About us
This is a group for people of all ages and abilities who want to use a map and compass to explore new areas and for people who want to compete in true cross country events. Orienteering is a map and compass sport that can be approached as a casual activity or as serious competition. The City of Trees Orienteering Club (CTOC) conducts a meet almost every month of the year in venues as familiar as city parks and as rugged as the Sawtooths. We offer instruction and easy events for novices and opportunities for international competition for advanced orienteers.
More information, links to training videos, and reports from previous meets are available at http://ctoc-boise.blogspot.com/ .
Upcoming events
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Oreana Hills Orienteering Meet
Oreana, Stephanie Teeters' place, ID, USKirsten and I visited this area last November. We found runnable complex terrain set in southwestern Idaho desert scrubland. Low vegetation dominates the landscape on this entirely new map.
This is a Classic course format traveling in sequential order. You're welcome to go at whatever pace you prefer.We will have 3 courses:
Course descriptions are crude estimates until design is complete.
1. Sport Course (2.7 km, 80 m elevation, 10 controls): A good choice if you'd like to develop your navigation skills and move up from the beginner level.
2. Intermediate (4.45 km, 105 m elevation, 13 controls): An opportunity to apply compass-bearing and contour-reading in rugged terrain.
3. Advanced (7.4 km, 220 m elevation, 15 controls): Same terrain and technical ability as intermediate with a lot more endurance required and enough distance to satisfy that need to run.Keep in mind that these distances are based on straight path distances, not the distance of your travel, that will be farther.
LOGISTICS
When: Saturday, April 25
Starts from 10:00AM to 12:00AM. Course closes at 2:00PM. (that means please be back at the start by this time.)
Meet Location:
Thirteen miles southeast of Murphy and then 3.5 miles south on the Oreana Loop Road through Oreana curving east to Mit's Road where you turn south to the start. This is approximately 1.5 hours drive from Boise - but it is worth the time.
There's not a lot of cheat grass but wearing gators is never a bad idea Ground may be soft but also can be rocky in stretches. Of course, remember your compass, or bring $1 to borrow one for the day. You definitely will need one to take bearings in this open terrain!During our visit we found adequate parking at the site.
The Google Map pin shows the location of the start and finish. I have no idea who Stepanie Teeter is other than an artifact of the Google map.
Please RSVP by 8am Thursday, April 23 with name & course choice and cell phone number. I need your phone number in order to contact you if there is a condition that requires cancellation of the event. You can RSVP either in the comments below or directly to murrayjohna1@gmail.com. Limited number of extra maps may be available but don't count on it if you didn't RSVP.I believe there is cell phone coverage, but this area is remote, so do not count on it.
Map Notes:
The vegetation is simple: scattered sagebrush, rabbit brush, and other species. Cheat grass, almost always quite sparse, covers large parts of the area. It was never a problem with gaiters and awn resistant shoes. There are some steep slopes. Flat sedimentary rocks predominate and present only a moderate risk of sprains and falling. A moderate risk is still a risk. Safety requires extra attention to foot placement in many locations. Recommended to tape ankles or wear ankle braces to prevent potential sprains. It also will provide you with more confidence and additional protection from grass and scrub.
Erosion gullies are the predominant feature for control placement and navigation. If you find a boulder, let me know. Most of the cliffs on the map are earth banks instead of rock.Liability Waivers:
Non-members please bring printed and signed liability waivers (available for download at ctoc-boise.org/pub/ctoc_ind_waiver.pdf ) from home. We will have blanks if you forget. If you are bringing a minor who is NOT your own child, you MUST bring a waiver signed by their parent or guardian.Sturdy shoes are a must; we also recommend gaiters to protect your legs and feet from cheat grass. Some slopes are steep and unstable. It's not a city park, so safe travel requires attention to your footing on hillsides. A compass is essential for setting and following bearings.
COST:
Single meet (day) dues: $10 per person/team, free for members
Single Junior (up to 20 years old): $5 per person/team, free for members
If more than one map is needed for a team, a small additional fee may be needed per the discretion of the meet director depending on printing costs.CTOC annual membership make all our meets free:
Join and use Monthly Pro-Rata for membership fees.
Membership form and instructions found here.John Murray
Meet Director14 attendees
Annual Rabbit Creek Meet and Potluck Social
Rabbit Creek Ranch, Murphy, ID, USSpring has sprung and we are headed to the hills! It is a beautiful time in the Owyhees and the weather has started to warm up. come join us Sunday, May 17th for an orienteering event and social.
Venue:
2026 marks the 23st year the CTOC will compete at Bill Pilcher's Rabbit Creek Ranch, a scenic, fun and challenging event. Thank you, Bill, for making your property available for this remarkable string of orienteering meets. The views during the meet are expected to be spectacular this year! May is a great time for orienteering in the Owyhee Mountains. It may stormy in the afternoon, but hopefully we will start early enough to save that time for socializing before the weather blows in. Rabbit Creek offers very scenic views: wide open and full of unique rock formations in rugged western ranchland.Courses
Let me know your choice down in the comments by May 14th.
Sport: TBD
Intermediate: TBD
Advanced: TBDWe will be having a potluck social after the meet. Please bring food to share!
To try to get everyone back to the ranch for the potluck, please think about how long you will need on the course you chose so that you can join everyone around 12:30 for a potluck.
The meet location is about an hour and a half from Boise, so plan accordingly as well.
Meet Location:
- After crossing the Snake River on Hwy 45 at Walter's Ferry, continue south on Hwy 78 towards Murphy.
- Immediately after passing the Murphy city limits sign turn Right on Old Hwy 45. Follow this for one block then continue straight and it becomes Rabbit Creek Road.
- Follow Rabbit Creek Road for about 5.5 miles to J & S Road (there is a lone mailbox).
- Turn Left on J & S Road and follow this road approximately 1.5 miles to the Ranch House
Liability Waivers:
Non-members please bring printed and signed liability waivers (available for download at ctoc-boise.org/pub/ctoc_ind_waiver.pdf ) from home. We will have blanks if you forget. If you are bringing a minor who is NOT your own child, you MUST bring a waiver signed by their parent or guardian.Cautions and gear recommendations
This time of year the weather can be unpredictable. We have had wind, and been spared by the rain, while warm isn;t out of the question, so make sure to watch the weather.
Local animals include raptors and occasional sightings of wild horses. One special note of caution: in past years there have been occasional sightings of rattlesnakes. No one has been bitten, but we don't want to have a first time.
Sturdy shoes are a must; we also recommend gaiters to best navigate through the terrain. Some slopes are steep and unstable. It's not a city park, so safe travel requires attention to your footing on hillsides. A compass is useful for setting and following bearings.
Cost:
Single meet (day) dues or CTOC annual membership is required. Check out the linke below for more info.
Membership form and instructions found here1 attendee
Military Reserve Extravaganza
Mountain Cove Parking and Trailhead, 1725 Mountain Cove Road, Boise, ID, USThis is our traditional monthly meet with a Classic course format traveling in sequential order. We continue exploring beautiful Boise foothills with our new additions. We will try to design something fun so you come back with smiles and happy! You're welcome to go at whatever pace you prefer.
4 regular courses:
1. Beginner Course (stats TBD): Suitable for first comers or those who just started the sport. Predominantly on trails, roads, or along easy to recognize linear features.
2. Sport Course (stats TBD): A good choice for more experienced orienteerers or you'd like to develop your navigation skills.
3. Intermediate (stats TBD): An opportunity to apply compass-bearing and complex route choice selection skills.
4. Advanced (stats TBD): Same terrain and technical ability as intermediate with a lot more endurance required and enough distance to satisfy that need to run.
Courses are being designed for about 1 hour outing. About 20-25 minutes for beginner course. Keep in mind that these distances are based on straight path distances, not the distance of your travel, that will be longer. Dress according to the weather for outdoor times! It may be hot in June!LOGISTICS
When: Saturday, June 27
Starts from 10:00 am to 12:00 am. Courses close at 2:00 pm (that means please be back at the start by this time).Meet Location:
Last parking on the Mountain Cove road where it forks toward the archery range, about one and half miles past the Fort Boise. See where Google map pin is placed.
We will place directional signs where appropriate.
Please RSVP by Wednesday evening June 24 with name & course choice. You can RSVP either in the comments below or directly to savelichko@yahoo.com.Map and Course Notes:
These are Military Reserve hills with plenty of trails to explore and couple streams to cross You will test all your course planning and map reading skills. More advanced courses will cross the Mountain Cove road so watch the traffic. Traffic is not expected to be dense but please look left and right before crossing. Advanced courses will go via rugged terrain so orienteering shoes are recommended together with full leg cover. Beginner course is all on trails and roads.PUNCHING:
We will use SI electronic punching. Rent a SI stick for nominal $4 or bring your own.Liability Waivers:
Non-members please bring printed and signed liability waivers (available for download at ctoc-boise.org/pub/ctoc_ind_waiver.pdf ) from home. We will have blanks if you forget. If you are bringing a minor who is NOT your own child, you MUST bring a waiver signed by their parent or guardian.COST:
Single meet (day) dues:
$12 per person/team, free for members
Single Junior (up to 20 years old): $6 per person/team, free for members
If more than one map is needed for a team, a small additional fee may be needed per the discretion of the meet director depending on printing costs.CTOC annual membership (all meets are free):
Join with Monthly Pro-Rated for membership fees:
Membership form and instructions may be found at this link.Cheers,
Sergey2 attendees
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