Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
Date: (Sun.) Apr. 17, 2016
Location: Richmond, CA
Event Director: 
- 925.862.2978
Course Setter: Steve Gregg
Type: C; Beginner and intermediate courses at a popular "fast" venue
If you can't make the event on April 17th, but would like to take a look at the courses and check the control placements, they are now ready for vetting. If you are interested, send an email, and he'll send you maps of some or all of the courses. Thanks!
This year's Point Pinole event will feature White, Yellow, Short Orange, Medium Orange, and Long Orange courses. More specific information will be available as the event date nears, but the tentative lengths for the three Orange courses are 3.3 km, 5.0 km, and 6.4 km.
Adding a little extra excitement to the event this year will include some of all of the following:
- Goats: They didn't arrive at the park until February this year, and might still be present on event day. Last-minute adjustments will be made to the courses if necessary.
- Poison oak: It's thicker than ever before. The goats have done a nice job of cutting it back in the flatter forested areas of the park, but in the hillier terrain where the goats do not graze, there are some quite bad patches. I have designed the courses to avoid the worst of the PO, but all Orange course runners will certainly encounter at least a little of it. Take the usual precautions.
- Unmapped lakes: The heavy rains in early March created a large unmapped lake in the middle of the park, which all Orange course runners will encounter. It's impossible to say what the status of this lake will be on April 17th, as it depends on how much additional rain we get between now and then. In any case, don't be surprised to see some unexpected standing water on your course.
- Construction: I have been told that heavy equipment is moving through the park on a regular basis, and that some of the park roads have been blocked off to accommodate that. Again, I have designed the courses to avoid this area, but you might notice some partially or totally blocked-off roads or trails, depending on your route choices. This should not cause anyone any navigational problems at all, though.
The spring rains have made the park green and beautiful this year, and the goat grazing has cut down a lot of the tall grass, and will make for some very fast running. Hope to see you there!
– Steve Gregg, Course Setter
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
These fees apply at this event.
- $3 for juniors on beginner's (White) and advanced beginner's (Yellow) courses
- $8 for adults on beginner's (White) and advanced beginner's (Yellow) courses
- $5 for juniors on intermediate (Orange) and advanced courses
- $12 member price for intermediate (Orange) and advanced courses
- $18 non-member price for intermediate (Orange) 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
Here are the course details:
Course Length Climb Controls
White 2.8 km 60 m 13
Yellow 3.1 km 75 m 14
Short Orange 3.3 km 85 m 15
Medium Orange 5.0 km 120 m 19
Long Orange 6.5 km 145 m 24
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 Orange 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 Orange courses will cover some forested areas with fallen trees, branches, and stumps—watch your step!
Participants on the Yellow and Orange 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
The event is fast approaching. We expect a good turnout and need a few volunteers to make it all happen. In particular, we need volunteers for the following (updated 4/10):
- Early Starts (09:30–11:00): 2 people
- Late Starts (11:00–12:30): 2 people
- Beginner Clinics (09:30–10:30):
2 people1 person (we typically have many participants new to orienteering) -
Early Registration (09:30–10:45): 1 person(Filled) -
Late Registration (10:45–12:00): 1 person(Filled) -
E-Punch: 2 people, one early one late(Filled) - Control Pick-Up (14:00):
4+ peopleWe could use one more volunteer
If you can help, please contact . Thank you.
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.