Stumble XXV

Regular registration for the Middle NRE and the Stumble ends midnight, October 23rd; late fees will then be assessed.
Registration for the NRE and Stumble after Thursday, November 3rd,
will only be allowed if we have maps available; please contact the Registrar.

Registration for Recreational courses closes Tuesday, November 11th at midnight EDT
(or earlier if all maps are claimed).

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Embargo	Schedule	Registration	Map & Courses	Directions
	Travel	Stumble History	Safety
	Accommodations	Jury / Event Officials	Awards & Results

Embargoed Areas

All portions of Rocky Ridge County Park are embargoed until the event begins. No one seeking to compete in the NRE shall be in the park before November 15th.

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Schedule

Saturday, November 15, 2025

• Middle NRE (advanced courses) at Rocky Ridge County Park, York County, Pennsylvania. NOTE: Registration for the NRE closes November 3rd at midnight.
  • Open to the Public
  • National Ranking Event
    • NOTE: White, Yellow and Orange courses will be Classic length.
  • Start window: 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
  • Race time limit: Two (2) hours
• Registration/Information 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the pavilion
• Non-ranked Recreational White (beginner) , Yellow (advanced beginner), and Orange (intermediate) courses will also be available.
  • Pre-registration for these Recreational courses is encouraged, and closes November 11th.

Sunday, November 16, 2025

• Susquehanna Stumble XXV and Short Stumble at Rocky Ridge County Park – The Susquehanna Stumble is a Billygoat-inspired event, with a twist or two. Competitors run between most controls in normal sequential order but occasionally enter a “window” where several controls can be visited in ANY order. There is a mass start for both the Long and Short Stumbles. NOTE: Registration for the Stumbles closes November 3rd at midnight.
  • Open to the Public
  • Start window: Mass Start at 11:00 AM for Long and Short Stumbles
  • Race time limits
    • Long (Full) Stumble: Five (5) hours
    • Short Stumble: Three (3) hours
    • Recreational courses: Three (3) hours
• Registration/Information 10 AM – 12 noon PM at the pavilion
• Recreational White (beginner) , Yellow (advanced beginner), and Orange (intermediate) courses will also be available.
  • Pre-registration is encouraged, and closes November 11th.

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Registration

We are using OUSA’s Event Register for registration. Choose the appropriate link(s) below to register.

• NRE and Stumbles only: Register here | See who’s registered
  
• Recreational courses only: Register here | See who’s registered

NRE Registration

• Juniors (under age 21): $15
• Adults: $20 regular (by October 23rd), $30 late (by November 3rd)
• OUSA or other Federation membership discount: Juniors: $2, Adults $4

Stumble Registration

• Juniors (under age 21): $15
• Adults: $20 regular (by October 23rd), $30 late (by November 3rd)

Recreational Course Registration

• $10 per individual; groups pay $2/map for extra participants for the White/Yellow/Orange courses. This fee includes standard SI card rental if needed. Pre-registration is strongly recommended and available through midnight Tuesday, November 11th. You may choose these courses on one or both days. Sunday’s Recreational courses will be different from Saturday’s.
• After Nov 11th, pre-registration will be accepted only if there are available maps.
• Only if maps are still available, day-of registration will cost $15 per entry plus $5 per additional map.

SportIdent Electronic Timing

• All courses will use SportIdent (SI) electronic timing (punching).
• In the traditional SI system, when you insert your SI stick manually into the control box, the box emits a beep and the control number and time are recorded on your stick and also in the control box as a backup. The SIAC (SI-Air) system is different in that the control box is in “beacon” mode and emits a continuous signal that is picked up and recorded by your AIR+ stick when it’s within about 2 feet of the control box. Your stick will flash and emit a series of beeps to let you know it has recorded the control. 
• All controls and the finish will be in beacon mode so that SI-Air cards may be used.
• Regular SI cards may also be used. They are available to rent at no additional charge. If you need one, please select “renting” on the first page of the registration form.
• SI-Air cards will be available at $5 per weekend. This option is listed as a special item when registering; DO NOT select “renting” on the first page if you wish to use SI-Air.

Fees

• OUSA member discount applies to members of international orienteering federations as well. Please indicate your federation if not OUSA.
• We will be sending registered map counts (plus a small percentage) to the printer on November 4th. Late registrations will be accepted if maps are available; contact the Registrar.

Registration data for NRE/Stumble weekend 2025

Fees and Deadlines	Regular Registration	Late Registration	OUSA Member Discount
MIDDLE NRE Oct 23rd Regular/Nov 3rd Late *
Adult	$20	$30	-$4
Junior	$15	$15	-$2
STUMBLE/SHORT STUMBLE Oct 23rd Regular/Nov 3rd Late *
Adult	$20	$30	none
Junior	$15	$15	none
Electronic Timing rental: > SI timing (standard) > SI Air Rental	A standard SI card may be rented if you do not own one, at no additional charge. Select YES for e-punch renting if you don’t have your own. An SI Air card may be rented at $5 for the weekend. Select NO for “renting” on the first page; this will be a later option.		none
*****	*****	*****	*****
RECREATIONAL–pre-registered (by Nov 11)	$10 per entry and $2/additional map if pre-registered. Includes rental of one SI timing card		none
RECREATIONAL–at the event	$15 per entry and $5/additional map IF MAPS ARE AVAILABLE. Includes SI timing card rental.		none
* Registrations after the late deadline may be accepted if there are available maps; contact the registrar.			none

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Map and Courses

Map

• Rocky Ridge County Park was acquired in 1968, making it the first county park in York County. It is perched on a rock-strewn hilltop with scenic views of the Susquehanna River valley northwest of Hellam, which is one of the first places where settlers established homes.
• The Park is 90% mature oak forest with plentiful scattered rock features and large boulder clusters.
• While Rocky Ridge County Park has hosted numerous orienteering events under the auspices of Susquehanna Valley Orienteering, the map used for this year’s Middle NRE and Susquehanna Stumble is a new version by mapper Vladimir Zherdev.
• The most recent version of the map, used for the 2022 Susquehanna Stumble, may be viewed on Route Gadget.

Map Scales and Contour Intervals

• Saturday Middle NRE and Recreational
  • 1:10,000 with 5m contour interval for all classes on Blue, Red, and Green
  • 1:7,500 with 5m contours for Saturday Brown, Orange, Yellow, and White including Recreational
• Sunday Stumbles and Recreational
  • 1:10,000 with 5m contours for Susquehanna Stumble (Long/Short)
  • 1:5,000 with 5m contours for Sunday Orange, Yellow, and White Recreational

Courses

• Saturday NRE – Standard OUSA Courses. Middle course time limit is two (2) hours. All competitors should return to the finish to check in within the two hour limit.
• Sunday Susquehanna Stumble – Long and Short. Competitors run between most controls in normal sequential order but occasionally enter a “window” where several controls can be visited in ANY order. There is a mass start for both the Long and Short Stumbles. Long Stumble time limit is five (5) hours; Short Stumble time limit is three (3) hours. All competitors should return to the finish to check in within the time limit. Please note that sunset is around 4:30 PM that weekend.
• Recreational White (beginner), Yellow (advanced beginner), and Orange (intermediate) courses will be available each day during the start window. Time limit is two (2) hours on Saturday, and three (3) hours on Sunday for the Recreational courses..
• Saturday Middle NRE Courses and Classes. Brown through Blue courses are advanced-level orienteering, ranging from 2-3km for Brown up to 5-6km or longer for Blue. Course length information will be added when available.

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIVE COURSE/CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
WHITE	YELLOW	ORANGE	BROWN	BROWN	GREEN	RED	BLUE
F-10	F-12	F-14	F-18	M65+	F-20	F-21+	M-21+
M-10	M-12	M-14	F55+	M60+	F35+	M-20
F-12			F60+	M75+	F40+	M35+
M-12			F65+	M80+	F45+	M40+
			F70+	M85+	F50+	M45+
			F75+	M90+	M-18
			F80+		M50+
			F85+		M55+
			F90+		M60+
NON-COMPETITIVE CLASSES
M/F White	F Yellow	F Orange	F Brown	M Brown	F Green	M Red
	M Yellow	M Orange			M Green
Age class ranges are indicated by a minus sign and/or a plus sign. A “-” before the age means “and younger”; a “+” after means “and older”. Gender classes contain M for male and F for female. Classes containing the course color are open to any age. Classes containing M/F are open to any age or gender. See Appendix A.39 (Course Split Guidelines) for information on class assignment when multiple courses of the same color are planned.

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Directions and Parking

• Rocky Ridge Park’s address is 3699 Deininger Road, York, PA. York County Parks website. The Park is located at the east end of a dead-end road off Mt. Zion Road / PA 24. You can enter these coordinates (40.008815, -76.662962) to get close to our arena location. Follow orienteering signs once you arrive at the park entrance.
• Please follow parking attendant directions (if applicable) when you arrive at the parking area.
• Registration and Information will be at the pavilions in the Hidden Laurel Picnic Area.

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Travel

Air Travel: Airports listed by proximity to the park and average drive time

• York Airport (airport code THV), 31 minutes (15 miles)
• Lancaster Airport (LNS), 37 minutes (28 miles)
• Harrisburg International (MDT), 42 minutes (31 miles)
• Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), 1 hour 25 minutes (70 miles)
• Lehigh Valley International (ABE), 1 hour 50 minutes (93 miles)
• Philadelphia International (PHL), 2 hours (110 miles)

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Safety

Climate:

• Average precipitation for the month of November is 3.1 inches.
• In mid-November, York PA experiences daily high temperatures around 50F and average daily lows around 36F.

Hazards:

• There are no known unusual hazards. However, these are Pennsylvania woods, so there is always the possibility of seeing a black bear. White-tail deer may also be present. There are also ticks, so be sure to check when you finish your courses.
• Hunting at Rocky Ridge in November is limited to bow-hunting. Participants are encouraged to wear orange or other bright colors. No hunting is permitted at Rocky Ridge on Sunday. The county’s hunting permit application details the regulations and season for hunting.

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Accommodations

The Explore York website has suggestions for hotels, motels, campgrounds, and other lodging options.

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Jury

Complaints, Protests and Jury

For the Saturday Middle NRE only, official complaints must be made in writing by completing a Complaint form which can be found at Registration. Complaints must be submitted within 15 minutes of the closing of the course.  If the participant is not satisfied with the decision regarding a complaint, they may submit a Protest by completing the Protest form found at Registration. There is no fee for a protest.  Protests must be submitted within 15 minutes of receipt of the decision on the complaint.  Protests will be addressed by the jury, with decisions announced as quickly as is reasonable after receiving the protest. The jury will be a group of three from the jury pool.

Jury Pool: (TBA)

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Event Officials

• Event Director: Bradley Hall
• Registrar: Joey McGarvey
• Course Design:
  • Middle NRE: Brennen Hall
  • Long Stumble, Short Stumble, Recreational White/Yellow/Orange: Brad Whitmore
• Lead Vetter/Controller: Ralph Tolbert
• Starts: Ian Whitehead
• Mapper: Vladimir Zherdev
• Results: Sandy Fillebrown
• Event Webpage: Janet Tryson

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Awards and Results

NRE: Awards will be presented to the top three in each Middle class on Saturday. Awards presentation time TBD.

Susquehanna Stumble: Commemorative hand towels will be presented to the first 20 finishers and first 5 female finishers of the Long Stumble, and the first 15 finishers and first 5 female finishers of the Short Stumble. If we have extras, we will go a little deeper.

History of the Susquehanna Stumble

• I – 5/9/98 – Pine Grove Furnace State Park
• II – 3/27/99 – Elk Neck State Park
• III – 5/13/00 – French Creek State Park
• IV – 5/5/01 – Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
• V – 3/30/02 – Great Falls
• VI – 9/29/03 – Kings Gap
• VII – 11/20/04 – Elk Neck
• VIII – 11/20/05 – Hammonds Rocks & Pine Grove Furnace
• IX – 10/1/06 – Fair Hill Big Elk Chapel
• X – 10/7/07 – Little Bennett
• XI – 11/1/08 – Kings Gap
• 2009 – no event
• XII – 4/18/10 – McKeldin
• XIII – 11/6/11 – Elk Neck
• XIV – 11/11/12 – Hammonds Rocks & Pine Grove Furnace
• XV – 10/6/13 – Oregon Ridge
• XVI – 9/21/14 – Adams Creek
• XVII – 11/29/15 – Rocky Ridge County Park
• XVIII – 11/13/16 – Prince William Forest
• XIX – 10/8/17 – Fair Hill Strawbridge Fields
• XX – 10/28/18 – Pine Grove Furnace
• XXI – 11/17/19 – Patuxent River Park
• 2020 – no event
• XXII – 10/3/21 – Hickory Run State Park
• XXIII – 11/6/22 – Rocky Ridge County Park
• 2023 – no event
• XXIV – 4/28/24 – Lake Needwood
• XXV – 11/16/25 – Rocky Ridge