Indian Valley Open Space Preserve
Date: (Sun.) Jan. 29, 2006
Location: Novato, CA
Event Director: 
- 415.895.6039
Course Setter: George Minarik
Type: B; White, Yellow, Orange, & Brown courses open to everyone; Red & Green courses by reservation only
Course Setter's Notes
By George Minarik
OK, it's time to snap out of our January funk. Orienteering through some lovely country can be just the antidote to the winter blues. The Indian Valley map surrounds the College of Marin Campus. A pleasant place to spend a Sunday in January. The woods are dark & cool. The footing is soft. The creeks are gurgling. The open areas are lush green. Colored mushrooms abound. Wildflower buds are beginning to make an appearance. The local cervidae are awaiting your entrance into the forest.
As the terrain rises from the campus, it becomes increasing steep. The pre-reserved Green and Red courses will traverse this steeper area. The White, Yellow, Orange, and Brown courses have some climb, but are set up for fast running. We could have times below 10 min/km on these shorter courses.
Since the creation of the map in the early 1990's, the vegetation has changed somewhat. There have been numerous map corrections made throughout the years, but it should be noted that clearings and other vegetation boundaries may not be as distinct as mapped. There are some unmapped fallen trees that may impede progress along your routes. Generally speaking the running is fine.
Because the area we are allowed to use is small, there are quite a few controls placed close together. Please check your control codes to avoid mispunching.
The Start and Finish are close to Registration (next to the swimming pool area). Every course has the same first control. This control is technically easy.
Yellow Course Only: The feature for Control Number 5 is listed in the Control Descriptions as a Special Item. This feature is an old boxcar.
Some poison oak leaves are starting to pop out. Generally the poison oak is sparse in this park, but it is a good idea to bring Technu, and scrub up afterwards.
Rex is planning a Potluck Picnic. If we get a sunny day, the field adjacent to the finish chute should provide an ideal spot to roll out a blanket and watch your competitors sprint home.
Here are the revised and final Course Statistics:
Course Length Climb Technicality Physicality ------ ------ ----- ------------ ----------- White 1.9 km 55 m Beginner Easy Yellow 2.3 km 65 m Advanced Beg Easy Orange 3.6 km 160 m Intermediate Moderate Brown 3.4 km 150 m Advanced Moderate Green 4.5 km 295 m Advanced Hard Red 6.1 km 335 m Advanced Hard
The courses were vetted by Erik Ohlund and Jeff Lewis.
See you there,
George Minarik