Come join Gold Country Orienteers for a late spring day of orienteering along the American River at Sacramento County's Rossmoor Bar.
The park features vestiges of Sacramento's gold-mining past, offering the competitor highly technical terrain full of pits and tailings piles. Climb is minimal, but advanced and intermediate runners will be challenged by the numerous piles of loose rocks and soft sandy river channels exposed when the river is below flood stages.
Standard White, Yellow, and Orange courses will be offered, and beginner's clinics will be held throughout the day as the need arises. Advanced orienteers can choose from Red, Green, and Brown courses that will put a premium on careful map reading. While every effort has been made to locate controls away from the plentiful poison oak in the park, intermediate and advanced courses will expose runners to the plant so those sensitive to it should take precautions. Potable water is usually available near the parking lot.
The staging area will again be the large parking lot at the end of Elmanto Road. The county charges a $4 fee for each vehicle so it is suggested that carpooling be used. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and closes at Noon. Starts run from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All competitors are expected to be finished by 2 p.m. when the finish line closes and control pick-up will begin. Cost for the meet is $5 for members or first-time groups or individuals, $8 for others; $2 for a second course or extra map.
Course statistics and course setter's notes will be published in early June.