Gold Rush South-West

## 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 (1.8 km, 5 controls, 70 m climb): Suitable for first comers or those who just started the sport. Predominantly on trails, roads, or along easy to recognize linear features. Kids MUST be accompanied by a grown-up. This is wilderness!
2. Sport Course (4.3 km, 13 controls, 150 m climb): A good choice for more experienced orienteerers or if you'd like to develop your navigation skills. Use trails, roads, and linear features but also have choices to go straight.
2. Intermediate (4 km, 16 controls, 200 m climb): An opportunity to apply compass-bearing and contour-reading in rugged terrain.
3. Advanced (5.8 km, 22 controls, 250 m climb): 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. Please plan for early starts to avoid the heat as it will be sunny on the day of the meet.

Meet Location:
Newly mapped Gold Rush area right South of Idaho City along HW21 (snippet 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 some cell phone coverage in the area.

Map and Course Notes:
This is really a world class terrain! Area is very technical pine woods dissected by 50-60 m high ridges and valleys in between, 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 and rock fields dot the area. Boulders usually 0.5 m to 1 m height, there are few really large boulder mapped 2 m or higher. Whole area is about 150 m height mountain side with sandy grounds, open and semi-open pine woods, in places with significant undergrowth. Lots of trenches used to deliver water for gold hydro-mining. We mapped just few of these trenches and their intersections with trails and roads. We will map these in future more thoroughly. 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. All roads, trails and dot features on the map (boulders, knolls, large trees, rootstocks/stomps) were mapped with GPS tracing so fairly precise. For a large tree to get on the map it should have trunk more than 1 m in diameter (more than 2 men to hug around!), usually these are large Ponderosa pines with trunks of reddish color. Of course, not all large trees, boulders and such were mapped as we did only sporadic fieldchecking. However, you may rely on those that already on the map.
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. You will encounter lots of shrubbery and undergrowth in places, especially in the beginning and end of advanced and intermediate courses, green shades of color are the key. You also will enjoy wide open white woods in places. Contours where derived from lidar data so accurate. They are 5 m apart so small details, especially in gold hydro mined areas are not captured, rely on larger features while navigating. We added 2.5 m form lines in these most intense areas to help. Road and trail network was captured almost completely but rear distinction between wide and narrow bike rides. Old bike rides in different stages of reforestation were captured as small trails. Often these have holes and small depressions along that forest service put to discourage the use. These holes and depressions slow down significantly but these "disappearing" trails are good for navigation.
Beginner course is all on trails or along easy to navigate linear features. Sturdy orienteering shoes are recommended for advanced courses. Shoes with cleats would be big plus on sandy grounds. Maximum use of trails and forest roads is encouraged. A compass is essential for setting and following bearings. We will place one water control on all advanced courses, approximately in the middle of courses (noted in the clue sheets as a glass symbol). If it is hot day you may bring some additional water. Also some energy gels and snacks if you plan to be more than one hour on course.
These are "slow" woods due to technical nature, undergrowth, and sandy grounds, however, we hope you will enjoy the area as we did in preparation to the meet!

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. Please indicate this while RSVP.

CTOC annual membership (all meets are FREE):
Join with Monthly Pro-Rata for membership fees:
Membership form and instructions found here.

Cheers,
Sergey