Blue Lake (Granite Peak) Meet

Blue Lake (Granit Peak) map was first inaugurated last year and we return to this wonderful world class terrain again, I am using lots of information from last year. Please RSVP with your choice of course by Wednesday, August 14. You can RSVP either in the comments below or directly to savelichko@yahoo.com.

COURSES:
Classic format traveling in sequential order. You're welcome to go at whatever pace you prefer.
1. Sport Course (stats TBD): A good choice if it's your first time orienteering 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 farther.
This venue does not lend itself to a beginner course, this not a city park venue. There are many varying ground coverings (smooth, sandy, to rocky, to boulders), in addition to steep and rocky grounds. However, we will try to put something suitable for shorter and easier course to accommodate people who just started the sport. We will publish more information closer to the meet.

There are some important things to keep in mind:

1. The elevation of the start is 2350 meters (7710 feet). That's a higher elevation with less oxygen than most other meets. A warm day at that elevation can produce a lot of fatigue.
2. The road up to the parking area rises 900 meters (2900 feet) above Long Valley. It is an engineered all-weather gravel road. The road surface is washboard in places. All-wheel vehicles are recommended.

Map and Course Notes:
The terrain is very runnable and has lots of features. It provides excellent intermediate and advanced orienteering with lots of varied features in both intermittent meadows and mountainous terrain. Notably, it has not been logged, so there is no slash on the ground. In spite of the fallen trees and fallen limbs the surface is remarkably clear.
We will create a sport course suitable for less experienced orienteerers.
More notes will be added closer to the meet.

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 highly recommended; 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:
Turn west from Highway 55 onto Cabarton Road. After approximately 2.5 miles the pavement ends at an intersection. Turn left onto the Snowbank Mountain Road and proceed up the mountain to the Blue Lake Parking Lot intersection. Turn right onto the two-track toward the small lake and go 170 meters to the start area. Keep in mind it takes around 2 hours to get to the place from Boise.

PUNCHING:
We will use SI electronic punching. Rent SI stick for nominal $2 or bring your own.

FEES:
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.

AFTER:
If you still have some energy left - highly recommended to walk down to pristine Blue Lake and may be even take a dip into its clear waters! Walk is about 1 km down but also keep in mind the walk back up the steep slope to the parking :) This is one of my family most favorite places in Idaho!

Yours,
Sergey