Seneca Creek (Clopper Lake)
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PDF versionShareThisOctober 29
Sunday
This Sunday event requires pre-registration, opening Monday, October 23 at 6 PM and closing Saturday October 28 at noon.
There will be no day-of registration.
Orienteer near the Clopper Lake section of Seneca Creek State Park (Gaithersburg, MD). There will be 7 courses to choose from (2 beginner, 1 intermediate, and 4 advanced). Detailed park and course notes are provided below, thanks to course setter Michael Dickey.
Check in and map issue will be in a new area for us, the Doe Pavilion in the Deer Ridge picnic area. We encourage carpooling. Any groups using buses should plan on only dropping off and picking up in the Deer Ridge area. For more details, a park map is here. Doe Pavilion is in the south portion of the park, and east of the Quail Ridge area.
Check in will open about 9:45am and courses will open at 10:00am.
In the spirit of the Halloween, there will be a few Halloween surprises at some controls. Participants are highly encouraged to come in costume. Trick-or-treaters in costume may get candies at the registration area.
Free Beginner Instruction will be offered, but please reach out to the Event Director if you have a group, so we can plan accordingly. Also, make sure to check out our Your First Event and Orienteering Techniques For Beginners webpages for helpful information. If they don’t answer any remaining questions you have, just use our Contact and ask.
Post-Event Social! After you finish your course, join other orienteers at Dogfish Head Alehouse, located here just 3.6 miles west of the event. Bring your map, mention QOC and get a $5 gift certificate, for use Sunday or later! Special thanks to manager Payton for this generous offer.
Group Leaders: Please see our page For Group Leaders if you are leading a youth or large group – even though you will be pre-registering online. Please contact the Event Director with your plans and numbers for their awareness.
Pets are allowed but must be kept on a leash.
Reminders:
- The park charges an entrance fee at this time of year: Maryland residents $3/person; out-of-state residents $5/person; Maryland Golden Pass holders (62+) have free entry (passes can be purchased at the entry booth if you’re eligible). Please have exact change if possible since this will speed up entry.
- There is no water on the course. Participants are responsible for their own hydration.
- There are no snacks offered by QOC.
| Location | Seneca Creek State Park, Clopper Lake, Doe Pavilion (Classic) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Registration | Registration for this event opens at 6pm on Monday Oct. 23 via this link. Registration will close at 12 noon on Saturday Oct. 28 (the day before the event). Pre-registration is mandatory.
Who's registered? Check by clicking here. Sorting by column is possible too - click on the column name. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start Times | Start times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Schedule | Sunday, October 29
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| Volunteers |
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| Location Details |
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| Course Details | Classic
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| Course Notes | Classic White, Yellow, and Orange have a start close to the pavilion, but all advanced courses have a 1300m warmup walk to the start. All courses: The park has been invaded by Wavy Leaf Basket Grass. I've adjusted courses to avoid it as much as possible but all courses will likely encounter some. Yellow: The course is a bit longer than normal and has a few controls that will take competitors well off of the trails. Use of a compass and understanding of map features will be helpful! All controls are accessible following linear features, but leg protection is recommended. Orange: Some areas are a bit greener than mapped, and open/rough open boundaries have changed in places. I've updated areas where it is most likely to impact navigation. Advanced courses: All advanced courses will cross the disc golf course - please be considerate of players. These courses will see the most Wavy Leaf Basket Grass, although I moved controls away from the worst areas. Some areas will be a bit greener than mapped, so don't count entirely on mapped vegetation for navigation decisions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entry Fees | Individual Entries
Note: juniors = under 21
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
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