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Topic created by Tom-O on Tue Mar 17, 2020 at 7:07 pm
Due to the COVID-19 virus, DVOA will suspend all scheduled events until further notice. We will resume orienteering activities when public health and park officials relax restrictions on group activities. In the meantime, we encourage members to still get outdoors – it will be therapeutic. Train on your own, re-run old courses, do course planning field work. As a reminder, we have numerous permanent courses with maps available on the DVOA website:
Be sure to check that the park is open before heading out (some are currently closed).
When this unfortunate situation eases, we hope to rebound quickly with a full slate of events. Until then, take care of yourself and your loved ones. Stay healthy!
DVOA Board of Directors
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Reply by rgbortz on Tue Mar 17, 2020 at 8:11 pmWould anyone know if the bike trailhead parking at intersection 345 and Shed Road has "CLOSED" sign or are people going out on trails at that location ? What happens if you park "somewhere" and are caught out in the woods at a park officially closed to the public ?
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Reply by GlenT on Tue Mar 17, 2020 at 10:29 pmTrails and parking areas at State Parks are open (except in Montgomery County, which closed all parks effective March 13 - Nockamixon, Evansburg, Ridley Creek (DelCo?), others?. Green Lane County Park is closed.)From the DCNR website (specifically from the French Creek page, but displayed on each individual park page):
Statewide Facilities COVID-19 Closure
Pennsylvania State Parks Facilities will be closed for 14 days effective Tuesday, March 17 to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As part of Pennsylvanias COVID-19 mitigation efforts, all buildings at the parks, including park offices and restrooms, will be closed, and all events and public educational programs will be canceled. The public will still be able to access trails, lakes, rivers, forests, roads, and parking areas for passive and dispersed recreation, such as hiking. All overnight and day use rental facilities will be closed. While these park facilities are closed, state park rangers and park managers will continue to work to ensure security and that public safety is protected.
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Reply by GlenT on Tue Mar 17, 2020 at 10:41 pmIf you head west from the Shed Rd./Rt.345 parking area you are entering the area which was embargoed for the Big Woods National Event. I don't know if the embargo is still in effect, but we do hope to hold the event someday when things return to (new) normal. Staying on the trails and not having an O-map may be OK.
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Reply by GlenT on Tue Mar 17, 2020 at 11:06 pmUpdate. It looks like those state parks which were completely closed (in Montgomery, Bucks and maybe other counties) now are open for trail and forest use (and parking). All events at parks are cancelled through April 30. All "facilities" are closed - i.e. no restrooms. So get out and enjoy the woods.
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Reply by kathyu on Wed Mar 18, 2020 at 3:59 pmI was doing an equipment pickup at 4-Mile Circle and enjoyed a very nice hike to Pakim Pond. I saw 2 Orienteering Course markers along the way. One was near the ranger office and the other was on the Cranberry Trail at the end of a little stub of a side trail. It was on the ground, so I righted it. I didn't know there was a permanent course there. Does anyone know the story?KathyU
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Reply by edscott on Wed Mar 18, 2020 at 10:14 pmGoing East from the parking lot on Shed Road just off 345 is open. Just walked the trail out the ridge this afternoon. Woods is really open, but the old French Creek East map needs some updating.
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Reply by camperpat on Mon Mar 30, 2020 at 3:11 pmKathy. There is no permanent course at paKim pond or batsto. I know the markers u saw a s they have been there for over 10 years. Someone may have started it years ago. But none of the office workers in brendon Byrne even know what those markers are for. Lol. I know because I asked them. A permanent course would. Be great there.
