Delaware Valley Orienteering Association

Topic created by ErikEddy on Mon Jul 25, 2011 at 9:43 pm

ErikEddy
Num Posts: 410
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Mount Penn Antietam
First O: 1998

Hi,

I am trying to find an advanced permanent orienteering course (or intermediate).  I may be wrong, but I thought there was a course at French Creek West (not the lake course).  I know Hickory Run has a course, and I have orienteered the one at Kings Gap fairly recently. 

1.) Is there still a course at French Creek West (if there ever was one...)?
2.) Are the Hickory Run posts all intact?
3.) Are there any other advanced courses in the area (w/i 2 hours of Reading)?

Thanks,
Erik

Reply by edscott on Mon Jul 25, 2011 at 10:30 pm

edscott
Num Posts: 703
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Hickory Run 1:15000
First O: 1983

French Creek has never had an advanced course.  The Hickory run course was checked and repaired where necessary last fall.  It is most likely still fine.

Reply by WindWalker on Mon Jul 25, 2011 at 10:53 pm

WindWalker
Num Posts: 164
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map:
First O: 2011

I'll suggest something that I enjoyed... there are charcoal flats all over the place at FC, I mean everywhere, I got a FCE map and went for a walkabout picking out charcoal flats as my next control point. Some far, some close. Some of them can blend in pretty good and some are real obvious, but it was cool navigating from flat to flat. Sometimes I would just navigate to distinct features, or a specific rock. I guess what I'm saying is you can enjoy this sport close to home without a perminant course, all you need is a map and compass. Isn't Orienteering cool! And FC is soooo big I doubt you could ever see it all, unless your Ed ;-).

Mike

Reply by edscott on Tue Jul 26, 2011 at 4:33 pm

edscott
Num Posts: 703
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Hickory Run 1:15000
First O: 1983

Also.. if you need a copy of the Hickory Run Permanent map I have a couple.

Reply by rgbortz on Wed Jul 27, 2011 at 2:02 pm

rgbortz
Num Posts: 203
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Stuckey Pond
First O: 1986

To take this thread another step Mike.............for a couple years now I have been toying with the idea of setting up a quasi permanent course a FC. It wouldn't be a specific course as much as it would be a "design your own" setup, not dissimilar to what you have just described. What I would like to do is plant 4x4s  perhaps one foot above ground level with an orange/white metal O marker on the top of the post so as not to be obvious to the casual woods hiker or hunters. Fifty or more markers could be put out and maps made or printable off the website for people to design their own course then go out and see if they challenged themselves enough.
If permission were to be granted by the Park are you up to help set this up?
How many of you reading this find this to be a good idea?
What are the obstacles to accomplishing this?

Reply by rgbortz on Wed Jul 27, 2011 at 2:03 pm

rgbortz
Num Posts: 203
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Stuckey Pond
First O: 1986

One more thought.    How about an Eagle Scout project?

Reply by Steve on Thu Jul 28, 2011 at 8:43 pm

Steve
Num Posts: 402
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Paradise Farm
First O: 1993

The last thing I heard is that the club does not want to give away our copyrightred maps. Other than that, I like the idea.

Reply by edscott on Thu Jul 28, 2011 at 11:01 pm

edscott
Num Posts: 703
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Hickory Run 1:15000
First O: 1983

Yes, our current position is that we don't give away the maps, but anyone can do a screen shot from Route Gadget, so we already are giving out lower quality data that is good enough to use, or to transfer to an offset printed map from a previous event.  I think we're OK with getting some kind of map out there for people to use.

Reply by ErikEddy on Wed Aug 3, 2011 at 6:37 pm

ErikEddy
Num Posts: 410
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Mount Penn Antietam
First O: 1998

Thanks for the replies!  Thanks Ed-I contacted HR and they sent me a couple of maps.

I like the idea of having some sort of an advanced course available.  It would be nice to have somewhere to practice and be sure you are in the correct spot (especially after you haven't o'd for 4 years).  I see there is a new "Route Gadget"... is it possible/easy to post permanent courses on the website so those who have old maps can draw the course (when park is closed)?  For instance I know the Daniel Boone course is not even marked on the maps that they sell (if they still do).

I would be willing to help on installing an advanced course at FC (my eagle scout project was a PC); although I won't be around again until next summer.

----

One last question/comment- I was disappointed when I visited Ridley Creek State Park and found out that the permanent course I installed in ~2004 is getting little (if any) use.  I installed it because I remember the park being considerably interested in having one.  Thankfully, all of the posts are still intact (some hidden under brush).  Does anyone know how to promote interest in my course? Does anyone know if the course is getting any use? I would hate to see it go to waste. 

My plan is to contact the park about displaying a map, getting the brochures out of the archives (took 20 minutes to find the brochures), and possibly contacting local Boy Scout troops before a big event like MASOC/NJSOC.  I wanted to see if anyone had advice before/while I contact the park..

Thanks!

Erik