Bon Tempe Reservoir
Appreciation Event for 2012 Volunteers
Date: Dec. 8 - 9, 2012
Location: Fairfax, CA
Event Director: 
- 415.456.8118
Course Setter: Scott Aster
Type: C; Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event; LIMITED ATTENDANCE; RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
November 20 Update:
- All the slots have been reserved for both days. If I've notified you, you are in! I'll keep a waiting list for anyone who still wants to come (one person who signed up early has already had to cancel, so spots may yet open up).
- – Scott Aster
November 19 Update:
- We now have just one spot left for Saturday, and eight for Sunday. If you are planning to attend, don't wait much longer to reserve your place for a one-of-a-kind orienteering experience!
- The courses are now set. I'll be posting the statistics soon, but the distance and climb figures make the courses match normal Brown, Green, and Red course statistics very closely.
- Course highlights include one control located with an up-close view of three small (5' to 15') waterfalls (rainfall willing—which it probably will), great views of the lake, plenty of redwoods to pass through, and as only Bon Tempe can do, a Start and Finish that are actually off the map.
- Intrigued? What are you waiting for? Sign up now!
- – Scott Aster
After about a 10-year hiatus, Scott Aster is once again ED/CS for our annual Bon Tempe event. The terrain is among the best we have in the Bay Area, with varied, rolling terrain, redwoods, open forest, rolling grasslands, and great views of the lakes and Mt. Tam. The ground is already soft from the early rains we've had, footing is good, no grazing is allowed, and amazingly, the poison oak level is even less than Scott remembers it (very low).
The only drawback we have is that the land's owner, the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD), has strictly limited our allowed attendance in the past. Because of this, the map, originally hand drawn in 1978, while touched up here and there, has never been professionally mapped, and is of rather poor quality. 40-foot (12.2-meter) contours hide a lot of detail, while the vegetation has changed dramatically in some areas. That said, good, challenging courses can still be set on the map, and this year will be no exception! As a bonus this year, all three courses will enjoy a trip onto the "Hillside of Death", perhaps the most beautiful section of the map, with redwoods, ferns, the mysteriously hard to find "Rock of Gibralter", an unmapped "Grand Canyon", and lots of tiny rivulets hopefully overflowing with water by the event date.
In order to maximize the number of people who can enjoy this orienteering heaven, the event will be held on two days, Saturday and Sunday. There will be three courses, Short, Medium, and Long. These courses will be of advanced difficulty, so beginner orienteers are not advised to attend (sorry!). The statistics are not quite set yet, but the approximate lengths will be close to 3.5 km, 5 km, and 7 km.
If you've never been to Bon Tempe, you really should treat yourself to a very special location. If you've been here before, you know what a wonderful site this is!
Important Information!
This event is our club's annual volunteer appreciation event. That means that in order to attend, you must have volunteered at one of our events sometime during this year. If you have volunteered, and would like to participate, you must e-mail or call Scott Aster to reserve a spot. Entries are first come, first served, though some priority will be given to people willing to help with control pick-up on Sunday (hint, hint). When you register, state the day and course you want to do. You can change courses later, but we'd like to have a rough idea of how many maps to print for each course. Sign up for one day only!
Note: Do not simply show up at the event. Everyone must pre-register.
This event is free to all participants! The only expense is the toll at the ranger kiosk, which is $8.00 per car. This kiosk is staffed sometimes, but usually not, so you will most likely need to use their electronic toll machine that takes cash up to $10 bills, but does not always return change! You can also use your debit or credit card to pay at the machine.
The Start/Finish area will be at the shelter at Lagunitas Picnic Area, located at the end of the paved road (after you pass through the ranger kiosk). This is the same place used in the last few years.
Starts on Saturday will be from 10:00 to 11:30 AM, and on Sunday from 9:00 to 10:30 AM.
Manual pin-punch controls will be used. No E-sticks needed!
Driving Directions
The first challenge of the event is to locate it! Due to MMWD rules, no directional signs will be posted. There are several ways to get to Bon Tempe from Highway 101 in Marin. the default route is listed here:
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 paved road to the parking lot at the very end. (Do not turn right on the gravel road to Bon Tempe Dam.)