Sunol
Fremont
Sunday, Apr. 13, 2003
Contact: Cheryl Madson,
510-797-8712
One week after everyone enjoys the flat and sprint-like conditions at Stanford, it’s time for the "classic" BAOC terrain of the East Bay!
The "standard 7" point-to-point
courses will be offered: White, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Green, Red,
and
Blue. If you've never tried orienteering before, we recommend that
you
try a White course first. If you like it, you may have time for a
Yellow
course too. There will be informal clinics for beginners between 9:30
and 10:30 AM near the registration area.
Standard event fees apply at Sunol.
Course Statistics
Course Length Climb Technical Difficulty Physical Difficulty
------ ------ ----- -------------------- -------------------
White 2.7km 100m Novice Easy
Yellow 2.8km 100m Beginner Easy
Orange 3.2km 180m Intermediate Moderate
Brown 3.1km 175m Advanced Moderate
Green 4.1km 200m Advanced Moderate
Red 5.3km 315m Advanced Moderately Difficult
Blue 6.8km 405m Advanced Difficult
All course maps are pre-printed from OCAD. White and Yellow maps are
printed at 1:7500 scale. All other maps are scaled at 1:10,000.
Electronic punching (e-punch) will be used on all courses except
White
and Yellow.
Special Note for Advanced Runners
The courses this year are shorter
and
physically easier than typical Sunol courses. In fact, I think you
will
find the winning times to be somewhat on the fast side relative to
the
standard target winning times. I would suggest that runners who want
to
get the full value for their entrance fee consider moving up to a
more
difficult course today.
Special Note for Orange Runners
The Orange course has been set up a little differently. The idea
is
to try to give Orange runners a taste of advanced level controls
without
the risk of becoming hopelessly lost. For the first half of the
course
(especially controls 2,3,& 4 you will have to use your fine map
reading
skills as well as compass bearing and pace counting to orienteer
directly to the control. If you miss, there are good catching
features
to the left and right. The second half of the course is more
traditional
Orange.
Start
Starts for the White, Yellow, and Orange courses will be located at the
registration area.
The assembly area for the advanced courses (Brown,
Green, Red, Blue) is located about 300 meters from the registration
area. Follow the signs and pink streamers across the bridge then left
on
the trail. There will be water at the start assembly area (no need to
bring your own). There are no toilet facilities at the advanced start
assembly area. You can leave warm-ups at the start assembly area and
we
will arrange to transport them back to the registration/e-punch
download
area.
Terrain
The terrain at Sunol is STEEP. The contour interval is 7.5
meters. Two closely spaced 7.5 meter contours can mean an uncrossable
reentrant. In most cases contouring around reentrants
is advised. The footing is generally pretty good. The recent rains
have
made it soft but not too soft (particularly if you stay off the cow
trails. That being said, CLEATS are strongly recommended on Orange
and
Advanced courses.
Map
Since the map is basically a direct conversion to OCAD of the
old
Sunol map and doesn.t reflect all of the changes that have occurred
in
the 12 years since the park was mapped. It does reflect changes that
were made last year by Mark Blair and Bob Cooley as well as some new
changes this year (mostly in the immediate area of controls).
Some map items of note: There are many unmapped animal trails
primarily
the result of cattle grazing.
Some of the mapped trails and vehicle tracks are overgrown and
indistinct. Cattle trails in particular can be surprisingly well-
defined and confusing in areas of mapped trails. Be careful not to
mistake an unmapped trail for a mapped one. There are also many
unmapped
dead/fallen trees (root stocks). Some of the vegetation has spread
and
thickened since it was mapped. Much of the .green. (even the very
light
green) is poison oak. The courses have been designed to avoid the
worst
of the poison oak, but you'll still encounter some on the courses.
Full
body covering and the use of Tecnu is recommended.
Control Markers
Some of the control markers for advanced courses
will
be on stands about knee high. Most will be hanging from the branch of
a
tree or a bush. Where the control feature is a point feature (such as
a
boulder), the control is typically placed on the side of the feature
opposite the expected direction of approach.
Hazards
Sunol Park has the usual wilderness hazards which include
poison oak, ticks carrying Lyme disease, rattlesnakes and steep loose
terrain. There are several fence crossings on the intermediate and
advanced courses. Some of the fences have been repaired recently and
are
more difficult to scrooch under than in the past. Choose your
crossing
point carefully and beware of the barbed wire. There will be a First
Aid
Kit at the registration area.
Cattle, Wildlife and Fauna
Sunol Park has a variety of wildlife.
This
year the course setter has seen wild pigs, flocks of turkeys, and two
bobcats. Wildflowers are in bloom!!
COWS!!!!! The Advanced courses will all cross an area with a large
herd
of cattle. All of the vetters have commented that the cattle are
unusually curious and have actually started walking towards them. I
found that if you make a little noise/clap your hands loudly they
will
move out of the way. Hopefully after the first few runners pass
through
the grazing area, the cattle will move on. One word of caution, avoid
getting between a mother and her calf..you know how protective
mothers
can be!!
Equestrians
Sunol Park conducts trail rides near the beginning of
the
White and Yellow courses. Please note that the equestrians, as
always,
have the right-of-way. IF YOU ARE NEAR EQUESTRIANS, PLEASE WALK TO
AVOID
SPOOKING THE HORSES.
Safety
Every participant (or group) on every course must carry a
whistle. Whistles will be available at registration for participants
that don't have one. Whistles should only be used in an emergency.
Blow
three short blasts at 1 to 2 minute intervals to signal that you need
help. Safety bearing is SOUTH to Alameda creek which runs through the
park near the registration area.
The courses close at 2:00PM. Every participant must check in at the
finish by 2 PM whether or not you finish your course. If you do not
check in by 2PM we will assume you are lost or injured and a search
party will be organized. If you think you may take a long time to
finish
a course, please start before 11 AM so you'll have the full 3 hours
to
finish.
Directions
Take I-680 to the Calaveras Road exit near Sunol. Go south on Calaveras Road about FOUR miles (not six) to Geary Road. Turn left onto Geary and continue a couple of miles to the park entrance.
Pay the parking fee and follow the O' signs to the registration area. (Park only in designated parking areas. The rangers do give tickets.)