Photo gallery image (click to enlarge)

Bedwell Bayfront Park

Event #6 of 6 in the BAOC 2023 Summer Series

Date: (Sun.) Aug. 27, 2023
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Event Director: - 650.281.5280
Course Setter: Matthias Kohler
Type: C; This is the final event of the 2023 Summer Series. Beginners are welcome!

Related Event Information

Event Results Course Setter's Notes 2023 Summer Series Summer Series Discount Package Attackpoint Event Page (http://www.attackpoint.org/eventdetail.jsp/event_56090) Last Year's Event

Please note that fees and time limits apply. Events are typically not canceled due to bad weather.


This will be the final event in the 2023 Summer Series. However, we want to emphasize that everyone is welcome to come out and do one (or more) of the courses, regardless of whether or not you attended a previous Summer Series event. Also, club membership is not required to participate.

For this final event of the 2023 Summer Series, we return to Bedwell Bayfront Park in Menlo Park. Bedwell Bayfront is a fairly small, open, flattish park near the western end of the Dumbarton Bridge, easy to get to and with great views.

It's a great place to try orienteering for those new to the sport​—​beginners new to orienteering are encouraged to attend. And while easy compared to many of our larger, non-urban parks, navigation can still be challenging for more advanced orienteers, especially when you consider that the park's extensive trail network will not be shown on the maps for the Short and Long courses.

We will offer three courses at this event: One for beginners, a Short course, and a Long course. The Short and Long courses will be the ranking courses for this final event of the 2023 Summer Series.

Notes to everyone:

Notes to competitive orienteers:

We look forward to seeing everyone at what should be a fun event!

Schedule

The standard BAOC event schedule will be followed:

    9:00 AM – 11:59 AM: Registration open
    9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Beginner clinic instruction (free)
   10:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Starts are open for all courses
                    2:00 PM: Courses close, checkpoint control pick-up begins
Note: At on-site registration, all juniors must be accompanied by parents or legal guardians, or bring with them a waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian (the registration form is available here [PDF/12KB]).

Note that you can register and start on the courses anytime during the open times above. Thus, for example, you do not need to be "punctual" at 9:00 (but you can if you want, but please don't show up earlier and expect to be served).

Beginner clinics are 15–20 minute, repeating sessions that introduce the sport of orienteering, and provide enough instruction to be able to complete the Beginner (White) course.

Note that you must return to the Finish by 2:00 PM, and then go to the download tent, even if you have not finished your course. Please do not leave without checking in! If there are unaccounted people after 2:00, we must initiate a search for them.

Registration and Costs

Note: You do not need to register for this event if you have registered for the Summer Series Discount Package. (If you've forgotten if you did that, check here (https://eventreg.orienteeringusa.org/eventregister/a40/reglist/home/23sspackage).)

The following fees apply at this event (if you have not registered for the Summer Series Discount Package):

  $3 for each junior on the Beginner course
  $8 for each adult on the Beginner course
  $5 for each junior on the Short or Long course  
$15 for each adult member on the Short or Long course
$20 for each adult non-member on the Short or Long course
  $1 for a compass rental (optional)  
  $5 for an electronic fingerstick rental (optional, but each team will need one to complete the course)
$15 for the lowest-cost individual one-year BAOC membership (optional)  
Notes:
  • You can register at the event or online before the event (see below).
  • At the event, we can accept payment by cash, check, or credit/debit card (but no electronic payments [e.g., Venmo]).
  • Juniors are age 8 through 20 (under age 8 is free).
  • There is no charge for a second course (but you must end up paying for the more expensive course​—​i.e., Short or Long after Beginner).
  • Members of other orienteering clubs can pay the "member" fee. (We hope your club does the same for our members. 🙂)

More information about event pricing is available in the club FAQ. All the prices are also shown on the standard entry form (PDF/12KB), which you can print and fill out in advance to save some time at the event. (You will need one entry form for each group of people going on a course together.)

Optional Online Registration

Online registration has closed, but you can still register at the event.

Notes:
  • Online registration is not required​—​you can register at the event.
  • You can see who is registered here (https://eventreg.orienteeringusa.org/eventregister/a40/reglist/home/ssbayfront2023) (but keep in mind that others will register at the event, and these people (https://eventreg.orienteeringusa.org/eventregister/a40/reglist/home/23sspackage) have registered through the Summer Series Discount Package and might attend this event).

What To Bring

Bring your own water for the course(s). There will be no drinking water on the courses. There will be drinking water at the assembly area (near the Start and Finish).

Comfortable outdoors attire and walking shoes are fine for those who will walk their course.

For runners, any comfortable running shoes are appropriate. The courses will include some pavement, but mostly off-trail legs. You might want shoes with cleats or spikes for the off-trail legs.

You may encounter some annoying grass depending on your route choice, so you might consider wearing gaiters, long socks, or long pants.

It is sometimes quite windy at Bedwell Bayfront Park, so consider bringing a windbreaker​—​at least for before and after your course. However, it could also be 98° F!

A compass is not necessary, but can be helpful (especially on the Advanced courses). We have compasses available for a $1 rental fee.

We time the courses with the SPORTident system, so each entry/team needs to have a SPORTident fingerstick. If you don't have your own, you can rent one at registration for $5 (note that there's a significant charge for a lost rental). (Use of the "E-punch" system is easy. You can learn how at the event, or read about it here.)

The controls will be set up to respond to SPORTident SIAC "touchless" fingersticks. That type of fingerstick might be available for rent at the event, but note that the charge for a lost SIAC stick will be $80, not the normal $25.

Venue Facilities

Running water and restrooms are available near the assembly area.

Courses

Matthias Kohler has designed three courses in the same format as the previous Summer Series events. Here are the course details: 

    Course      Length   Climb  Controls
    Beginners   2.2 km    50 m     16  
    Short       3.1 km    75 m     16  
    Long        4.9 km   100 m     23

Beginners should be aware that the lengths shown are the cumulative straight-line distances between controls. Your actual distance will be somewhat longer. The climb numbers represent the amount of ascending that would be done on the "optimum route" (i.e., in the Course Setter's opinion), without regard for any descending.
Keep in mind that you can earn Summer Series points from the first course you run at the event, but only if it's one of the ranking courses. That is, you will not earn points if you run the Beginner course first and then one of the ranking courses.

As mentioned above, no water will be provided on the courses, so you may want to carry your own.

The Short and Long courses will be the ranking courses for the Summer Series.

Be sure to read the Course Setter's Notes for more information.

Request for Volunteers

We could use a few people to help with beginner clinics, starts, and control pick-up. Also a person to help Sarah with registration and a person to help Jeff with E-punch administration.

Call (650-281-5280) or me if you can help, or with any questions.

– Steve Haas, Event Director

Park Hazards

The good news: You can't get lost. There is very little poison oak. There is very little climb. The park is very runnable.

There is little shade, so wear a hat and use sunscreen.

Most of the park is mowed, but there are still some areas with taller grass, and the mowed areas have slippery, loose grass on the ground. So, leg coverings and shoes with good traction are advised on the Advanced courses. And be aware that there are numerous ground-squirrel holes (i.e., trip hazards) hidden under the grass. Exercise caution!

The park is likely to be fairly busy. Please be considerate of other park users.

Not really hazards, but be aware that flocks of Canada geese are visiting the park, and jackrabbits and a skunk have been spotted.

2023 Summer Series

This is the final event of the BAOC 2023 Summer Series. The Series consists of six events, each of which has two "ranking courses" for the two overall Summer Series results. Each participant's best four events will determine the final Series standings. At this event, points will be awarded to all the individuals (but not groups or teams) who complete the Short or Long course (as their first course of the day).

Details of the Summer Series scoring system are available here. (Note that we need your birth year if you want to be scored properly. Also, to be eligible for Summer Series ranking and awards [assuming there are any 🙂], you must be a BAOC member in good standing as of this event.)

Driving Directions

The approximate coordinates are 37.4909,-122.1773.

From the Peninsula, North, and South, take Highway 101 to the exit for Marsh Rd/CA-84E (#406). Head east on Marsh Rd (toward Dumbarton Bridge or the Bay). Stay to the left so you can drive straight ahead into the park at the traffic signal where Marsh turns right onto Bayfront Expressway.

From the East Bay, cross the Dumbarton Bridge (Hwy 84). Go to the seventh traffic light after the bridge (at Marsh Rd), and turn right into the park.