Presidio of San Francisco
Date: (Sun.) Sep. 16, 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA
Event Director: 
- 415.453.3679
Course Setter: Chuck Spalding
Type: C; National Orienteering Day at the Presidio in San Francisco -- an event for beginners to come out and try orienteering -- and for experienced people to stretch their legs
Note: The event location is different than (but near) that used last year. We'll be back at our "normal" location this year.
National Orienteering Day at the Presidio in San Francisco — a BAOC tradition brought to us by Vic Revenko. Invite your friends, co-workers and family to come out and give it a try. The Presidio is a great place to picnic after your walk/hike/run — with fabulous views of the ocean, bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
The standard event schedule will be used:
- Registration: 9:00 AM – Noon (register any time during that period)
- Beginner's clinics: 9:30 – 11:30 AM
- Advanced clinic: 10:00 – 11:00 AM
- Starts: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM (start any time during that period)
- Courses close: 2:00 PM
Please note the following:
- Everyone must check in at the Start to be assigned a start time, so participants are spaced out (at least at the Start).
- You must report to the Finish by 2:00 even if you haven't completed your course.
- In housing areas, everyone must stay on streets, sidewalks, and public walkways.
- This event will use "old-fashioned" manual punching.
Beginner clinics will be offered throughout the morning. No orienteering knowledge is required for this event. Just show up and learn what all the excitement is about. We'll have you out on a course in no time.
In addition, an Advanced clinic will be offered from 10:00 to 11:00 near registration. Intermediate and advanced orienteers interested in improving their O skills are invited to participate in this 1-hour discussion. The session will end at 11 AM, so you'll have plenty of time to complete your course.
So come out and help us kick off the Fall orienteering schedule (and don't forget to bring some friends)!
More event information will be available later.
Courses
Here are the details of the courses:
Course Length Climb Controls Comments
White 2.2 km 55 m 11 Beginner's course, no experience needed
Yellow 3.3 km 105 m 10 Advanced beginners, mostly trail course
requiring little orienteering experience
Orange 4.9 km 145 m 10 Intermediate, long, off-trail course,
of moderate difficulty. Requires some
experience.
Long Orange 7.7 km 260 m 15 Intermediate, longer, off-trail course
of moderate difficulty. Great for
energetic orienteers of all levels.
A great runner's course.
The White, Yellow, and Orange courses are shorter than last year, with less climb. The Long Orange course is longer than last year, but with less climb — truly a runner's course.
Note for Beginners: The course lengths are measured along straight lines connecting the controls. Since you can seldom travel along those straight lines, you will cover a greater distance. The climb numbers are estimates of how much ascending will be done while following the "optimum" route, without regard for any descending that is done. The distance and climb that you will actually experience will depend on your route choices and any errors you make.
See the Course Setter's Notes for more information.
Driving Directions
Note: The location has changed again this year! Read the directions carefully, as no signs will be provided because of park rules.
All the action will start from the west part of Fort Winfield Scott at Building 1205. This is the location we've used in past years (about 250 meters SW of the location we used last year).
A map showing the event location is at the right. You can use the + button to zoom in to see the details, and click on the Satellite button to see an aerial view. (A larger map is available here.)
Coming from the South or East: Head to the Golden Gate Bridge. Take the last SF exit on Doyle Drive, just before the toll plaza. Turn right onto Lincoln Blvd. Continue under the overpass. Park in the large lot on your left after the stop sign at Lincoln Blvd and Ralston Ave. If you park there, Building 1205 is east, across Ralston Ave.
Coming from Marin: Exit immediately after the toll plaza onto Merchant Road. Turn right at the stop sign, and park in the large lot immediately on your left (between Lincoln Blvd and Ralston Ave). If you park there, Building 1205 is east, across Ralston Ave.
There's a map here that shows the location of the event.
Parking
There is a large lot just west of the registration area (it has disappeared and reappeared repeatedly during the construction project). It is the most convenient location. If the lot is full, you may park along Ralston Ave and between the buildings on Ralston Ave. Parking is also available on the east side of the fields that are next to the registration area.
Wherever you park, please be mindful of conserving space so we can fit in everyone's cars, and consider the affect your car might have on traffic, pedestrians, etc. (Also, be aware that the park police office is nearby, so there's a good chance they will see your car.)
Note: Please do not park near the Log Cabin! Those spaces are reserved for events at the Log Cabin.