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Bon Tempe Reservoir

Date: Nov. 12 - 13, 2011
Location: Fairfax, CA
Event Director: - 510.658.4327
Course Setter: Penny DeMoss
Type: C; Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event; LIMITED ATTENDANCE; RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

Please note that reservations are required for this event, and a time limit applies. Events are typically not canceled due to bad weather.


It's that time of year again, wherein the Bay Area Orienteering Club celebrates a year of successful Orienteering meets. Several "B" and "C" meets, and two very labor intensive "A" Meets. All of this club activity could not happen if it weren't for volunteers who give of their time. The volunteers include members of the BOD, Mappers, Web Masters, Route Gadgeteer, E-Punch Committee, Meet Directors, Course Setters, Registration Committee, and "on-the-day" club members and non-club members who come early and set up, man the computer upload and download, starts, finishes, signage, parking, control pickup, search and rescue, etc. On the day also includes individuals who stay late and clean up — leaving the event site perhaps cleaner than when we arrived in the morning. This makes the park rangers happy, and assures us of a favorable response for the next time we want to come there. We would like to invite these individuals to come and enjoy a fun event and stay for the social get-together.

So with all this in mind, Penny and I invite people who have volunteered at events this year to join us for our umpteenth visit to our favorite map — BON TEMPE — nestled high in the woods on the flanks of Mt Tamalpais.

As in previous years, we will be using the shelter at the "back" of the park for the Start and Finish, and for our social and treats after you run your course.

Course starts will be from 10:00 to 11:30 AM both Saturday and Sunday, with the courses closing at 2:00 PM. The courses will be the same for both days, and the results will be combined on one list (noting Saturday or Sunday). If the weather is appreciably different between Saturday and Sunday (i.e., rain/wind), there will be separate Finish lists. Anyone who would like to hang around on Sunday after everyone's in and help pick up controls, that would be appreciated. There are only 20 controls, and you can drive pretty close to most of them.

After vetting the courses, there have been some adjustments to the original stats. Here are the final course stats:

  Course    Length    Climb   Controls
  Short     3.4 km    135 m       9
  Medium    5.3 km    200 m      14
  Long      7.0 km    280 m      20

The changes were mostly due to the fact that the "white" parts of the map have, for the most part, become so overgrown that I decided they were not useable. Yes, that means no Hillside of Death this year. I know you're really disappointed to hear that!!!!

Bon Tempe is very runnable... The map is at 1:10,000, with 40 ft contours.

We are using hand punching — no e-punch sticks required.

Please Note: We are limited, by agreement with the Marin Park District, to 25 competitors each day. You need to notify us in advance if you wish to attend. Please indicate which day you would like to come and what course you'd like to run. You're not committed to your course choice, it just helps us get a ballpark number of maps to print. Also, please indicate how/where you helped out this year (sometimes we don't recognize the name.) You do not have to be a member of BAOC, as we often have non-club competitors help out.

As of November 10:

  • Entries for Saturday and Sunday are fully subscribed.
  • The weather looks "iffy" — probably will get some showers, so bring a change of clothes and stick around for some treats.
  • There have been several confirmed sightings of bears and/or bear scat in the Bon Tempe area this year. Is that cool?!

Note: There is no entry fee for the event, but you will have to pay to enter the park. It is $8. You pay at a machine that takes only $10's, $5's, and $1's. It will not take $20 bills. Plan accordingly.

Cheers,
Harold DeMoss (Event Director) and Penny DeMoss (Course Setter)


Comments Regarding Splits & RouteGadget

Since there won't be e-punch at Bon Tempe, I will set up the event for RouteGadget using the "no results" mode where competitors can enter their own splits. So, please bring your watches and take your splits — they make the animation "live". Remember that RouteGadget requires cumulative splits.

If you plan to upload your GPS track to RouteGadget, you don't need to enter your splits at all. However, comparing splits with others immediately after your run is also fun, so I take splits even when using my GPS to record my run.

Tapio


Driving Directions

From Highway 101 in Greenbrae, take the Sir Francis Drake Blvd exit, and go west for 5.5 miles to the town of Fairfax. Turn left at Claus Dr (Rino gas station on the right), and then immediately take another left onto Broadway. Turn right at the next corner, which is Bolinas Rd.

Stay on Bolinas Rd for 1.5 miles. Turn left at the large, brown wooden sign with white lettering that says "Lake Lagunitas". Stay on this road until you reach the ranger kiosk. Pay the entrance fee ($8) at the pay-and-display machine (see comments above). Proceed on the road to the parking lot at the very end. (Do not turn right on the gravel road to Bon Tempe Dam.)

Note: There will not be any orienteering signs posted, since the Water District requests that we keep a low profile.