Patapsco Avalon

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December 15
Sunday

Patapsco Avalon

Welcome to QOC's last event of 2019, featuring a full set of classic courses (white/beginner through blue/advanced) courses for you to choose from, courtesy of course setters Boris Granovskiy and Joe Barrett. Full course and map information is now posted below.

Update as of 8am Sunday: This event will take place as planned. Come enjoy the break in the weather!

A few additional notes:

  • BE CAREFUL crossing the park road. Getting to the start as well as to the finish requires crossing the park road, so pay attention!
  • 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 TimesStart any time between the specified times (usually 11am - 1:30pm).
ScheduleSunday, December 15
11:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic:
Volunteers
Event Director:John Landers
Event Director:JP Landers
Course Designer:Boris Granovskiy
Course Designer:Joe Barrett
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 1.89513
Yellow 2.213012
Orange 4.221013
Brown 3.616510
Green 5.926014
Red 7.630519
Blue 10.147024
Course NotesClassic

Map scales: white & yellow 1:5000, orange & brown 1:7500, green, red & blue 1:10000.

Walk to start: 200m, 20m climb.

Welcome to the Avalon area of Patapsco State Park! We are offering classic courses that will take runners up and down the steep slopes of this park with mostly very runnable woods and areas of intricate rock detail. The map is fairly up to date and accurate, though new mountain bike trails appear to be popping up nearly constantly. The rootstocks that are marked on the map are from several years ago. Newer rootstocks are generally not shown on the map.

Several out of bounds areas are marked on the map. Please respect these and do not enter them.

All courses will cross the park road once towards the end of the courses. The speed limit on the road is 20mph. Please use caution when crossing!

The Blue and Brown courses each have a control that is visited twice. Please check your map to ensure that you visit all controls in the correct order.

The White and Yellow courses have a short leg that is streamered in terrain with orange streamers. Please follow the streamers to your next control.
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.