Fountainhead Far West

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May 20
Sunday

FountainheadCome celebrate World Orienteering Day at this orienteering event, held in some of the finest terrain of the Fountainhead area!

Yes, despite all the rain over the last week, this event will take place. Orienteers on advanced courses should expect wet feet from creek crossings but the creeks are not considered unsafe to cross.

Reminder - Parking is across from the Bull Run Marina. Runners on Orange through Blue courses will take a shuttle to the Start. Please allow enough time to register and get a shuttle to the start. The last shuttle departs at 1:15 PM for a 1:30 PM final start. Only those who can complete their courses in 90 minutes (by 3:00 PM) should start that late.

SPECIAL NOTICE ABOUT $5 SURCHARGE FOR SHUTTLE SERVICE

The parking, assembly and check-in site for the Fountainhead meet is at the parking area near the Bull Run Marina on Old Yates Ford Road; a map link is here. In order to access better orienteering terrain in the park, we will be hiring vans and shuttling participants to a remote start area. To help cover the added cost of running the shuttle service, a $5 extra surcharge will be added to the regular meet fee for all Orange to Blue course participants. So be prepared to pay the extra fee upon registering that morning. White and Yellow course participants will not be using the shuttle and will not have to pay the extra $5 surcharge. All courses are being designed to finish near the parking area, so you won’t have to wait for a shuttle at the end of your course.

A full set of courses is planned, and event timing is standard: register between 10:45am - 1:15pm, start anytime between 11am - 1:30pm, and be out of the woods by 3:00pm. Full course details and course setter comments will be posted below.

The registration area is at the west end of the Parking area for the Bull Run Marina. Yates Ford Road next to the parking area is very busy, and its entrance/exit is in a long, blind curve. Oncoming traffic is likely to be going very fast. Be extra careful when you leave the parking lot.
As said at another place there are no restrooms on site, but we are renting several portable toilets.
If you have extra time after the competition, walk (no car access) across Yates Ford Road to the Marina area. It is a place to put-in boats, if you have a season pass.
Newcomers are always welcome, and beginner instruction will be available at all times. An introduction to the course colors and difficulties can be found on our home page, and our volunteers can help you select an appropriate course if you are unsure.
Dogs on leash are welcome.

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.

Location

Fountainhead Regional Park, Bull Run Marina, Clifton, VA (Classic)

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.
ScheduleSunday, May 20
11:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic:
Volunteers
Event Director:Daniel Heimgartner
Course Designer:Vido Aleksiev
Location Details

Classic
Fountainhead Regional Park
Bull Run Marina
Clifton, VA
Google Map

From the Fairfax County Parkway, take Burke Lake Rd (Rt 645) west for 4.3 miles. Turn left on Maple Branch Rd, and go 0.8 miles then turn left onto VA 612/643. In 0.6 miles go slightly right to stay on VA 612. In less than 1 mile and before either the marina or the bridge over the Occoquan, turn left into the parking area on the south side of Old Yates Ford Rd.
Google Maps Link
Apple/iPhone Link
Course DetailsClassic
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 1.4607
Yellow 2.61359
Orange 4.217514
Brown 4.215513
Green 6.720516
Red 8.325517
Blue 9.531019
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) can be purchased from online vendors 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.