Golden Goat & Golden Kid

26th Annual Golden Goat & Golden Kid

Pacheco State Park

Date: (Sun.) Nov. 2, 2025
Location: Hollister, CA
Event Directors: - 707.567.3496, - 650.248.0909
Course Setter: Carl Hoel
Type: C; Extra-long "Goat" course, and a long "Kid" course, with a shared mass start; and a regular beginner course with separated starts

Related Event Information

Volunteer Sign-up (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RfbxqIvXqGM5_sS-1Py-Mx8rlvDzjB8Hexp34d8dNLI/edit?usp=sharing) Course Setter's Notes Golden Goat Lifetime Points (PDF) Event Announcement

Please note that fees and time limits apply. Events are typically not canceled due to bad weather.


Event Director's Notes

By Graham Brew, Event Director ()

Some important last-minute reminders for the Golden Goat event (posted to the BayONet on Nov. 1 at 5:40?PM):
There is a substantial wind farm being built directly to the east of the Park. And there is a huge construction staging area directly east of the parking lot. So things may look very different to the last time you were at Pacheco. However, none of this affects the courses. To get to the parking turn off Hwy 152 onto Dinosaur Point Road; then take a right at the junction where there is a portable office / inspection station for the wind farm (not inspecting orienteers!) — your parking fee might be collected there. The parking lot has not moved — it just feels very different right now!
When you get to the parking area, please remember to pay the $10 day-use fee (if it wasn't collected when you entered). The Rangers are strict about this, and will enforce this! There is no payment kiosk. There is an "iron ranger", unattended, fee-collection box. It's over to the right as you come into the parking. Bring exact cash, and a pen to fill in your details. Do not forget to do this. If people don't pay, it could seriously jeopardize our ability to get future permits!
There is no potable water at the Assembly Area — there is a tap, but it is marked as non-potable. BAOC is providing several dozen gallons of water. But please also bring your own water, so that we do not run out. There is water out on the course, but obviously a limited supply. Please be thoughtful of others as you use that water.
The Finish of the Goat and the Kid is on a fence. After you have punched the Finish, you must then cross the fence to get back to the Assembly Area. We will prepare a nearby well-marked crossing place where you will be able to easily slip between the barbed wire strands. Please cross only at this point, and no other point. You are off the clock, so take your time, and do it correctly to not damage the fence.
And one final reminder that the Goat and Kid are a Mass Start at 10 AM. We will leave the Assembly Area promptly at 9:45 to walk to the Start, where maps will be handed out. If you are not at the Mass Start, your starting time will still be considered to be 10 AM. Do not be late. Be ready to leave the Assembly Area at 9:45 sharp!
As Misha previously wrote, conditions in Pacheco right now are almost perfect. The views are amazing. I saw a large herd of Tule Elk and much other wildlife out there today. The event is going to be epic. Don't miss it!
See you there. Graham Brew, Event Director

This is a reminder that the BAOC Annual Golden Goat/Golden Kid event is this weekend — Sunday, Nov. 2nd — at Pacheco State Park. All the event information is here and the Course Setter's Notes are here.

Several things make this event a little different from our usual BAOC events. So please read these notes carefully and come prepared!

Registration

Firstly, please do everyone a favor and pre-register online for the Golden Goat and Golden Kid. There will be very light staffing at registration for the event — and we don't want anyone to miss the mass start due to registration hold-ups — so please please pre-register here (https://eventreg.orienteeringusa.org/eventregister/register/start/goldengoat2025.11.02).

Note: Online registration has closed (on 11/1/25 at 6:00 PM).

Participants on the Advanced Beginner course can also pre-register online, but it's less critical for them to do that.

Volunteers

Next, we are still looking for volunteers to help the event run smoothly. We especially are looking for more folks to help with control pick-up. Thanks to all those who have already volunteered. If you still need to signup, please do so here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RfbxqIvXqGM5_sS-1Py-Mx8rlvDzjB8Hexp34d8dNLI/edit). Thanks!

Starts

The Golden Goat and Golden Kid have a Mass Start!

The start is located 800 m (40 m climb) from the assembly/parking area. The Golden Goat and Golden Kid have, as usual, at Mass Start at 10 AM. (Also, note that Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 AM the morning of the event! Don't forget to change your clock!) To get everyone to the Start on time, we need to leave the Assembly Area at 9:45 AM and walk to the Start. You must be ready to leave the Assembly Area at 9:45. Late starters will be treated as though they started at 10 AM!! So do not be late!

Participants on the Advanced Beginner course, can start at any time between 10:15 and 11:45 AM.

Courses

The Advanced Beginner (Yellow) course is on the more technical end of a normal Yellow course. As a result, it is not entirely suitable for absolute beginners. If you have never orienteered before, this might not be the best place to start. However, if you are comfortable with a Yellow or above course, or if you are very comfortable reading a map, you should have no trouble.

The Golden Kid course allows skipping one control. Any single control can be skipped.

Runners of the Golden Goat course need to visit all the controls. Numerous forks are used, so most other runners will not be heading to the same controls you are. Run the course on your map and pay no attention to the other runners! The Golden Goat course has a map-flip close to halfway through the course.

As usual, there is a four-hour time limit on both the Goat and the Kid. For all of the courses, everyone needs to be finished by 2 PM.

For more information, please read the Course Setter's Notes.

Other Notes

All the maps are at 1:10,000 scale with a 5 m contour interval.

Water is available on the Golden Kid (1 water stop) and the Golden Goat (2 water stops) courses, but not on the Advanced Beginner course. There are no drinking fountains at the Assembly Area. BAOC will provide bottled water, but you are also encouraged to bring your own water to ensure there is plenty for everyone.

Any questions at all, please let me know. See you on Sunday!