Patuxent

[1]

February 11
Saturday

Bumble 2022 Pre-registration is required and will open on Monday, Feb. 6 at 6pm and close at noon on *Friday* Feb. 10.
There will be no day-of registration.

It’s that time year……time to BUMBLE!!!

This year marks the beginning of the second decade of this annual event. The 11 th Bumble will be held at Patuxent River Park, an excellent map created by Dave Linthicum, with new updates from Dave as well as Mike Dvorsky. Never experienced the Bumble and wondering what it is? The Bumble is a cool (no pun intended) winter event with courses for all skill levels.

The main event of the Bumble is the Mass Start race, which comprises five advanced courses equivalent to beige – blue. The controls are spread over five “windows” and each course level requires a different “handicap” of windows that must be run. For instance, Beige must do one window; blue must do five. Click HERE [2] to read the full description. It is a super fun style of orienteering with options for bonus time reductions! If you have never tried it but have been successfully completing orange level courses for a while, give this a try. Click HERE [3] to see last year's course, and HERE [4] to view 2022's Bumble photos. There will also be great white, yellow, and orange courses on this diverse terrain that ranges from fields and flat areas to numerous gullies and wetlands!

The mass start will be at 12:00pm for those advanced course runners who want to participate. If you want to run a Bumble advanced course, but are not comfortable with a mass start, please sign up for one of the other start time windows. Mass starters, please be sure to arrive early to avoid a last-minute rush.

Registration and downloading will be IN THE PAVILLION by the Old Barn. There are warm portable bathrooms close by and plenty of parking. If the weather is nice, consider bringing lunch and hanging out and chatting about your courses. It is especially fun to compare window routes. The pavilion has lots of tables, there is a playground on site, and we will fire up a couple of grills to toast marshmallows (thanks to Jane Leggett). We will also announce the Bumble winners and hand out their prizes.

PLEASE read ALL meet notes below for important details! (Course setter notes will be posted later this week)

Meet notes:

CLICK HERE [2] TO READ HOW THE BUMBLE WORKS!
White, Yellow, and Orange courses will have regular check in/start windows from 9:45am to 1:15pm. (Yes, you are welcome to register for the 11:45am-12:15pm window).
Advanced (Bumble) courses will have a MASS START at NOON. Please be ready for PRE-RACE briefing at 11:45am at the Start location (~175 meters from the pavilion)
Clothing drop available for mass start; clothes will be returned for pick up in the Pavilion.
Everyone must be out of the woods by 3:00pm, which is when we will begin picking up controls.
Bumble prizes awarded (mass start only):
- First male and first female competitors to cross the finish, regardless of course.
- Fastest male competitor on Blue and fastest female competitor on Red

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, on-site registration. Refunds are paid only in the case of event cancellation. We are unable to handle cash transactions at the event.
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.

Other points:

Any large groups planning to attend the event or anyone with questions please contact the Event Directors [5].
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.
Bathrooms on site!

Location

Patuxent River Park, Barn parking area, Upper Marlboro, MD (Bumble)

Registration

Registration for this event opens at 6pm on Monday Feb. 6 via this link [6]. Registration will close at noon on *Friday* Feb. 10 (since this is a Saturday event). Pre-registration is mandatory.

Who's registered? Check by clicking here [7]. Sorting by column is possible too - just click on the column name.

Blue or Red? For poll results from those who've registered so far, click here [8]! And feel free to wear your favorite team colors on Saturday...

Start Times

Start times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens).

Schedule

Saturday, February 11

9:45 am - 1:15 pm	Bumble: Registration check-in open
10:00 am - 1:30 pm	Bumble: White, Yellow and Orange courses: start any time during this period
11:45 am	Bumble: Pre-race briefing for Mass Start (at start line) / clothing drop available; ~175 meter walk to start
12:00 pm	Bumble: Bumble Mass Start
3:00 pm	Bumble: All courses close - everyone should have finished and downloaded

Volunteers

Event Director:	David Onkst [9]
Event Director:	Heidi Onkst [10]
Course Designer:	David Onkst [9]
Course Designer:	Heidi Onkst [10]

Location Details

Bumble, Bumble, Bumble, Bumble, Bumble
Patuxent River Park
Barn parking area
Upper Marlboro, MD
Google Map [11]

Google Maps Link [11]

Apple/iPhone Link [12]

Printable Driving Directions (PDF) [13]

Course Details

Bumble

Course Name	Length (km)	Climb (m)	No. Controls
White	2.2	0	10
Yellow	3.4	25	11
Orange	4.9	85	11
Beige	3	70	7
Brown	4.3	85	12
Green	6.6	110	17
Red	9.4	155	22
Blue	11.8	190	27

Entry Fees

Individual 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 [14] (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 [15].
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.
In addition to free on-site beginner instruction if needed, beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one [16] created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst

Patuxent

February 11 Saturday

February 11
Saturday