Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
Date: (Sun.) Apr. 12, 2015
Location: Richmond, CA
Event Director: 
- 925.862.2978
Course Setter: Steve Gregg
Type: C; Beginner and intermediate courses at a popular "fast" venue
Notes:
- When the course setter went to the park Saturday to put out the controls, for the first time in quite a while, the parking kiosk was manned, and he had to pay a $3 parking fee. We assume that means the kiosk will also be manned tomorrow, so be prepared to pay that fee.
- Additionally, there were a ton of people in the park today, and with all the extra orienteering vehicles coming tomorrow, it's possibile that the entire lot will fill up tomorrow—including the overflow parking. So it might be a good idea to arrive a little earlier than you otherwise would, to try to avoid parking issues.
- All the volunteer positions have been filled! A big thanks to all who offered to help.
- The BAOC Annual General Meeting will not be held at this event. It will be at the Indian Valley event instead.
What is Orienteering?
An adventure: Discover the outdoors and discover yourself! Teams of 1 to 5 find checkpoints in parks and wilderness areas using specially-produced maps. All are welcome at our events—runners, joggers, hikers, and walkers.
Schedule
- 9:00 AM – Registration opens
- 9:30 AM – Beginners' clinic instruction begins (free)
- 10:00 AM – Starts open
- 10:30 AM – Beginners' clinic instruction ends
- 11:59 AM – Registration closes
- 12:30 PM – Starts close
- 2:00 PM – Courses close, checkpoint control pick-up begins
Note that you can register and start on courses anytime between the open and close times above. Thus, for example, you do not need to be "punctual" at 9:00 (but, of course, you can if you want).
Beginners' clinics are short, repeating sessions that introduce the sport of orienteering, and provide enough instruction to be able to complete the beginner (White) course.
Everyone must check in at the Finish by 2:00 PM, and report to the E-punch tent, so we can have everyone accounted for and start checkpoint pick-up on time so those volunteers can get home.
After you finish, enjoy free snacks and refreshments, and socialize with other participants!
Costs
Note: The new fees listed below (approved by the Board on March 10) apply at this event.
- $3 for juniors on beginner's and advanced beginner's courses
- $8 for adults on beginner's and advanced beginner's courses
- $5 for juniors on intermediate and advanced courses
- $12 member price for intermediate and advanced courses
- $18 non-member price for intermediate and advanced courses
- $1 for a compass rental (optional)
- $5 for an electronic finger-stick rental (needed if you don't own one)
- $15 for the lowest-cost individual one-year BAOC membership (optional)
- $6 per-vehicle Park fee (will probably not be collected)
For extra people on a team, add $7 per adult for intermediate and advanced courses or $5 per adult on beginners' courses (with lower prices for juniors).
More information about event pricing is available in the club FAQ.
Courses
White and Yellow courses for beginning orienteers will be offered as usual. Since this is one of the flattest BAOC venues, which still provides some forested navigational challenge, it is a very appropriate place for beginners to receive their initial introduction to the sport.
The control placements on the "Middle Distance" and "Long Distance" courses will be as technical as the map provides, although at Point Pinole almost all of the terrain is no greater than intermediate (Orange-level) difficulty. There will be a few route-choice legs, but the courses will primarily test your ability to run hard between the controls, without needing to hesitate or stop to examine your map. So the courses could perhaps be more accurately described as "long-sprint" courses.
Here are the (preliminary) course statistics:
Course Length Climb Controls Classification
White 3.1 km 65 m 10 Beginner
Yellow 3.0 km 55 m 12 Advanced beginner
Middle Distance 3.9 km 70 m 17 Intermediate
Long Distance 6.2 km 100 m 13 Intermediate
Those wanting to really get their money's worth, can do the "Middle" course first, exchange maps, and then go out on the "Long" course, for 10.1 km of orienteering.
Notes:
- 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.
- Everyone should read the Course Setter's Notes for up-to-date/detailed information about the courses.
- The Park District currently has a herd of goats (confined within a movable fenced enclosure) for weed/brush control. The location of the enclosure on event day might impact route choice. In the past this has not been a significant issue.
Location within the Park
Taking the walkway from the parking lot. You can't miss the event.
What to Bring
For beginners' courses, comfortable outdoors attire and shoes are fine. Leg cover is recommended for the Yellow course because of the possibility of exposure to poison oak.
For the "advanced" (Middle/Long) courses, leg cover or gaiters are recommended, as well shoes with some extra grip on the sole. These courses can expect to encounter poison oak near a couple of controls.
A compass is not necessary, but can be helpful. We have compasses available for a $1 rental fee.
We time the courses with the SPORTident system, so each group/team will need a SPORTident finger stick, which can be rented for $5. (Use of the "E-punch" system is easy. You can learn how at the event, or read about it here.)
Venue Facilities
Picnic tables, piped water, and portable toilets are available, so please feel free to bring along a picnic lunch to enjoy after you finish your course.
Hazards
The "advanced" (Middle/Long) courses will cover some forested areas with fallen trees, branches, and stumps—watch your step!
Participants on the Yellow and "advanced" courses should be aware that the park has some poison oak that you'll want to avoid. It looks like this. Washing clothes and shoes, and bathing exposed areas with dishwashing soap or a commercial product such as Tecnu (which removes the irritant oil), is recommended.
Request for Volunteers
All the volunteer positions have been filled! Thank you very much to all who offered to help.
Driving Directions
Take the Richmond Parkway exit off Interstate 80 in Richmond, and go west for 1.3 miles. Immediately after the stoplight at San Pablo Avenue, turn right at the next light onto Atlas Road. After 0.8 miles on Atlas, you will cross over a set of railroad tracks and encounter a stop sign. Turn left onto Giant Highway at this intersection. You will pass a detention center on your right, and the park entrance will be immediately after that, also on your right. Pay the Park fee (if one is collected), park, and walk over the railroad tracks to the staging area in the meadow.
There's a map here that shows the location of the event.