Turkey Run

Printer-friendly versionPDF version

December 10
Saturday

Pre-registration is required for this event, opening Monday, Dec. 5 at 6pm and closing Saturday at Noon.
There will be no night-of, at-event registration.

Welcome to the Turkey Run Ridge area of Prince William Forest Park, a new location for a QOC Night-O event!

We decided it was time for a change after a doing the Night-O at the Happyland area of Prince William Forest for several seasons in a row. So, longtime QOC course setter Vido Aleksiev is christening this Night-O venue with a great set of beginner, intermediate, short advanced, and long advanced courses. [For Sunday's daytime courses, see the separate announcement here.]

We will not have check-in windows for the Night-O, as we do for day meets, but the requirement for pre-registration and pre-payment is otherwise the same. NEW: Because of the early onset of darkness in December, we will open check-in and courses at 6pm (instead of 7:30pm). Start your course any time between 6pm - 9:00pm, and be absolutely sure to be back before 10:30pm. Course details for the 4 courses (1 beginner, 1 intermediate, 2 advanced - short and long) will be posted below. Please allow yourself time to drive to the park and complete your course. Traffic on I-95 can be unpredictable.

We have rented all the Turkey Run campground sites, so there will be no need to avoid any occupied areas as you run your courses. Parking will be in the Turkey Run parking lot and in the parking spaces allotted to each camping area. Check-in will be in the Turkey Run class room in the left-most of the two buildings immediately adjacent to the parking lot. When you turn into the Turkey Run entrance road, look for a parking volunteer wearing a reflective vest for precise directions on where to go. For a locator graphic, click here.

Parking is limited at the site, so carpooling is recommended (and will save $). Per-vehicle park entry fee is $20; if the pay station at the entrance is not manned, entry fees can be paid at the park HQ before driving out to the check-in site at Turkey Run or via the NPS app at this link. (NOTE: the fee is $35 for an annual PWF park pass or $80 for an annual "America the Beautiful" U.S. National Parks pass; QOC members may want to consider purchasing an annual pass for this great park at a park office or a local REI. Seniors, current or former members of the US Armed Forces and some other categories of park users are entitled to free and/or discounted passes for the entire National Park System; see this link for details.)

Groups of 8 or more: although you will be pre-registering online and orienteering in groups of 4 or less, for her awareness please let the Event Director know of your plans and participant numbers.

QOC does not provide or rent headlamps. You must acquire and bring your own. And don't forget to check your batteries!

Also keep in mind:

• QOC will continue to use pre-registration as the ONLY method of sign-up for our events. There will be NO day-of, or in this case, night-of, on-site registration. We've decided to do this, not because of the residual COVID threat, but because it simplifies event administration and reduces the number of volunteers required. As always, refunds are paid only in case of event cancellation, or if a participant contracts COVID.
• Masks are optional at all locations connected with the event. Please continue to minimize clustering at and around the check-in, e-punch, start and finish areas.
• Beginner instruction is available to provide an overview of the orienteering basics for newcomers to the sport or those who just want a refresher.
• We will continue our policy of not providing WATER or food to participants at our events aside from an emergency water for first aid purposes only. So don't forget your canteens/Camelbacks/other hydration arrangements.
• There are no check-in windows for night-O, but navigating in the dark can be challenging so please allow yourself enough time to drive to the park and complete your course.

Additional Information:

• Any youth or large groups attending, although you will be pre-registering online, please contact one of the Event Directors (below) to let them know of your plans and numbers for their awareness.
• The size of start teams (groups of individuals orienteering together with one e-punch) on a course must be no more than four (4) individuals (juniors and adults combined).
• Dogs are welcome in this park but must be kept on leash at all times.
• The rest rooms at Turkey Run Ridge will be open for our event--one adjacent to the parking lot and the other at the far end of the campground.