any time between 10:45 - 1:15, start any time between 11 - 1:30, and be sure to check back in before 3pm.

A few additional notes:

  • BE CAREFUL crossing or walking along the park road. Getting to the start requires walking along the park road, so please pay attention!
  • This park is steep, and the advanced courses may be on the long side, so take that into account when choosing your course.
  • Map scale will be 1:5000 for white and yellow courses, and 1:10000 for all other courses. Green, red and blue courses will be on legal size paper.
  • Dogs are allowed in this park and should be on a leash at all times.
  • Restrooms will be near the parking/registration area.
  • Speaking of parking: carpooling is encouraged for the sake of all park users.
  • This section of Patapsco is pretty steep, so take that into account when choosing your course.
  • Remember: No Drinking Directly Out of the Water Bottles! Use the provided cups.
  • Have any questions? Just use our handy Contact Us form.

As usual, youth groups and other large groups planning to attend this event should contact the Event Director well in advance 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.

Location

Patapsco Valley State Park, Avalon area, Elkridge, MD (Classic)

RegistrationNo advance registration required. Just show up and have fun!
Start TimesYou may start your course any time between 11 - 1:30, and be back before 3pm.
ScheduleSunday, March 25
11:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic:
Volunteers
Event Director:Dagmar (Dasa) Merkova
Course Designer:Alex Merka
Course Designer:Jan Merka
Location Details

Classic
Patapsco Valley State Park
Avalon area
Elkridge, MD
Google Map

From I-195 exit 3 in Elkridge MD, take US 1 South. Then take the first right, and very soon afterwards the first left into Patapsco State Park. Follow road to park entrance, pay the weekend park entrance fee ($2/vehicle in-state, $4/vehicle out-of-state), and then go left at the T intersection. The Avalon parking/registration area is just after the road curves to the right after crossing the river (near the large playground), and will be in one of the two pavilions.
Course DetailsClassic
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 1.81357
Yellow 2.21657
Orange 4.628011
Brown 5.128511
Green 6.634015
Red 8.245516
Blue 9.350018
Course NotesClassic

In spite of the snow storm, I am expecting very little or no snow on the ground during the event. However, the ground is likely to be muddy, which can make steep hills even more difficult. The Orange Grove area is hilly and we have tried to design courses which allow you to avoid the worst/steepest climbs, so choose your route wisely.

The North-West part of the map is very steep (west of the river) and rocky. The large number of rock features makes for an interesting terrain and therefore the advanced courses all venture there. You will not need to go into the steepest hills unless you take an unusual route choice.

Blue course runners: Two controls in the North-West part of the map are near the map printing boundary so pay attention.

Entry FeesIndividual Entries

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
  • If you wish to become a QOC member you should join online in advance 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.
  • 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.