Granite Peak replaces Hazard Meadows

Please RSVP with your choice of map and phone number by Wednesday evening, August 20. I need your phone number in case there is a last-minute change of plans, for example a road closure or fire. You can RSVP either in the comments below or directly to MurrayJohnA1@gmail.com .

Last winter I proposed Hazard Meadows as a new map. I spent July 3 visiting the terrain and concluded that I could not design courses without exposing participants to excessive deadfall. Consequently, I am changing the venue to our expanded and revised 2023 Granite Peak Map.

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. As of this writing (July 12) the road has not recently been graded. The road surface is washboard.
3. Unlike most of our meets the Granite Peak Advanced and Intermediate Maps take participants down below the start. The Intermediate Course goes down 60 meters and the Advanced Course bottoms out after a 90-meter descent. You must climb out of the lower meadows in order to finish. Any injuries will need to be hauled up that hill, so be extra careful.

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.

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 a 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. We have $1 rentals available.

LOGISTICS
When:
Starts from 10:00AM to 12:00AM. Course closes at 2:00PM.
Meet Location:
Meet Start/Finish
Turn west from Highway 55 onto Cabarton Road (about 7 miles south of Cascade). After approximately 1.9 miles the pavement ends at an intersection. Turn left onto the Snowbank Mountain Road (USFS road 446) 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.
ORIENTEERING-SPECIFIC
Punching at Control:
Punching will be manual. No e-punch.
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.
Sport (1.8km 83m elevation gain, 7 controls)
A good choice if it's your first time orienteering or you'd like to develop your navigation skills.
Intermediate (3.65km, 182m elevation gain, 11 controls)
An opportunity to apply compass-bearing and contour-reading in rugged terrain.
Advanced (5.65km, 280m elevation gain, 18 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
August $19 $27
Membership form and instructions found here.

John Murray
Director