Avalon

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionPDF versionPDF versionShareThis

March 24
Sunday

Patapsco Avalon Welcome to the first Avalon event of 2019, featuring a full set of 8 classic courses (white/beginner through blue/advanced, including a beige) for you to choose from, courtesy of course setter Kim Jepsen. Course stats and comments are now posted 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 crossing the park road, so please pay attention!
  • Map scale will be 1:5000 for white and yellow courses, and 1:10000 for all other courses.
  • Dogs are allowed in this park and must be on a leash at all times.
  • Restrooms will be next to 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.
  • Note: there is a park entrance fee of $2/MD vehicle or $4/vehicle from all other states.
  • Remember: No Drinking Directly Out of the Water Bottles! Use the provided cups.
  • Have any questions? Just use our handy Contact Us form.

Reminder about next weekend: Pre-registration is required and is now open for the MTBO and classic courses scheduled for next Saturday (March 30) at Rosaryville; head to that event webpage for details.

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, March 24
11:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic:
Volunteers
Event Director:Anne Jepsen
Event Director:Kim Jepsen
Course Designer:Anne Jepsen
Course Designer:Kim Jepsen
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 2.2559
Yellow 2.7909
Orange 4.91608
Beige 3.81209
Brown 5.11709
Green 6.623011
Red 7.725514
Blue 9.133018
Course NotesClassic

All courses have a remote start and finish (~350 meters), crossing the park road - please use caution when crossing/walking on the road.

The woods are by and large nice, open and runnable, although barberry and other prickly shrubs are getting established in some locations, and are not always mapped. Many trails are used intensively by mountain bikers who tend to travel at high speed; they are generally cautious but also appreciative of any help you can give by stepping out of the way, so please do so and allow them to pass if possible.

The Yellow course is somewhat short, especially if the runner makes use of the opportunities for shortcutting through the terrain – this is a good option to consider if you would like to try out your ability to travel through the terrain without a linear feature to follow. The Orange course is one of the easier Orange courses, and today may be a good day to move up from the Yellow courses if you feel ready to do so. All the ‘standard’ advanced courses make it to the northern part of the park, and as a result the Brown course is a little longer than normal. Therefore an additional short advanced course (Beige) is added as an option.
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.