Event Director's Notes Course Setter's Notes Information Update Event Entries Start List by Name (http://baoc.org/pdfs/O_in_Oaks_III_2005/Start_List_by_Name.pdf) Start List by Class (http://baoc.org/pdfs/O_in_Oaks_III_2005/Start_List_by_Class.pdf)
Date: Oct. 22 - 23, 2005
Location: San Jose, CA
Event Director: 
- 408.984.8124
Course Setters: Mattias Eriksson, Dean French
Type: A; 2-day combined-time "classic-distance" event
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The BAOC will hold the O in the Oaks III, its annual Fall A meet, at Joseph D. Grant Park in San Jose, CA, on October 22nd -23rd. It will be a two-day combined-time "classic" distance event. Advanced and Intermediate courses will be on the Joe Grant North map, which was first used at last year's US Long Course Championships.
Terrain
Joseph Grant Park is owned by the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department. The area is moderately steep, but is quite interesting with lots of forest for a Bay Area park. The terrain is approximately 50% open oak and bay forest, 40% grassland, and 10% brushy. The white forest has good visibility and running, except on the steep slopes. There are numerous rock features and quite a bit of fine contour detail. There is a moderate trail network. In addition, there are many unmapped animal trails. Most of the streams will be dry and the lakes and ponds very low or dry in October.
Climate
The climate in late October can be quite variable, ranging from sunny clear days with a high temperature of about 70 degrees, to cooler temperatures in the mid 40's. There is a moderate chance of rain but virtually no chance of snow.
Hazards
The biggest hazard will be the steep cliffs. They may be precarious and slippery. The best route choices avoid the steepest areas.
There is a moderate amount of poison oak in the park. Poison oak will have mainly lost its leaves in October, and can be seen as a groundcover with short stems, about 1 foot high, vines, and occasional bushes. The stems and stalks still have the antigen that causes the rash, so the best policy is to identify the plant, avoid it if possible, wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts, strip and wash off with Tecnu (available at most drug stores) right after the race and again when you get back to your hotel or home, place your competition clothes, including shoes, in a plastic bag and do not touch them again until they have been washed. Use a high-strength topical steroid cream, e.g., Fluocinonide, 0.05%, as soon as you feel any itching or notice any small red bumps or lines on your skin, usually about 24 to 48 hours after exposure. If you use the topical steroid cream early, you can virtually eliminate any severe rash, but if you wait until the rash has appeared, it takes much longer to get it under control.
Wild pigs are found throughout the park. These large gray mammals may travel in families and can be grumpy. They usually run away if you shout, but it is better not to mess with them and to go a different direction. Mountain lions, coyotes and rattlesnakes live in the park, but spotting them this time of year would be rare. If you encounter any of these predators walk slowly away (Do not run).
All participants must carry a whistle for emergency use.
Map
This map was produced in 2003 by Vladimir Zherdev and Zoran Krivokapic for the 2004 US Long Course Championships. For the most part, Zherdev mapped the lower portion of the terrain, while Krivokapic mapped the upper half. The mapping styles of each vary, especially in their interpretation of the vegetation. One noticeable difference is that the lower portion of the map contains dozens of distinct vegetation boundaries. Many of these mapped boundaries may not be as distinct as indicated.
There are numerous areas of undergrowth on the map and these may not be evenly mapped. The dark green map symbol is fight, which usually means Manzanita or other brushy or brambly undergrowth. The map symbols of green parallel lines indicate either brushy sagebrush areas or areas of thick poison oak. The closer the lines are, the more difficult it is to traverse the terrain. Green hatched lines mean thick poison oak and/or sagebrush. Consider avoiding these green hatched areas.
All maps will be printed at 1:10000 with 5 meter contours on a high resolution Epson Stylus Printer with water proof pigment based (as opposed to water soluble dye based) ink on coated paper in plastic map cases. There are some very steep areas on the map, indicated by rocky cliffs, earth banks or very close contour lines. In many cases the steepest of areas will not only slow you down but put you in danger.
There are multiple rock features, which are generally well mapped. Most boulders or cliffs under one meter are not mapped.
The green O map symbol is a lone tree. The green X is either a fallen dead tree or tall stump. If used as a control, the control description is a single tree followed by a ruined symbol. If a stump is used as a control, the height in meters is indicated on the control description. A green T is a rootstock, usually a fallen tree with the roots unearthed from the ground.
Classes
The standard 7 courses and 43 USOF classes will be provided at the event.
Winning Times
The estimated winning times are :White, 25-30 min; Yellow, 35-40 min; Orange, 50-55 min; Brown, 45-50 min; Green, 50-55 min; Red, 60-65 min; Blue, 75-85 min.
Training/Embargo
Per USOF rules, "the area is closed to orienteering competitions and training for 4 months [beginning June 22, 2005] prior to the event. Individuals or groups training or orienteering in the closed venue will not be eligible for competition, awards, or rankings, but they may nevertheless participate in the event."
Therefore, no formal training will be available. However, you may train on your own on the older Joe Grant South map. Copies of both the North and South areas are available for $3.00 each.
Electronic Punching
SPORTident electronic punching will be used for all classes. If you do not own your own SI Card, you may rent one for $3.00/day. Please indicate on your entry form the number of your SI Card, or if you need to rent one.
Event Center, Accommodations
The Event Center is at the Extended Stay America, 1000 Hillview Ct, Milpitas (map (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=1000+Hillview+Ct&city=milpitas&state=ca&zipcode=)). Discounted reservations ($50/night) can be made by mentioning the Bay Area Orienteering Club. Packet pickup will be Friday, October 21 from 7pm to 10pm. Packets can also be picked up Saturday morning in the registration tent.
Camping
For those of you who would like to camp for our Oct 22 and 23 events at Joe Grant, here is some information from www.gooutsideandplay.org - (408) 355-2201
- $18 per site which includes two cars (The entry fee is $5 per car.)
- free showers
- pay phone by the showers
- gates lock at sunset (you can go out, but can't get back in unless you know how)
Note: For those who might have tried to get a site earlier and were told the camp was full, try again. The ranger has opened some sites that were previously closed.
Entry Fees
Postmarked by Sept. 24th:
Adult $24.00/day Junior $12.00/day
Postmarked between Sept. 25th and Oct. 8th:
Adult $30.00/day Junior $18.00/day
Day of event entry:
Adult $35.00/day Junior $23.00/day
Adult members of USOF or another national federation belonging to the IOF receive a $3.00/day discount of the above fees, and juniors (age 18 and younger, born in 1987 or later) receive a discount of $1.50 per day.
Other Fees
SI Card rental: $3.00/day Compass rental: $1.00/day T-shirt: $18.00 Saturday night dinner: Probably no formal dinner will be offered. Child care: $10.00/child/day (payable at the event) Training maps N/S: $3.00 each
No pre-registered entries will be accepted after Oct. 8th. Entries received with a postmark later than October 8th will be treated as a day-of-event entry. Day-of-event entries will be accepted, but these entrants will not receive assigned start times and will have to wait for a vacancy in the start list for their start time.
On-line registration is now closed, please register on the day of the event. Please address any registration inquiries to our A-Meet Registrar:
Steve Beuerman 963F La Mesa Terrace Sunnyvale, CA 94086 phone: 1-408-739-9376 email:
Foreign Participants
Information about obtaining a visa for entry into the US can be found at http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html (http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html). Foreign competitors may pay at registration when they pick up their packets (but please do register ahead of time, on-line or by mail).
Awards
There will be awards for the top three finishers in each class. The awards ceremony will begin as close to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday October 23rd as possible.
Saturday Night Dinner
There will be an informal Saturday night dinner held at:
El Torito 477 East Calaveras (just West of the packet pickup hotel) Milpitas, CA 408-946-8012
The dinner starts at 7:00pm on Saturday, October 22.
We have a room that holds 60 people. If more than that show up, they can sit it the main restaurant area. You will be able to order from the regular El Torito menu. An 18% gratuity will automatically be added and each table will receive a single bill.
We may have some course reviews if we can find a projector and screen in time.
Recreational Courses
White and Yellow recreational courses will be available both days. No preregistration is required. The entry fees will be the standard recreational fees for White and Yellow courses at a BAOC "B" meet. That is, $6.00 for an individual adult or first member in a group, and $3.00 for each additional adult in a group. The corresponding fees for juniors are $3.00 and $2.00. Electronic punching will not be used for the recreational courses. Different courses will be offered on Saturday and Sunday. Registration opens at 9:00 a.m., beginner's clinics will be offered between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., and start times will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Important Dates and Program
Sep 24: Last day for entry without late fees. Oct 8: Last day for entry with pre-assigned starts. Oct 21st: 7:00-10:00 p.m. packet pickup at Event Center (see above). Oct 22nd: Registration opens 9:00 a.m.; first starts at 10:00 a.m. Oct 23rd: Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., first starts at 9:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m.-Awards Ceremony
Event Officials
Event Director: Robert Lewis Course Setter (adv): Mattias Eriksson Course Setter (beg): Dean French USOF Course Consultant: Don Davis Mapping Director and Vetter: Bob Cooley Registrar: Steve Beuerman
Directions and Parking
The nearest large airport is San Jose, CA. Oakland and San Francisco airports are also relatively close by.
Take the Alum Rock Road exit off either I-680 or US 101 in San Jose, and head for the hills (east). Continue on Alum Rock Road for about 2.3 miles from I-680, and turn right onto Mt. Hamilton Road (CA-130). Go about 8 miles to the park entrance, which will be on your right. Park entrance fee is $5 per car.