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Briones Regional Park

Date: (Sun.) Oct. 26, 2014
Location: Lafayette, CA
Event Director: - 925.934.6567
Course Setter: Steve Harrison
Type: B; Regular 7-course BAOC event in conjunction with the Scout-O Championships

Related Event Information

Event Announcement


Course Setter's Notes

By

Note: By order of the Park District: No smoking anywhere. Drive only on roads.

Courses 

                                               Navigational   Physical  
   Course       Distance    Climb   Controls   Difficulty     Difficulty
   White  (1)    3.2 km      83 m      10      Easy           Easy     
   Yellow (2)    3.6 km     120 m      11      Easy           Easy
   Orange (4)    4.9 km     160 m      13      Moderate       Moderate
   Brown         4.9 km     160 m      15      Hard           Moderate
   Green         5.8 km     240 m      16      Hard           Hardish
   Red           6.6 km     270 m      18      Hard           Hard
   Blue          7.5 km     310 m      20      Hard           Hard

Beginners should be aware that the distances shown are the cumulative straight-line distances between controls. Your actual distance will be longer. The climb numbers represent the amount of ascending that would be done on the "optimum route" (in the Course Setter's opinion), without regard for any descending.

Beginners’ and Intermediate Courses

Please allow plenty of time to get to the Start. There will be many scouts on the courses. On the Orange (Course 4) course, there is a mandatory fence crossing between controls 1 and 2​—​there is no control at this crossing point. The end of the courses follows a riverbed and this may, in many cases, be the best route option. Some (typically streamered) diversions may be necessary due to downed trees.

Advanced Courses

The advanced courses feature one or two loops. Please be sure to punch the common control at the Start and at the end of the loop. The courses are a mixture of forest, requiring careful navigation, and open that can be taken at speed. Footing is good. The end of the courses follows a riverbed and this may, in many cases, be the best route option.

General Comments

All the courses use E-punch. If you don't have your own E-stick (every team needs one), you can rent one at registration.

To cross fences, you may go over, under, or through wherever you like​—​except for the mandatory crossing on the Orange (Course 4) course noted above. Just remember the fences are barbed wire.

The star thistle is down somewhat, but long pants are highly recommended on Yellow (Course 2) and above, and shoes or boots with cleats or a good grip would help on Orange (Course 4) and above. Poison oak on the courses is minimal. There are plenty of cows on the courses​—​they won't bother you, but don't get too close to the calves. Ponds shown on the map, in most cases are currently dry.

The Start is about 1.5 km, with 90 m climb, from the parking lot. It takes 20 to 30 minutes to get there.

The Scout-O overlaps the White (Course 1), Yellow (Course 2), and Orange (Course 4) courses. Please be tolerant.

Also, remember that horses have the right of way, and try not to scare them.

Be polite to other park users please (this is a requirement for future permits).

Bring water. The weather forecast calls for nice temperatures, mostly sunny and a 10% chance of rain, but that could change.

Hazards

Poison oak on the courses is minimal to zero. Wildlife we have seen include deer, eagles, coyote, skunks, buzzards, orienteers, ticks, turkeys, goats, cows, and frogs.

Map

There are two symbols used for distinct trees: