Briones
Date: Sunday, April 18, 2004
Location: Martinez, CA.
Event Directors: 
- 925.462.2254, and - 415.681.7075
Course Setters: Mark Blair, Ian Tidswell, and Mark Irwin
Type: B; Regular Event, all seven courses
We'd love to have y'all come out for a springtime romp at Briones Regional Park to help us break in some new BAOC territory. All courses except the beginner level courses will focus on newly mapped terrain that has been added on the far western edge of our ever-growing map of this area. This new terrain was field checked by Vladimir Zherdev about a year and a half ago and has only been used in one event since then, namely, the 2003 Rogaine in which almost none of the teams made it out that far.
Please note that this event is not intended as a replacement for the beloved annual BAOC Scout-O', which will also take place this year (we hope) at its traditional time in mid-October.
We plan to provide the "standard 8" courses: White and Yellow courses at the beginner level, Orange and Long Orange courses at the intermediate level, and the usual Brown, Green, Red, and Blue courses at the advanced level. Electronic punching will be used on all the advanced courses. If sufficient e-punch units are available, they will also be used on one or both Orange courses.
A special clinic will be provided with emphasis on orienteering skills for Adventure Racers, a growing contingent among the participants at BAOC events. The usual beginner's clinics will also be provided for newcomers to orienteering.
The Orange and advanced courses, and maybe the beginner courses, will begin at a "not too remote" Start about 350 meters north of the Registration area. It shouldn't take more than about 5 minutes to walk there from the Registration. The Finish for all courses will be near the Registration.
Start times will be available on all courses from 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. All courses will close at 2:30 P.M. Please be sure to return to the finish by this time, even if you do not complete your course.
Event registration will open at 9:00 A.M. We'll hold a beginner's clinic around 9:30 A.M. and we'll try to hold another one around 10:30.
The new terrain that we'll try to traverse as much as possible is very open and for the most part consists of grassland dotted with small swatches of oak/laurel/madrone forest here and there. Experienced orienteers should be able to look forward to some very fast times on their courses.
Poison oak has proven to be quite sparse in the western part of the park where we'll be, although the occasional sprig that might be encountered is likely to be in full itchy springtime bloom. But the notorious star thistles in this park should be tender and succulent at this time of the year, rather than the dry, penetrating daggers of summer and autumn. The only real hurt we expect among our participants is their sense of guilt from stepping on the wildflowers.
Driving Directions
Briones Regional Park is near the towns of Orinda and Pleasant Hill in the East Bay. This event will meet next to the parking lots at the Bear Creek entrance on the southwest edge of the park. From Highway 24 in the East Bay, take the Orinda exit and head north toward Richmond. After traveling about 2 miles, turn right at the signal light onto Bear Creek Road. Continue 3.7 miles to the park entrance on the right. A $3 fee will be accepted at the entrance kiosk.
