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Top blue course finishers at Burton Creek Ski-O in 2001: Kent Ohlund and Rafael Ruiz

Long Champs Course Setters Notes

Date: Sunday, Nov 7, 2004
Location: North Portion of Joseph P. Grant Park, East of San Jose, CA
Course Setter: George Minarik
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Note that we will be using classic interval starts from 2 to 4 minutes apart. Some Long O's utilize a mass start. But because of logistics, the classic start format made more sense here.

The U.S. Long Course Championship showcases the North Portion of Joseph D. Grant County Park, a park with marked physical and mental challenges. The courses have been set to feature long legs with complex route choices. These choices will be critical to your success. We hope you enjoy running through the pristine forest, taking in the stunning views, and solving the 15 square kilometer puzzle of Joe Grant North.

Driving Directions

Take the Alum Rock Road exit off I-680 in San Jose, and head for the hills (east). This exit is about one mile northeast of the 280/680/101 interchange. Continue on Alum Rock Road for about 2 miles, and turn right onto Mt. Hamilton Road. Go about 9 miles (allow 20 minutes) to the park entrance, which will be on your right. There is a $5 entrance fee per car.

Terrain

This is the first ever orienteering event on the North Portion of Joe Grant Park, located on the eastern slope of Mt. Hamilton. The area for the Long Course Championships can be steep, but is quite interesting with lots of forest for a Bay Area Park. The terrain is approximately 50% open oak and bay forest, 40% grassland, and 10% brushy. The courses will start high and contain quite a bit of steep downhill. The white forest has good visibility and running, except on steep slopes. There are numerous rock features and quite a bit of fine contour detail, which will provide interesting and challenging orienteering. There is a moderate trail network. In addition, there are many unmapped animal trails. Most of the streams will be dry, and the lakes and ponds very low or dry, but the footing is now becoming softer after some early season rains.

Max and Victoria at the Emerald Hills Street-O in 2003, after answering the question "How many skunks on the fence?"

Map

This new map was produced specifically for this event in 2003 by Vladimir Zherdev and Zoran Krivokapic. For the most part, Zherdev mapped the lower portion of the terrain, while Krivokapic mapped the upper half. The mapping styles of each can vary, especially in their interpretation of the vegetation. One noticeable difference is that the lower portion of the map contains dozens of distinct vegetation boundaries. The course setters have found that many of these mapped boundaries may not be as distinct as indicated.

There are numerous areas of undergrowth on the map and these may not be evenly mapped. The dark green map symbol is fight, which usually means Manzanita or other viney undergrowth. The map symbols of green parallel lines indicate either brushy sagebrush areas or areas of thick poison oak. The closer the lines the more difficult the terrain is to transverse. Green hatched lines mean thick poison oak and/or sagebrush. Consider avoiding these green hatched areas.

All the maps will be printed at 1:10000 with 5-meter contours on a high-resolution Epson Stylus Printer with waterproof pigment-based (as opposed to water-soluble dye-based) ink on coated paper in plastic map cases. For the Blue and Red courses, this means the map will be quite large, about 22" X 17".

There are some very steep areas on the map, indicated by rocky cliffs, earth banks or very close contour lines. In many cases the steepest of areas will not only slow you down but put you in danger. These very steep areas can be avoided with smart route choices. In fact, much of your success may depend upon choosing the most runnable routes.

There are multiple rock features, which are generally well mapped. Most boulders and cliffs under one meter are not mapped.

The green "O" map symbol is a lone tree. The green "X" is either a fallen dead tree or tall stump. If used as a control, the control description is a single tree followed by a ruined symbol. If a stump is used as a control, the height in meters is indicated on the control description. A green "T" is a rootstock, usually a fallen tree with the roots unearthed from the ground.

Special Notes for the White Course: On several legs, the trails you will follow have become indistinct. Where this occurs there will be colored streamers to lead you to more distinct sections of the trail. There is no trail between controls 8 and 9. This route is marked entirely with colored streamers.

Special Notes for the Orange Course: Control number 1 is a truck. It is marked on the map as a black "X", and on the control description sheet as an "O". Control number 2 is a windmill. It is marked on the map as a black "X", and on the control description sheet as an "X".

Dennis Wildfogel finishes the Green course at the Morgan Territory A-meet, October 2001 (Photo: Judy Koehler)

Safety Bearing

The Safety Bearing is south to Mt. Hamilton Rd.

Format

We will be using classic interval starts from 2 to 4 minutes apart. Some Long O's utilize a mass start. But because of logistics, the classic start format made more sense here.

The courses are designed for winning times to be about 150% of normal. There is a 5-hour time limit. Additionally, we ask everyone to check in at the finish or E-Punch download by 4PM.

In some areas there will be clusters of controls somewhat close together. Be certain to check your control codes carefully.

The Blue, Red, and Green courses will have an attended aid station with water and other refreshments. This control is listed on the control description sheet with the "staffed" symbol (little man figure) in the last column.

All controls will be on stands and will use SportIdent electronic punching. Insert your SI Card (or finger stick) into the unit and wait for it to beep and flash, usually within one second. If the unit fails to respond, use the manual punch to punch your map to prove you were at the control.

        Course       Distance     Climb     # controls

        White         3.6 km       70 m          9
        Yellow        3.5          85            7
        Orange        4.5         225            7
        Brown         4.2         165            9
        Green         7.3         320           11
        Red           9.2         485           12
        Blue         11.9         680           17

Hazards

The biggest hazard will be the steep cliffs. They may be precarious and slippery. The best route choices avoid the steepest areas.

There is a moderate amount of poison oak in the park. Poison oak has mainly lost its leaves at this time of year, and can be seen as a groundcover with short stems about 1 foot high, vines, and occasional bushes. The stems and stalks still have the antigen which causes the rash, so the best policy is to identify the plant, avoid it if possible, wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts, strip and wash off with Tecnu (available at most drug stores) right after the race and again when you get back to your hotel or home, place your competition clothes, including shoes, in a plastic bag and do not touch them again until they have been washed, and use a high-strength topical steroid cream (e.g., Fluocinomide, 0.05%) as soon as you feel any itching or notice any small red bumps or lines on your skin, usually about 24 to 48 hours after exposure. If you use the topical steroid cream early, you can virtually eliminate any severe rash, but if you wait until the rash has appeared, it takes much longer to get it under control.

Wild Pigs are found throughout the park. These large gray mammals may travel in families and can be grumpy. They usually run away if you shout, but it is better not to mess with them and to go a different direction. Mountain lions, coyotes and rattlesnakes live in the park, but spotting them this time of year would be rare. If you encounter any of these predators walk slowly away (do not run).

Jesse Gray (left) and Mike Springer (right), running it in at Briones, 2002

Start

There will be shuttles to the start from the registration area starting at around 8:15AM. Starts will be between 9AM and 11AM. The shuttle run takes about 15 minutes, but be smart and give yourself at least 30 minutes in case the shuttles are delayed or backed up. The Start area is located 30 meters from the shuttle drop-off at the Twin Gates parking area. There is only one restroom available at the Start area, so plan to use the facilities near registration before taking the shuttle up to the start. There will be a clothes drop off at the start for sweats and coats. These clothes can be picked up after your run at the registration area.

Start Procedure

You will be called up to the Call Up Line 4 minutes before your start. Your name, bib number, SI card, and whistle will be checked at this line. You will be asked to insert your SI card into a check station as a backup start list. At 2 minutes before your start, you will advance to the Start Line. When the horn sounds for your start, you will insert your SI card into the Start EP punch at this time you are on the clock. Pick up your map from the appropriate bin and proceed to the start triangle, which is 60 meters from the starting line. The start triangle will be designated with a control marker. Do not punch this marker, but begin navigating to the first control.

Finish

The finish is near McCreery Lake. There is a 1-km or 15-minute streamered walk from the Finish to the Registration/Parking and E-Punch Download area. Be careful of fast moving traffic as you cross Mt. Hamilton Rd. The electronic punching download station will be at the Registration area, and the results will be posted there.

We have had a fun time planning these courses on our new map. Good luck and have an enjoyable time on your course.

George Minarik - Course Setter
Dennis Wildfogel - Assistant Course Setter
Leslie Minarik - Vetter