What we’re about
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 (4+)
See all- Whoop'um Up rescheduled from last year for June 21, 2025Whoop'um Up, Idaho City, ID
Last year when I re-scheduled the meet for September 15 from a few weeks earlier I was confident that the air quality would be much improved, and a forecast would be reasonably reliable. The air quality only became worse. This meet will happen before fire season in 2025.
I spent two days in early July 2024 expanding the map and vetting the course design, so the advanced and intermediate courses will extend into previously unused terrain.
CAMPING:
If you want to camp, check camping availability at the nearby Edna Creek Campground. There are other USFS campgrounds in the area including the Whoop Um Up Equestrian Campground adjacent to our start location. I plan to camp at the start where there should be plenty of space for other campers.
WHEN
Starts from 10AM to 12AM. Course closes at noon.
LIABILITY WAIVERS
Non-members bring printed and signed liability waivers from home and drop them in the waiver box. We will have blanks if you forget, but we much prefer no exchanges.
CAUTIONS:
There are steep slopes and unstable footing in several areas. There is a danger of significant injuries from falls. This area has been logged leaving slash and debris to trip on. And, extreme temperatures present multiple hazards from fatigue to heat stroke. All courses cross small creeks where tall grass and other vegetation elevate the risk of sprained ankles and other injuries from falls while negotiating the banks.
WATER
Bring your own water. If it's a warm day, you might really need it. You should probably have it anywayCost:
Single meet (day) dues: $10 per person/team, free for members
Junior (up to 20 years old): $5 per person/team, free for members
If more than one map is needed for a team, it is $1 per map.
$1 compass rental.
Pro-rated for June annual membership: Family $38; Individual $26.
participate in all local meets for FREE! See membership info at: http://ctocboise.blogspot.comMAPS and COURSES:
Don't count on a map unless you have RSVPed with your choice of course and number of maps. Notify me by Wednesday evening, June 18. I will print maps on Thursday and be out setting controls on Friday.Format: Classic:
Distances and elevation gains are estimates. The elevation gains/losses are large for courses of similar lengths. Use caution selecting a map to avoid dangerous exhaustion.
Advanced: 4.8 Km; 16 controls; 241 m elevation gain/loss
Intermediate: 3.3 Km; 10 controls; 153 m elevation gain/loss
Sport: 1.6 Km; 7 controls
NO BEGINNER course.
Bring:
Compass!
Waiver, prepared in advance if you are not a CTOC member.
Sufficient water for yourself.
Sunscreen and/or hat.
Gaitors might be useful.
Shoes for mountainous terrain. If your ankles are sensitive please prepare accordingly.
Cell phone? I have not been able to get coverage, so be prepared with a whistle and other fallback options.
John Murray - Hazard MeadowsHazard Lake, McCall, ID
Hazard Meadows is a new map situated to the northwest of the Hazard Lake Campground. There are some important things to keep in mind.
Hazard Meadows is a long drive from Boise. It is north of the Brundage Ski Area and north of Goose Lake. You might want to camp in the area or stay in McCall.As I write this meet announcement in December the meet is proposed on the basis of a promising map derived from 2017 LiDAR and recent Google Earth images. So, at this time it is a prospect that I will need to validate by spending some time exploring the terrain after the snow melts from the road.
In my judgement it will provide excellent intermediate and advanced orienteering with lots of varied features in both intermittent meadows and mountainous terrain. Much of the area is runnable, but there are sizeable parts dominated by fallen trees that advanced orienteers will need to avoid or negotiate. The terrain is otherwise suitable for intermediate and sport courses. No beginner course will be offered.
Cliffs are the predominant feature for control placement and navigation. There are many boulders and a few notable root stocks.
Please RSVP by Wednesday evening, August 20 with name, course choice, and phone number to ensure you will have a map. You can RSVP either in the comments below or directly to MurrayJohnA1@gmail.com .
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 brush. 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.
LOGISTICS
When:
Starts from 10:00AM to 12:00AM. Course closes at 2:00PM.
Meet Location:
Meet Start/Finish
Drive north from Goose Lake about 13 miles on US Forest Service Road 50257 to the start about one mile north of the Hazard Lake Campground. Travel beyond Brundage Ski Area is on a graded gravel road that can have a washboard surface if not recently graded.
The Google Map pin below shows the location of the start and finish.
ORIENTEERING-SPECIFIC
Punching at Control:
This meet won't have e-punching.
Courses:
Classic format traveling in sequential order. You're welcome to go at whatever pace you prefer :)
The terrain does not support a Beginner Course.
Until the map and courses are finalized the course description are approximate.
Sport (2.83, 74m elevation gain, 8 controls)
A good choice if it's your first time orienteering or you'd like to develop your navigation skills.
Intermediate (4.03km, 100m elevation gain, 12 controls)
An opportunity to apply compass-bearing and contour-reading in rugged terrain.
Advanced (5.5km, 190m elevation gain, 17 controls)
Same terrain and technical ability as intermediate with a lot more endurance required and enough distance to satisfy that need to run.
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:
Regular $45 (pays for all local meets).
Family $65 (pays for all local meets).
Join in August for Monthly Pro-Rata for membership fees:
Month Regular Family
October $19 $27
Membership form and instructions found here.
John Murray
Director - Gold Rush South-WestSteamboat Gulch Idaho City, idaho city, ID
## Details
This is a Classic course format traveling in sequential order on brand new map South of Idaho City. 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.
2. Intermediate (stats tbd): An opportunity to apply compass-bearing and contour-reading in rugged terrain.
3. 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.
Keep in mind that these distances are based on straight path distances, not the distance of your travel, that will be longer.LOGISTICS
When: Saturday, September 27
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:
Newly mapped Gold Rush South areas right South of Idaho City along HW21 (snipped of the basemap is above). Keep in mind that it takes about 1-hour drive from Boise to get to the location. Take HW21 to Idaho City, continue on HW21 East past Idaho City for about 1 mile, take right onto forest road NF-203 for ~400 m, take right on first Y split onto, drive ~800 m to the meet center at the large open space near Steamboat sledding and tubing hill.
We will place directional signs where appropriate.The Google Map pin shows approximate location of the meet center.
Please RSVP by Wednesday evening September 24 with name & course choice. You can RSVP either in the comments below or directly to savelichko@yahoo.com.
There is no cell phone coverage in the area.Map and Course Notes:
This is really a world class terrain! Area is very technical pine woods, gold hydro mined areas with lots of small and large re-entrants, spurs, gullies, and other micro- and macro- relief forms. Keep in mind that map is basically a good basemap with little fieldchecking done. Occasional boulders dot the area. These boulders usually 0.5 m to 1 m height. In general, it is about 100 m height mountain side with sandy grounds, open and semi-open pine woods. Significant climb is expected. In some places it may be very steep so watch where you may go safely up or down. Developed net of trails and few major forest roads.
Forest density (green shades) and open spaces (yellow) were derived based on lidar data and are pretty accurate. Dark green is really fight, lighter green allows walk or light jog. Contours are 5 m apart so small details, especially in gold hydro mined areas are not captured, rely on larger features while navigating. Road and trail network was captured almost completely but rear distinction between wide and narrow bike rides. Beginner course is all on trails or along easy to navigate linear features. Sturdy shoes are recommended for advanced courses. Shoes with cleats would be big plus on sandy grounds. A compass is essential for setting and following bearings.PUNCHING:
We will use SI electronic punching. Rent a SI stick for nominal $2 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: $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 (all meets are FREE):
Join with Monthly Pro-Rata for membership fees:
Membership form and instructions found here.Cheers,
Sergey
