Distances listed are approximate and subject to change.
Course | White | Yellow | Orange | Age Classes | ISPF
ISPM
M/F white | ISIF
ISIM
F-Yellow
M-Yellow | ISJVF
ISJVM
F-Orange
M-Orange | Course | White | Yellow | Orange | Day 1, km (climb, m) | 2.7 (55) | 3.1 (75) | 3.7 (70) | Day 1: win time, min | 25-35 | 25-35 | 25-35 | # controls | 10 | 11 | 15 | Day 2, km (climb, m) | 2.7 (65) | 4.1 (135) | 5.7 (170) | Day 2: win time, min | 20-30 | 30-45 | 40-55 | # controls | 10 | 14 | 14 |
Course | Brown | Varsity Female | Green | Varsity Male | Red | Blue | Age Classes | F55+
F60+
F65+
F70+
F75+
F80+
F85+
F90+
F-Brown
M-65+
M70+
M75+
M80+
M85+
M90+
M-Brown | ICVF
ISVF | F35+
F40+
F45+
F50+
M50+
M55+
M60+
F-Green
M-Green | ICVM ISVM | F21
M35+
M40+
M45+
M-Red | M21 | Course | Brown | Varsity Female | Green | Varsity Male | Red | Blue | Day 1, km (climb, m) | 3.8 (80) | 4.3 (80) | 4.6 (80) | 4.6 (80) | 4.8 (75) | 5.4 (80) | Day 1: win time, min | 30-40 | 30-40 | 30-40 | 30-40 | 30-40 | 30-40 | # controls | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | Day 2, km (climb, m) | 5.5
(170) | 6.1
(175) | 7.4
(240) | 9.5
(325) | 11.1
(335) | 14.2
(435) | Day 2: win time, min | 45-55 | 50-65 | 50-65 | 70-90 | 70-90 | 80-100 | # controls | 13 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 24 |
There will be only one White, Yellow, Orange, Brown and Blue
course each day. Classes running Green and Red courses will be split into regular
age group and Varsity courses.
We reserve the right to modify these class/course splits based on registration
numbers to balance the number of participants.
Map Scales: Day 1: Maps will be 1:10,000 except for white, yellow, and orange
at 1:7,500.
Relay maps will be 1:7,500.
Day 2: Maps will be 1:10,000 except for white, at 1:7,500.
General Terrain Description Mixed pine and hardwood forest with several large grassy fields; generally open and runnable, but with some variability due to patches of vegetation and deadfall affecting visibility, some saplings of variable density and scattered areas of greenbrier and brambles.
The area is typical Mid-Atlantic rolling spur and reentrant terrain with ridges ranging in height from 25 to 30 meters. There are areas of complex ditch and gully networks interspersed with broad spurs and hilltops.
This area has an extensive trail network, however few of those are in the NE portion of the map. There are some small boulders and rocky areas, but generally few rock features.
The map is bisected by Beaver Dam Run, which is, under normal conditions, wide but crossable nearly everywhere. Several footbridges allow the stream to be crossed without getting wet feet.
Mapper Notes The main feature of Beaver Dam Run remains intact – white, very fast, woods. The past year has seen record wetness (two 10” sieges of rain and a 3” bout in March among others). The result has been saturated soil, much increased flow of streams and sharper stream edges. The terrain, at this writing, is significantly wetter than mapped. Although Beaver Dam Run is mapped as crossable for almost all of its length (normal), its actual crossability will need to be assessed immediately prior to the event.
Although Beaverdam Run is mapped as crossable for almost all of its length, reflecting normal conditions, its actual crossability will need to be assessed during the event. If necessary due to high water levels, it will be announced and posted both in the arena and at the start what the actual conditions are and whether crossing Beaverdam Run other than using a bridge is not recommended or even prohibited. The courses were designed with the intent that no significant advantage would be gained by crossing other than via a bridge.
A secondary result of saturated soil is increased deadfall – particularly so nearer the north edge of the map. We have attempted to stay ahead of that trend with our revisions. Deadfall is mapped as vertical green on the thesis that it is generally low and the terrain beyond remains visible. Deadfall is the dominant green on the map. In many areas it can’t be crashed through, and is the one navigationally important feature that can stop you. Seemingly available routes through other features can be plugged up by deadfall. Fairness demands that competitors be able to anticipate this situation. Therefore, we have attempted to put the navigationally important deadfall on the map.
Day 1, Beaver Dam Run – Middle Distance and Relay, Marine Corps Base QuanticoDetailed Map & Course Notes The Middle distance event mainly uses the NE section of the Beaver Dam Run map. This is area is marking by rolling wooded terrain and a number of small streams that run throughout. This section of the map sees some of the thicker vegetation and more frequent deadfall than the rest of the map as discussed in the mapper’s notes.
There are several features unique to this area as an active military training area: Metal posts painted red and white (and other colors) are used as land navigation markers – they are indicated by a black X on the map. Always be on the lookout for random unmapped sections of barbed wire anywhere in the terrain. Important: While Middle course participants are not expected to encounter off limits areas, several large out-of-bounds areas are designated on the Beaver Dam Run map – these are areas of live explosives and must be avoided. They are marked by purple flagging in the field. In other areas orienteers will encounter “Danger Do Not Enter” Signs. These signs may be safely ignored if they are not mapped as out-of-bounds on the map.
Course Setter Notes
Starts: The start area for all courses is a 400m walk from the arena and parking area. (5-10 minutes). Be sure to leave ample time. The route to the start will be streamered. The forest to either side of the road to the start is out of bounds prior to starting. Warmups can be conducted in the Arena area and on the road from the arena to the start. Competitors will have a traditional 3-line call up and must be present at least 3 minutes prior to assigned start time. There will be a clothing drop with clothing being returned to the finish area.
River Crossings: No courses on the Middle distance cross Beaver Dam Run.
Hazards: There may be sections of single strand barbed wire that are difficult to see while running in the forest. Many of these have been marked with short pieces of pink and light blue flagging tape to aid visibility.
Specific Barbed Wire Warning: On the White, Yellow, and Orange courses, runners will encounter an area of barbed wire (mapped as two manmade objects) just North of Control #114. As long as competitors remain on the trail that runs on the East side of the barbed wire area they will have no problems. The barbed wire area has been liberally streamered.
This is an active training base used by the US Marines. If you find man-made objects on the ground, please leave them there. There may be sharp or explosive objects left over from prior training exercises – it is best not to touch them.
Day 2, Beaver Dam Run – Long Distance, Marine Corps Base Quantico
Detailed Map & Course Notes Some specific notes about the mapping style. Point features such as knolls, cup depressions, and cairns are generally fairly small, but distinct. Knolls are typically mounds of dirt formed from rotted rootstocks; some cup depressions are holes left behind by the toppled tree. Rootstocks are marked with the green X symbol. Only prominent rootstocks over one meter have been mapped. Where the fallen tree trunk is particularly large and an impediment to running, it has been marked on the map with a green line extending from the X. Vegetation is kind here and affords fast, open running – both light green and medium green are traversable, although slower than white woods. Trees are in the process of leafing out, and the main impediment is a loss of visibility. Slash green is used to denote areas of significant deadfall.
The Marines use this area for land navigation, so many of the black Xs on the map are used to show their control markers, which consist of a variety of markers, such as head height red or red/white poles or poles with a red, green, white, or black ammunition boxes attached to the top. In some locations, the black Xs may also denote large pieces of trash such as 55 gallon drums.
Indistinct rides can be very indistinct – especially with leaf cover and areas of deadfall. You should not expect to these to be very evident in the terrain.
The difference between intermittent streams and ditches or gullies is always a bit subjective when mapping. However, the preceding year has been very wet as described in the mapper’s notes. Expect that water features will have water and that they will be more extensive than mapped.
Important: Several large out-of-bounds areas are designated on the map – these are areas of live explosives and must be avoided. They are marked by purple flagging in the field. In other areas orienteers will encounter “Danger Do Not Enter” Signs. These signs may be safely ignored if they are not mapped as out-of-bounds on the map. Hazards: There are long sections of single strand barbed wire that are difficult to see while running in the forest. Many of these have been marked with short pieces of pink and light blue flagging tape to aid visibility.
Advanced course runners may also encounter ominous signs (see photo) along trails and fence lines that can be safely ignored. The demolition ranges are not in use this weekend and we have permission to ignore these signs. However, it is imperative that all orienteers stay out of the Out of Bounds areas delineated on your maps. These areas may have unexploded ordnance and are marked with a purple flagging tape – these areas may not be entered at any time.
Obstacle Courses: This is an active training base used by the US Marines. Several areas of obstacle courses exist – the obstacles are also indicated by a black X on the map. Some of the obstacles are on trails making for an unusual (and difficult to read) combination of black X overlaid on the trail symbol. You will encounter many forms of obstacles and other training facilities scattered throughout the area. Please do not enter, climb on or interact with these facilities in any way. If you find man-made objects on the ground, please leave them there. There may be sharp or explosive objects left over from prior training exercises – it is best not to touch them. Course Setter Notes
Starts: The start area for all courses is a roughly 400m walk from the arena (5-10 minutes). To avoid the dirt road along which vehicles will be driving to the arena, much of this route will be streamered through the woods. If you wish, you may warm up in the thin stretch of woods between this marked route and the road and track immediately to the east or southeast. Be sure to leave ample time. There will be the traditional 3-line call up and must be present at least 3 minutes prior to the assigned start time. There will be a clothing drop with clothing being returned to the finish area.
River Crossings: All courses except White will cross Beaver Dam Run twice. Beaver Dam Run is 20-30 feet wide and 6 inches to 3 feet deep during normal conditions. Courses have been set so that runners can conveniently use mapped footbridges for crossings. A determination as to the safety of crossing the stream at locations other than bridges will be made on race day and posted at the start and in the arena.
Spectator Control: There is a leg common tp all courses, between a water control at the side of a road that may see limited vehicle traffic during the event and an ensuring control in the arena. Please be careful while crossing the road or using it to get to the water control.
RouteGadget: The courses were designed to have multiple route choices on most legs. Please enter your route on RouteGadget. The feature will be available after the event on the Quantico web site so fellow competitors and the course designer can see the variety of routes taken and how well everyone did.
QOC is a non-federal entity. It is not part of the Department of Defense or any of its components and it has no governmental status. |
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