Bon Tempe Reservoir
Date: Dec. 17 - 18, 2005
Location: Fairfax, CA
Event Director: 
- 510.658.4327
Course Setter: Penny DeMoss
Type: C; Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event, limited to BAOC members who volunteered during 2005. Participation is free, but limited to 20 per day.
Course Setter's Notes
By Penny DeMoss
Okay, we're all set for next weekend (Dec. 17 & 18). Let's hope the weather stays nice for one more week at least. Rain or shine, Bon Tempe has to be our club's most beautiful venue. The mix of open hillsides, woodland, and alpine lakes makes this area one of our favorites. If we're lucky and the weather is sunny and warm, the turtles will charm us by coming out and sunbathing along the dam. Looking forward to seeing you there. Unfortunately, since we are allowed only a set number of runners each day, if you are not on the list of confirmed entries, please do not come to the event. We will not be able to let you go out on a course. Think about volunteering next year at one or more of our scheduled events so you won't be left out again.
Please note the directions as there will not be any 'O signs. (The rangers always prefer that we keep a very low profile.) From highway 101 in San Rafael, take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. west for 5.3 miles to the small town of Fairfax. Turn left on Claus Dr. (Rino gas station), then immediately take another left onto Broadway, then turn right at the next corner, which is Bolinas Rd. Stay on Bolinas Rd for 1.5 miles. Turn left at the large brown sign with white lettering that says "Lake Lagunitas Bon Tempe water treatment plant". Stay on this road until you reach the ranger kiosk (0.4 mile).
Although there is no charge for the event, you'll have to pay the $7 per car to enter (sorry ... a good reason to carpool). Do not ask the ranger in the kiosk where the orienteering is – he won't know. Just drive on for 1.6 miles on the paved road, following signs towards Lake Lagunitas. We will be at the parking lot at the very end of the paved road. (Where the barn used to be – not much help if you haven't been there before!)
The map scale is 1:10,000 with a contour interval of 40 ft. (12.2 m). That means everything is steeper than it looks on the map. It also means that there are lots of subtle reentrants and bumps that don't show up on the map. Focus on the big picture and you should be ok. This area has been hard hit by SOD (sudden oak death), and you'll see many unmapped downed oaks – too many for us to add to the map, although we did add some near the controls to help out. There are also many unmapped rock features. Wear spikes if you have them – we were vetting in running shoes and regretted it. Didn't see a lot of poison oak, but of course it's there, so bring Tecnu and take proper precautions.
I had to make some adjustments on the Long course due to the extensive scottish broom growth. The new stats are below. A bit more climb I'm sorry to report, but you never would have gotten through on the original course.
In general, there is more medium green than is mapped, virtually all of it scottish broom. Now, regarding the legendary "Hillside of Death", you will be traversing it, but the control locations are pretty easy and we'll hang the controls high.
As mentioned before, the courses are the same for both days. They are technically advanced and strenuous. We will be combining the times from both days into one finish list unless there is a significant difference in the weather from one day to the next. We will be using pin punching, the E-punch crew deserves a day off. The maps will be premarked and in unsealed cases. Starts will be from 10:00 AM until 12:30 PM with courses closing at 2:00 PM. (Just this once, I think Harold might be a bit forgiving if you're a tad late.)
It is essential that you do not go into the mapped Out of Bounds areas. They are indicated on the map by overprinted stripes. We noticed that the rangers were watching us the other day — do not jeopardize our use privileges by cutting through those areas. Stay on the roads/trails when running through.
Bring some dry clothes, and hang around after for some treats and chat.
Revised course stats:
Short 3.2 km 165 m climb 8 controls Medium 5.0 km 230 m climb 12 controls Long 6.3 km 310 m climb 16 controls