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Sunol Regional Wilderness

Date: (Sun.) Apr. 22, 2007
Location: Sunol, CA
Event Director: - 408.262.3457
Course Setter: Gary Carpenter
Type: B; All seven courses--White through Blue--plus Long Orange

Related Information

Event Director's Notes Course Setter's Notes Last Year's Event

NOTE: See the Event Director's Notes and Course Setter's Notes for more information.

Sunol is one of the BAOC's most popular "B" meets. Last year there was a bottleneck at the parking kiosk, and we suggest participants carpool and arrive early if possible. In addition to traffic, Sunol's advanced courses are physically hard, and there is a remote start with about 200-m climb that you should allow 20–30 minutes to get to.

Lastly, the BAOC annual meeting is scheduled to start at 1:30 P.M., so all BAOC members are encouraged to plan accordingly to finish their course and participate in the voting and other club business.

All seven levels plus Long Orange will be offered. More information will be available here and on the BayONet nearer to the event date. Mark your calendars for one of the Bay Area's classic venues.

Schedule

The standard event schedule and fees will apply. If your orienteering club membership has expired and you are running advanced courses, please pay the $15 non-member course fee, or turn in your membership renewal form and check to or to registration before starting your run.

Beginner's clinics are repeating, short explanations of orienteering, adequate to prepare anyone for the White or Yellow course. Our club is comprised of volunteers, and some of us explain things differently. If you have previously taken a beginner clinic and this is only your 2nd or 3rd time at orienteering, you may want to sit in on another clinic.

Courses

Sunol is a physically & technically hard park, and we do not recommend that competitors move up to a harder course at this event. The contours are 7.5 meters, and in some places the reentrants are uncrossable. Cleats are recommended for Orange and advanced courses, because the terrain can get steep. (At the recent Golden Goat, a lot of competitors who were wearing running shoes were seen slipping down hillsides.)

The White, Yellow, and Orange courses will start close to the parking and assembly area.

We plan to use a remote Start for the advanced courses (including Long Orange), allowing us to use some new territory and route choices. Plan on a 20–30 minute hike, and 200 m of climb, to the Start.

The course statistics are below. See the Course Setter's Notes for more information. 

                                             Technical      Physical
  Course        Length    Climb   Controls   Difficulty     Difficulty

  White         2.4 km     80 m      12      Novice         Easy
  Yellow        2.8 km    140 m      12      Beginner       Easy
  Orange        4.4 km    150 m      10      Intermediate   Moderate
  Long Orange   5.1 km    220 m      10      Intermediate   Hard
  Brown         4.3 km    165 m      12      Advanced       Moderate
  Green         5.2 km    260 m      13      Advanced       Hard
  Red           6.2 km    310 m      16      Advanced       Harder
  Blue          7.1 km    410 m      17      Advanced       Hardest

Note: The event will need a lot of volunteer help to succeed. Please help the Event Director fill in his volunteer schedule by contacting in the next two weeks for your assignments.

Special Notices & Warnings

There is a stable at Sunol that provides equestrian trips. All competitors must give horses and equestrians the right of way at all times, or our future access will be jeopardized. If you come upon some horses, move to the side and remain still until they pass.

The ranger has informed us that there may be bulls in some pastures, and is recommending that competitors do not take their dogs on the advanced courses.

Epunch will be used on all courses. If you don't own your own Epunch stick, you can rent one at registration. All competitiors must check in at the epunch download tent after punching at the Finish.

All competitors must have whistles for use in an emergency. Free whistles are available at registration. If you are lost or injured, stay where you are and blow your whistle 3 short times in a row every few minutes. (Note: Whistles are for emergency use only--they are not toys.)

Potluck

People, let's pick up this potluck thing! Bring some things to share!

I'll bring apples and oranges and muffins and some drinks, with the supplies, on behalf of BAOC.

You bring the rest...

There will be a station to place it at near the Finish or Epunch Download. Stash it there on your way out.

Thanks for sharing. And for taking the time to chat with people and make them feel welcome in the club.

Rex
BAOC Social Director

Driving Directions

To reach the park, take I-680 to the Sunol/Calveras exit. Go south on Calaveras Road about 6 miles to Geary Road. Turn left onto Geary Road and continue a couple of miles to the park. Pay the parking fee $5 ($2 dog fee) and follow the O' signs to registration.