Occoquan

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May 8
Sunday

OccoquanWelcome back to Occoquan Regional Park for the last Virginia meet of the 2021-22 QOC season. The park affords a combination of fast, open woods and recreational fields bounded by a hard-surface multi-use trail. Course designer Victor Lin has designed a full set of classic courses (white through blue; details below).

This event requires on-line pre-registration which will open at 6pm on Monday, 2 May.

Event check-in is at Shelter 4, which has a large lot adjacent to it and another gravel-surface lot 300 meters back down the entrance road, so there should be plenty of parking space; a locator map is here. Restrooms are 100 meters from Shelter 4.

COVID Risk Reduction Protocols:

As with all 2021-2022 QOC events, this event requires pre-registration via the link below. QOC’s COVID risk reduction protocols, as also enumerated somewhat here, are in effect. Please read these guidelines carefully. Key points:

  • PROPERLY WORN MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ARE REQUIRED at all times when near registration, epunch and any other areas or queues where volunteers and/or participants are congregating.
  • No water will be provided. Provide for your own hydration needs before, during, and after the event.
  • There is no planned, on-site beginner instruction, but beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst.
  • There will be eight 15 minute check-in windows followed by two 45min windows (as for most QOC events this season).
Other points:
  • Any large groups planning to attend the event or anyone with questions please contact the Event Director.
  • 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).
  • Pets are permitted in the park but must be leashed at all times.
  • You're Invited! QOC veteran Sidney Sachs will host a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, May 10 at 8pm to review selected course legs and analyze the routes various orienteers took. Please contact Sid Sachs for the invite link.
  • Nearby Eats & Sweets! The Brickmaker's Cafe is located in the event center at Occoquan Park and serves food on Sundays 11am to 8pm, so orienteers have the opportunity to enjoy food and drinks either indoors or on their outdoor terrace overlooking the Occoquan River.

Location

Occoquan Regional Park, Shelter 4 Parking Area, Lorton, VA (Classic)
RegistrationRegistration for this event opens at 6pm on Monday May 2 via this link. Advance registration is required. Registration will close at noon on Saturday May 7 (the day before the event).
Who's registered? Check by clicking here. Sorting by column is possible too - just click on the column name.
Start TimesStart times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens).
ScheduleSunday, May 8
10:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic:
Volunteers
Event Director:Karla Hulett
Course Designer:Victor Lin
Location Details

Classic
Occoquan Regional Park
Shelter 4 Parking Area
Lorton, VA
Google Map

Take exit 160B off of I-95 onto Route 123 north, follow 123 north 1.5 miles to park entrance on right. As as alternative, from exit 163 make a left at the new traffic light onto Workhouse Road, and then go left at the next two traffic lights.

Be aware that I-95 heading south after ~11am on Saturday mornings is when the express lanes reverse, usually causing a back up starting at Route 123; avoid using I-95 between exits 160 - 163 on a weekend afternoon if you can.
Google Maps Link
Apple/iPhone Link
Course DetailsClassic
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 2.25011
Yellow 2.69511
Orange 4.212013
Brown 4.212013
Green 5.717017
Red 6.919020
Blue 8.521024
Course NotesClassic

Occoquan Park features hilly terrain with mostly runnable forest with generally good visibility. Undergrowth may be thicker than mapped due to the time of year. Thick vegetation exists in some places, but can be avoided. The map was last updated in 2021. All courses except White and Yellow will cross Mordor Drive multiple times. Mordor Drive is a paved road that is open to the public – it is lightly traveled but be sure to look both ways for traffic before crossing. The man-made objects (black X) used for control locations on the Orange and advanced courses are old concrete and metal culverts.

All courses use the same start and finish points near the event registration at the picnic shelter.
Entry FeesIndividual Entries

Note: juniors = under 21

Club Member, adult Club Member, junior Non-Member, adult Non-Member, junior
$10 $5 $20 $5

Group Entries

Participants are welcome to orienteer together as a group (up to the maximum for that event; usually 4). Each member of a group is charged their individual rate as shown above, up to a group total of $30 (maximum), and each receives a map. A group receives one epunch. Individuals or groups desiring to compete on a second course after completing their first can do so for a reduced fee of $2/map subject to approval at the event by the Event Director.

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 will be loaned one 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 (such as car keys) when borrowing a compass or epunch.
  • There is no planned, on-site beginner instruction, but beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst