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.

Day 1, Beaver Dam Run – Middle Distance and Relay, Marine Corps Base Quantico

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.