Liberty Labyrinth Scramblers

Strap on your toughest shoes for the Wissahickon Schist-Shifter, a technical orienteering challenge set in the rugged heart of Fairmount Park. This event takes place in the deep gorge carved by the Wissahickon Creek, featuring sharp elevation changes and treacherous footing over slick mica-schist rock. This is "old school" orienteering where the heavy Philly canopy and steep ridges make every turn a critical decision.
Event Highlights:
Location: Valley Green Inn Trailhead.
Time: Sunday, 10:00 AM.
Terrain: Rocky single-track, historical stone bridges, and steep, leaf-covered spurs.
The Challenge:
Participants must navigate a series of 18 controls hidden along the "Forbidden Drive" corridor. Success here depends on "contouring"—the ability to maintain your elevation along the steep hillside to avoid the punishing climb back up from the creek. To estimate your vertical effort (V) over the course of the day, remember the total change in potential energy is proportional to:
ΔE=mgΔh
(Where m is your mass, g is gravity, and h is your change in height).