Nisene Marks, Aptos

August 30, 1998

8/23/98 Event Update

Everything is set for this years event. We will offer all of the 7 regular courses White through Blue.

There will be a charge of $2 per person in addition to the regular registration fee. This is due to the unusually high fees we have to pay in this park. The extra fee pays for a park ranger to be present in the park during the day of the meet, something which is required for all special events.

The report on poison oak is similar to previous years. We have done a lot to avoid poison oak on the courses. In any case, bring Tecnu to wash off after your run. The White and Yellow courses will not encounter any poison oak. Orange and Brown courses have some exposure to knee high plants. Green, Red, Blue courses have some route choices which can bring you through some patches of poison oak. The map makes it pretty clear how to avoid those routes.

This event is a club B event and will count toward club rankings. We are offering new terrain for approximately 1/3-1/2 of the Blue and Red courses. A section of the Green course will go through an area which mostly has been used by Blue and Red courses in the past. Climb will be less than typical for Nisene Marks.

There will be a remote start for Blue, Red, and Green courses. The walk to the remote start is 2.7 km with 225m climb. Give yourself 45-60 min for the walk. We will keep the start open until 1 pm, which means that you need to start walking to the remote start area at the latest 12 noon. There will be water available at the start. The finish will be at the registration area.

All other courses will start and finish at the registration area.

Course statistics:

Directions:

Take highway 1 south from Santa Cruz, take the Aptos exit, turn left back over the highway, then right at the first light. Keep going past the shopping center. Turn left over the railroad tracks at Aptos Station. The road will lead you into the park. There will be a day use fee for each vehicle at the entrance. The park has very limited parking and the main road is busy with mountain bikers, so please, car pool if possible and do not park along the road. If the parking lot at the Porter picnic area fills up, please drive back to previous parking area(s). We are not allowed to block the road, and the rangers will give out parking tickets if you are parked in the wrong place.

Kent Ohlund, ohlundearthlink.net, 408-777-8309

Earlier Event Announcement

This year we had a significant problem with getting permission to go off trails. However, due to our good reputation with many other Bay Area parks, we did manage to work out this problem and the park rangers have granted permission for normal on & off trail orienteering.

The plan is to use the regular area for parking, the Porter Picnic area. We will offer the regular courses:

White, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Green, Red, Blue. Start-O may be offered, please look for future announcements.

Expected course lengths and climb are:

Due to the unusually high fees charged by the park (at $385, it's nearly triple the regular rate) there will be a $2 park fee surcharge over normal BAOC rates for all courses except White.)

Directions: Take highway 1 south from Santa Cruz, take the Aptos exit, turn left back over the highway, then  right at the first light. Keep going past the shopping center. Turn left over the railroad tracks at Aptos Station. The road will lead you into the park. There will be a day use fee for each vehicle at the entrance. The park has very limited parking and the main road is busy with mountain bikers, so please, carpool if possible and do not park along the road. If the parking lot at the Porter picnic area fills up, please drive back to previous parking area(s). We are not allowed to block the road, and the rangers will give out parking tickets if you are parked in the wrong place.

--Kent Ohlund (408) 777-8309


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