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2010 Sierra Ski-Orienteering Championships

Day 5 – Royal Gorge XC

Date: Feb. 4, 2010
Location: Soda Springs, CA
Event Director: – 650.793.8764 (cell phone)
Course Setter: Brenda & David Giese
Type: Ski-O; Point-to-point event with 5 medium-length courses

Please note that fees and time limits apply, unless otherwise mentioned below. Events are typically not canceled due to bad weather.


Overview

Day 5 is a point-to-point event at Royal Gorge Cross Country. Brenda Giese has designed five semi-long courses for your last day of three consecutive competition days. With four days of competition preceding this event, and a rest day following the event, everyone should be ready for the longer courses.

Remember, you can now go off trail at Royal Gorge (at your own risk)—just do not ski on the maintenance trail, which is shown as out of bounds on your maps.

Registration and Trail Passes

Registration is open from 9 AM to noon, and is located downstairs at the Summit Station (the main building for Royal Gorge). Pick up your pre-registration packets or register for the day at Registration (everyone must check in at Registration before each event). You also get your trail passes from Registration (not at the cross country sales desk). If you need to rent skis, go to the basement of the building and rent them on your own. As always, you can save time and money if you rent your skis in town instead of at a resort.

Beginner Clinics

This event has beginner clinics for anybody who is new to ski orienteering. Even if you are an expert skier, but are new to orienteering, take the free 20-minute clinic. To take a clinic, see the director at the Start area.

Starts and Course Closure Time

Starts occur between 10 AM and 12:30 PM at the trail head. Typically, we recommend an early start before the sun can turn the snow to slush. If it is snowing, you probably don't need to worry about starting early.

All courses close at 2:30 and you must check in at the Finish by that time, even if you do not finish your course. We automatically begin picking up controls at 2:30, so it does not pay to stay out past 2:30. Even if you do not finish your course, punch in at the Finish and let us know that you are off the course, so that we do not have to form a search party to look for you.

(Preliminary) Course Stats

   Course    Airline Dist.    Optimal Dist.    Climb
   White        3.2 km           3.5 km         50 m
   Orange       5.8 km           9.0 km        135 m
   Green        7.7 km          12.0 km        220 m
   Red          8.6 km          14.0 km        235 m
   Blue        11.9 km          17.0 km        370 m

Driving Directions

From I-80 about 80 minutes east of Sacramento (15 minutes west of Truckee), take the Norden/Soda Springs exit (Exit 174). Go straight through the village for about a mile to the first blinking light/stop sign. Turn right, go across the railroad tracks, past the Soda Springs Downhill Ski area on your right, up the hill, and turn at the second right (you'll see signs by then). After the turn, go straight to the Summit Station parking lot of the Royal Gorge ski area lodge.

Highway Conditions

CalTrans road conditions – (800)427-7623