Delaware Valley Orienteering Association

Time:  Mass start at 11:00 AM--be at start ready to go at 10:50 for instructions.  There is a 3 hour time limit to return to finish (same area as start) with severe time penalties.

Where: Parking and registration on the SouthWest part of the French Creek pool lot.  Start and Finish will be between the pool and the lake dam, where hopefully we can secure some picnic tables for post event socializing.

Course: 30 controls spread around the 1:15000 French Creek East map.  Some controls are technical advanced controls, but most are probably intermediate (Orange level).  There are sufficient easier controls nearer the start/finish that someone comfortable on a Yellow course would probably enjoy a full three hours of challenge.  Unless they are up for a potentially frustrating adventure, this is probably not an event for beginners.  Elite level runners might be able to get all 30 controls.  The intent is to provide a good mix of physical, technical and problem-solving challenges.

Registration: I'd like to make this as painless for everyone as possible.  Obviously, everyone showing up at the same time is going to make registration (normal and epunch) a real bottleneck.  To help avoid that, I encourage everyone to pre-register using this online form.  Pre-registration does not require absolute certainty about attending and no money is involved.

The Map: is relatively old, and more ephemeral features like vegetation and trails can be misleading.  I've tried to put controls in nicer areas, but in between them you will have to adapt to the actual conditions and focus on the stable parts of the map like contours and boulders.

Maps: There is a fixed supply of offset printed maps for use at this event and another later this year.  We have printed 100 maps, which is hopefully a reasonable estimate that covers this event and leaves enough for the later one.  We'll figure out something so that people that register in advance get a printed map.  People that show up without pre-registration may end up drawing in their own controls, assuming there are blanks available.

Other Activities:  The pool opens Memorial Day, so you might want to bring your suit and take a dip! (additional fee required...)  Bring along a picnic and stick around--this is one of those times when you'll get to talk with everyone when you finish.

Anyway, one thing I forgot to mention--there will be water on the course and I would guess that nearly everyone would hit at least two of them within the three hour window.  The plan is for 6 waterstops, so with a little planning and effort, you could certainly hit more than 2.  But if it is a hot and muggy day and your skills and conditioning aren't so great, you may want to carry some of your own water.

It is the 5th.  I've changed the title so as to not confuse.  Also, the barbecue I mentioned IS on the 4th (which is maybe how I got confused in the first place...)  You might still be interested in that: http://www.chestercountyblues.com/