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Morgan Territory Regional Preserve

Date: (Sun.) Nov. 11, 2007
Location: Livermore, CA
Event Director: - 510.604.2688
Course Setter: Bob Cooley
Type: B; Regular 7-course BAOC event with Long Orange course (BAOC COOL meet #1)

NOTE: This event is the first one in the BOAC COOL Junior Series. See more below.

On Sunday, November 11th, we return to one of our favorite orienteering locations, Morgan Territory Regional Preserve.

Newcomers are welcome. We offer beginners' courses suitable for both individuals and families. People of all ages enjoy orienteering as a leisurely walk in the woods or as a competitive cross-country race. Learn more in our FAQ section.

Schedule

The standard event schedule and fees will apply.

Beginner's clinics are short explanations of orienteering, adequate to prepare anyone for the White course.

The White, Yellow, and Orange courses will start and finish close to the parking and assembly area.

We plan to use a remote, self-serve start for the advanced courses.

Courses

All seven standard course levels, plus Long Orange, will be offered. The Long Orange course is often preferred by adventure racers. Here are the details of the courses:

  Course         Length    Climb    Navigational Difficulty
  White          2.0 km     70 m    Beginner
  Yellow         3.2 km    100 m    Advanced Beginner
  Orange         3.9 km    145 m    Intermediate
  Long Orange    6.1 km    290 m    Intermediate
  Brown          3.9 km    180 m    Advanced
  Green          4.7 km    325 m    Advanced
  Red            5.9 km    410 m    Advanced
  Blue           7.9 km    515 m    Advanced

The start will be at the nearby pond, and the finish will be even closer to the parking lot.

You shouldn't find any poison oak on the White or Yellow courses. There are poison oak stems on the other courses. The Green, Red, and Blue get to visit the TV set that is correctly placed on the map for the first time. This may also be the last chance to see it working because of the transition to digital signals that occurs in February 2009.

There is evidence of pigs rooting all over the park now, so you may see some.

BAOC COOL

The first BAOC COOL (Bay Area Orienteering Club California Outdoor Orienteering League) meet will be held in conjunction with this event. More information about this series of Junior events is available here.

There will be a separate registration and a separate E-punch download for the BAOC COOL participants, just like we have at the Scout-O.

So far we have only two students registered, so that means it will be really easy to earn high points for your school, and get a better chance of taking home the trophy at the end of the season!

Terrain & Map

The area for this event will be on some of the nicest terrain in the Bay Area. The terrain is approximately 50% open oak forest, 40% grassland, and 10% fight. It is not very steep by Bay Area standards, but there will still be some amount of climb. The white forest has good visibility and running, except on the steep slopes. There is a moderate trail network. There are numerous rock features and some fine contour detail, which will provide interesting and challenging orienteering. The map was produced by Zoran Krivokapic for the "O' in the Oaks" World Ranking Event in 2001.

Climate

The climate in early November can be quite variable, ranging from sunny clear days with a high temperature of about 70 degrees, to cooler temperatures in the mid 40's. There is a moderate chance of rain.

Hazards

There is a moderate amount of poison oak in the park. Poison oak will have mainly lost its leaves in November, 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 that 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 (or dishwashing liquid if you believe Rex) right after your run and again when you get home, place your competition clothes, including shoes, in a plastic bag and do not touch them again until they have been washed.

Use a high-strength topical steroid cream (e.g., Fluocinonide, 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.

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!)

Driving Directions

Carpooling is strongly recommended. Parking on the road outside the park is not permitted.

Take I-580 east to the North Livermore Avenue exit in Livermore. (See below for directions to the carpool site.)

To get to the park, head north on North Livermore Ave until forced to turn left onto Manning Road. Take the next right onto Morgan Territory Road, and continue 5.4 miles to the parking sign on the right. The road is very narrow with many sharp curves, so allow extra time and drive carefully.

Parking will be at Indian Springs Ranch, on the right just before the Morgan Territory Regional Preserve. Please abide by all parking instructions and signs. We are able to use this parking area thanks to the gracious permission of the ranch owners.

Parking and park admission are free.

Carpool Site

After you exit I-580 east at North Livermore Avenue exit in Livermore, turn right onto North Livermore Ave, and turn left at the second light (Las Positas Rd). Make a left at the next light (Arroyo Plaza/Hilliker Pl) and meet in the Wal-Mart parking lot near Les Schwab Tires.