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Bedwell Bayfront Park

Date: (Sun.) Jan. 13, 2013
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Event Directors: - 510.681.6181, - 650.248.9595
Course Setters: Matej Sebo, Lubomir Sebo
Type: C; Long White, Yellow, and Memory (one leg at a time, you don't memorize the whole course at once!)


Course Setter's Notes

By Matej Sebo and Lubomir Sebo

Note: Please pre-register for this event using this form (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?fromEmail=true&formkey=dFJYNlBYMUJPSjI1bE5fa1A2dHg4RFE6MQ).

The format of this year's event will be "Bait-O in Bayfront Park". Like at the Junior Goat event at Coyote Lake, not all controls you will see in the terrain will be your own. "Bait" controls—decoys that are not on any course—will be set on similar features close to the "real" ones. It is up to you to navigate to the correct control. Because this is a training, control proximity standards have not been followed. All controls will be numbered, so you can always check if you have arrived at the right one. Please remember to always check your control code before punching a control!

The Park

Bayfront Park is a lush, refreshing place these days. All of the tall, dry, grassy vegetation in the park was mowed in the fall, and the new grass is short and runnable. The abundant rain has soaked the soil, leaving a few ponds and marshes here and there, but most of the park drains and dries very quickly.

The Courses

We will be offering three courses this year: Long White, Yellow, and Memory-O.

    Course       Distance   Climb   Controls   Difficulty
    Long White    3.2 km    65 m       23      Beginner
    Yellow        3.2 km    65 m       20      Intermediate
    Memory-O      4.5 km    85 m       25      Advanced

The White course is entirely on trails and is intended for those new to orienteering. There are no bait controls on this course, although runners may see other controls along their route.

The Yellow course is a little more challenging and ventures off-trail. White and Yellow are entirely separate courses, so beginners are strongly encouraged to go out on both. Be aware that quite a few of the Yellow controls have bait controls located on similar features close to the real ones. Careful map reading is essential, and remember to check the control code before punching a control. Each control (including the bait controls) will have a section of the map attached showing its exact location.

The Memory-O is intended as a training for advanced orienteers; it is meant to test runners' memories and ability to simplify a map. Memory-O runners will not receive a map, but will memorize the course one leg at a time. The Start and every control on the course will have a section of the course map that leads to the next control (see the example below).

Competitors will "only" have to memorize one leg at a time. Bait controls will abound in the vicinity of the correct ones, so careful and precise navigation will be key to success. Control-description sheets will be provided to all Memory-O competitors. The course has been specifically designed to challenge advanced orienteers; skill, not necessarily speed, will be critical!

The Map

Bedwell Bayfront Park is a small park, but there are still quite a few navigationally challenging areas. I have made a few changes to the map to reflect changes in vegetation and the trail network. The map is quite accurate, but uses a few unusual symbols.

There are several varieties of knolls in the park. Knolls with manhole covers on top of them are especially prevalent, but there are a couple of "normal" knolls. Also, there are several "gravel knolls" from trail maintenance. On the new map, the "manhole knolls" are mapped with a brown triangle. The "gravel knolls" are mapped with a gray dot, while the "normal knolls" are mapped with a brown dot.

There are quite a few small gas outlets in the park, and these are mapped with a blue or black ×. Standing tree stumps, dead trees, and tree "sections" lying on the ground are mapped with a brown × — but not all dead or fallen trees are on the map. Many of the indistinct paths on the map disappear and reappear throughout the year; the map has been updated to reflect the current conditions. Areas of bare earth are mapped as "open land", while the rest of the park is "rough open." Large gravel-covered areas are mapped as a gray field with black dots.