Joaquin Miller

National Orienteering Day "Come and Try It" event

Oakland
Saturday, May 4, 2002

Contact: Ian Tidswell, 415-681-7075

This event, part of the National Orienteering Day festivities, is the perfect opportunity to try orienteering for those with no or little experience. The event will be based in the secluded meadow near the main entrance to the park. All the courses go through a variety of terrain, including meadows, redwood, oak, and eucalyptus forests. All but the shortest course have wonderful views of San Francisco Bay. We'll have instruction available all morning long to get you started, plus maps, compasses, and refreshments. All you need to bring is your friends, enthusiasm, and perhaps a picnic.

Three courses will be offered:

We've reserved the picnic area in the Meadow, so it should be a great day to bring a picnic. We'll should also have great give-aways!

No preregistration is necessary. Please plan to arrive between 9:30 am and noon (starts are staggered, so any time in this window is fine). For the White and Yellow courses, it typically takes anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes to complete the course. As always, you must report to the finish by 2:00 pm whether you complete the course or not (we don't want to have to go looking for you!).

All courses cost $6 for the first person, $2 for each additional adult in a group, $1 for each additional child. There are discounts for students, youth groups, and second courses.

Those of you allergic to poison oak, take note: Poison Oak is common in the park, but you can avoid it, and can also take precautions.

White and yellow course - you will see PO in the heavily wooded areas (right next to the trail!) but can easily avoid it. If extremely allergic, long pants recommended

Orange - likely you will come in contact with some Posion Oak. Long pants strongly recommended.

Directions

From Highway 13 in the East Bay (the Warren Freeway, between Highway 24 and I-580), take the Joaquin Miller Road (JMR) exit. Go uphill (east) on JMR for about 0.7 mile; the park entrance is on the left (look for the orienteering sign). The cross street for the park entrance is Sanborne, the upper end (not the lower end with the gate). Park in one of the designated lots or on Joaquin Miller Road. The event center is in the meadow just below the road right at the entrance to the park.