Pacheco State Park
Date: Nov. 14 - 15, 2015
Location: Hollister, CA
Event Director: 
- 510.681.6181
Course Setters: Julia Doubson, Erin Schirm, Katie Petersen, Sarah Petersen, Janet Petersen, Mark Petersen
Type: B; Saturday afternoon courses and Night O; Sunday Classic courses; Saturday potluck option; group camping option
Course Setters Notes for Sunday Nov. 15, 2015
By the Petersen Family
Welcome to Fall in Pacheco—part Maze Runner and part Roller Coaster!
Although the event is still a week away (as of Nov. 8), the forecast for the weekend calls for warm and sunny days.
All seven classic orienteering courses are being offered. The Start for the White and Yellow courses will be near the parking/assembly area. The Orange and advanced courses will have an approximately 15-minute, 1 km walk uphill from the assembly area to the Start.
We have tried to emphasize "route choice" in setting the courses across the relatively open, scattered-oak terrain. While we have tried to minimize fence crossings, some of you are likely to encounter several along your route, particularly advanced runners. In general, we've found the barbed-wire fences to be stout, well-constructed structures. In some instances there are mapped openings or gates to aid in passage ... please close the gates behind you. We found that rolling under the fences is a good strategy, and that game trails can help you locate good spots to cross beneath fences.
Keep in mind that many courses are being set these weekend days and night. While the controls on the various courses are on different features, many are close together—so be sure to check the control numbers before you punch.
There is virtually no poison oak at this time of year. We are susceptible and did not get any while setting the courses. We did encounter a few ticks, but a freeze or two is likely to reduce their numbers. Still, it's best to check for ticks after your run. There may be cows on the courses, but they have been asked to ignore you. Please be courteous of any horses and riders that you may encounter—they have the right of way.
The 2009 mapping by Vladimir Zherdev is excellent. A couple of mapping peculiarities to note:
- In some cases a cluster of two or more trees (copse) is mapped as a "white" patch, while in other cases such a cluster may be shown as closely spaced individual trees (green circles).
- Tall boulders are sometimes mapped as small cliffs.
Here are the statistics for Sunday's Courses:
Course Length Climb Controls White 2.6 km 85 m 11 Yellow 2.3 km 95 m 9 Orange 4.5 km 245 m 14 Brown 3.7 km 210 m 9 Green 4.3 km 350 m 12 Red 6.2 km 480 m 14 Blue 7.2 km 545 m 17
We hope you enjoy the courses!