Stanford University
Date: (Sat.) Apr. 19, 2008
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Event Directors: 
- 650.843.0753, - 650.843.0753
Course Setter: Ido Green
Type: C; White, Yellow, Score-O (60-minute limit), and Sprint
The Stanford Orienteering Club welcomes you to the Stanford University Campus!
Course Statistics
Technical Course Distance Climb Controls Difficulty Time Limit
White 2.3 km ~20 m 12 Easy 3 hrs or 2:00 pm Yellow 2.8 km ~20 m 8 Moderate 3 hrs or 2:00 pm Sprint-O 4.0 km ~20 m 12 Moderate (*) 3 hrs or 2:00 pm Score-O --- --- 20 Moderate 60 min or 2:00 pm
(*) Route choice will require fast decisions
Meet Directors' Notes
We hope you enjoy the beautiful campus and its "secret corners" that we will try to share with you. Don't forget to have fun and enjoy the amazing lake view
As you can see from the above table, we have 4 courses available. If you are uncertain as to which course to try, especially if you've never tried orienteering before, we recommend you do the White course, as the Yellow course has a significantly higher level of navigation than the White course. On all but the Score-O course, the idea is to visit the controls in order, with the route between any two control points up to you, trying to complete the course in as short a time as possible.
You are welcome to sign up for a second course afterwards if you wish. Note that the stated course lengths represent the straight-line distances between controls. Your actual course distance will be longer.
The Sprint-O course is part of the BAOC Sprint-O series. These courses require rapid decision making on navigational routes and attention to fine navigational detail.
For those of you unfamiliar with Score-O, the idea on this course is to visit as many of the control points on your map as you can, within the time limit. The order you visit them, and the route you take, are up to you. For each control you make it to, you get a certain point value (printed directly on the map); however, you lose 10 points for every minute (or fraction of a minute) you are out on the course past the time limit of 60 minutes.
On the White/Yellow/Sprint courses, there is a time limit (for safety purposes) of 3 hours, or 2:00 PM, whichever is earlier.
All contestants in all Courses must check in at the Finish by 2:00 PM.
Please check in at the Finish even if you cannot successfully complete your course, so that we know that you are not still out on the course.
The courses, typical for our urban orienteering events, will be using plastic plates instead of normal orienteering controls. Samples of these plates will be visible in the vicinity of both the Start and Registration.
Each "control" is white and red with a blue stripe, and contains both a 3-digit numerical code (which is on your control description sheet) and a 2-letter code. You will need to carry a pencil or other writing implement with you on your course to write down the 2-letter code printed on the control. For example, if your second control has a control code of 535, then when you find it you'll see that it has the letters "OG" written on it. You would then write "OG" in box #2 of your punch card.
The pie plates may not be as visible as the controls you are used to. Since they are subject to the wind and jostling, the plates may be turned to be edge-on to your approach, making them hard to see. While we have often placed the controls on the far side of objects that you are approaching, they are intended to be plainly visible once you are at the specified location (be sure to check the fine print of your control descriptions). The plates are typically tied to the control feature with string, but may be attached to a stake next to the feature where appropriate. Also, the plates have been known to "disappear" due to miscreants deciding to acquire their own matched set. Thus, if you are really, really certain you're at the right spot and there's no plate, assume that it's been pilfered, note that on your card, and move on.
Traffic and Safety
Most courses will have to cross minor streets with auto traffic. Use due caution and crosswalks when available. There is also a high level of bicycle traffic in all areas of the campus. While, as someone on foot, you should technically have the right of way over a bicycle, do not assume that they will yield to you.
There is virtually zero poison oak in the areas of the map used. The only wildlife hazards that are significant would be ground squirrel burrows, and possibly ticks, in areas with higher grasses. If you should get completely lost, head towards Hoover Tower (the tall building with the red dome) which should be visible from anywhere on the map. From Hoover, head south and ask someone how to get to "Tresidder".
Course Setter's Notes
The Stanford map has had at least a dozen contributors since its creation by Lans Taylor in 1994. An ongoing stream of major construction projects on campus has (mostly) been handled through OCAD, but in some areas the map is showing its age. We have attempted to update the map with the most important corrections (e.g., out-of-bounds areas, new buildings), but there are probably numerous minor features that are either now missing or new and not mapped.
There are several marked "out-of-bounds" areas, indicated by magenta-colored vertical striping, such as the golf course driving range, private residences, and gardens. Also indicated are construction sites (forbidden due to obvious risks), which are marked by magenta cross-hatching. Please be respectful of these areas; entering any of these out-of-bounds areas will result in disqualification, and may make it impossible to get approval for future events on campus. Thank you for your cooperation.
Many of the terrain features the controls will be placed on are man-made in nature, but not always described that way. For example, an indicated thicket on the map or control description sheet could be a well-manicured hedge, or a bed of ivy. "Man-made objects" (symbol "×" on your control description sheet) may be a wide variety of objects, including fire hydrants, bulletin kiosks, bike racks, sculptures, picnic tables, and other miscellaneous "junk". Please note that most, but not all, of the lamp posts on campus are not mapped.
The map scale is 1:7500. The map follows current IOF conventions. In particular, it is helpful on all courses to be aware that the map indicates building overhangs, passages, and elevated walkways that can be passed under, through, or over.
There are some blue "water" symbols on the map (e.g., fountains). There might not be water actually present.
The ground is dry and firm, making for fast running in the "natural" areas of campus.
The Score-O has the control point values printed directly on map. The penalty for OT is 10 pt/min or any fraction of a minute over 60 minutes.
Thank you for reading this far and we hope you have a great course!
Driving Directions
The event at Stanford will start in front of Tresidder Student Union, in White Plaza.
From Highway 101: Exit at Oregon Expressway/Embarcadero Road, and take Oregon Expressway southwest past El Camino (where the name changes to Page Mill Road) to Foothill Expressway/Junipero Serra Boulevard. Turn right onto Junipero Serra Blvd.
From I-280: Exit at Alpine Road (if coming from the north) or Page Mill Road (if coming from the sourh) and drive northeast to Junipero Serra Boulevard. Turn right onto Junipero Serra from Alpine Rd, or left onto Junipero Serra from Page Mill Rd.
To get to Tresidder Student Union from Junipero Serra Blvd.: Turn onto Campus Drive East (not West), and go to Mayfield Avenue. Turn left and follow Mayfield around a forced left turn. Park in the first parking lot on your right (at the first stop sign). Registration will be in front of Tresidder Student Union, the large building just north of the parking lot.
If the parking lot is full (this can happen, but is uncommon):
Exit the Tresidder lot and turn right (west) on Mayfield. At the end of Mayfield, turn right onto Lomita and proceed to the end, where you will turn left on Santa Teresa. Take the first right turn (Samuel Morris Way) and then turn left onto Panama at the end of Samuel Morris Way (it's a short street). Follow Panama about 1/4 mile to Via Ortega, and you will see a large parking structure on the right-hand side that should have plenty of room (no charge for parking on Saturday). Yes, it's a little convoluted, but it's really not that far away from Registration (700 m straight line).
Stanford has an excellent map (http://transportation.stanford.edu/maps_forms_apps/MapsForms.shtml) on their website showing the various parking facilities.
Public Transit
The Stanford website (http://www.stanford.edu/home/visitors/maps/directions.html#transit) has good information on access via VTA and Caltrain.