Rootstock Festival revisited (NJ)
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Topic created by BRycharski on Tue Dec 4, 2012 at 9:18 amSteve posted his thoughs on the previous e-board thread on "Rootstocks"
Steve -e Blogged ..."Where does this logic stop? Yes, it is true that rootstocks age, but so do dot knolls. If we stop mapping those two items, how about trails, which have been kown to appear over night, and disappear in a single spring? It seems to me we had an event a few years back at Fort Washington with a flag on the corner of an invisible building (The park had torn down a restroom), and at Fatlands an entire housing development appearred. (Star Village has the same issue right now)
If we were to stop mapping items that change over time, we will be running on black and white topo's in no time. Although some of our more experienced purists may like that idea, recruiting new blood would become impossible. My two cents is to keep the rootstocks. " End of Steve's pasted post.... And I agree with Steve (I added the bold highlite re reason), and plan to add a few major rootstocks to the Quail Hill O map as time permits ... Bob R
Now I additionally Blog,
I have found an expanded variation of this recent "Rootstock" topic upon inspection of DVOA Impacted O maps in New Jersey recently.
I was in Rutgers Preserve doing a 'training' lesson with Jay, and while we had been warned about new rootstocks, we found they tended to destroy the old course we had a map of. We were training on the 2009 Yellow Rutgers course, and point one; OK, Find the large rootstock on the orange circle trail. Well, its now one of these 5 new rootstocks, they had crashed on the original rootstock (Clue change, Bottom most rootstock of 5 on trail
). Is that like a double Dip ice Bark flavored cream cone?
Ok, on to control/clue two; the rootstock about 50 meters to the SW. Same problem, there are now 4 new rootstocks in that area. OK, Well, the next one is a dot knoll - by the main gravel path, obviously nothing to do with the fallen branches/logs. Except we could not find the dot knoll after diligent searching, too many branches covered it up completely. So some remapping clean up will be a must: But please do not despair, Rutgers FREP (Friends of Rutgers Preserve) volunteers lead by Dean Rick ... are to over the next 7 months going to remove all trailside trees and branches with chain saws and make souvenir Letter "R"s out of them (1 foot diameter) to sell at Rutgers football Big 10 Conf games
- and otherwise clear the woods for local dogwalkers and DVOA members alike.
To end on a high note, the very next two controls were easily found, and no rootstocks near them at all, so this Sandy windfall is very localized at Rutgers Preserve. In Fact, we found later a trio of Graduate students digging in a few larger Depressions for the local singing "RU Frogs" NE edge of the semi-open field, so look to see that area (already mapped except add one more new pit) and bring some fly larva in late Sept 2013 to feed the late summer froggies and salamanders maybe when I have tentatively scheduled a O-revisit to this wonderful NJ park. More comments anyone? See you in the woods .... PS: Wanted, Course setter (CS)volunteers for Sept Rutgers O event... It will be fun.
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Reply by kathyu on Wed Dec 5, 2012 at 2:16 pmBob, I always enjoy your posts with their multiplicity of puns and jokes, even when not totally coherent. You are our James Joyce. And while I think of it, we should have a Bloomsday urban orienteering event in Philadelphia. Has DVOA ever put on a city event? Would it be impossible in Philadelphia?
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Reply by rpboehme on Wed Dec 5, 2012 at 7:38 pmIf you want perspective on an urban event, check out Randy's old Olog:
http://www.mapsurfer.com/articles/ca05.html
He took part of a Rogaine in San Fran...
So, it is doable.... -
Reply by BRycharski on Wed Dec 5, 2012 at 11:10 pmHi Kathy, an Unknown "comic" I am not. Just really wanted to continue the "rootstock" thread & discussion. Like, What have other Event Directors and Course Setters (2013 ED and CS since 2012 is about done) have seen in the NJ and PA woods (or other DVOAers doing O training on there own...)? I was specially wondering if Rutgers, Quail Hill and the HVO SIlas Condict O meets and maps are "unusual" for the new strom caused rootstocks and branch damage .... or is this tree wrecking - Sandy the storm/person quilty of vast east coast-wide park damage? Specifically has anyone trained recently in Holmdel park (HVO map), Jockey Hollow or even Washington crossing state park (DVOA map) or any dozen of any parks in NJ or Penn/DVOA areas? How have DVOA maps (& park trails) been impacted?
Lets just say after wjhat I saw in both Rutgers preserve park and Quail Hill camp properties, I wish I owned a chainsaw right about now to help them clean up the log wood- rootstock-dropped branch mess.
