The night orienteering event is scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2009. As noted before, Jeff Gattens will be setting the course, determining the scoring system and providing valuable and coveted prizes for the top 3 teams. A couple of notes:
· Consider this note an invitation to the event and let me know if you are planning to attend. The event is a three-hour orienteering event held from 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm where teams attempt to find checkpoints (flags) placed in the woods and displayed on a map (that is provided to you at the start). Each checkpoint has a point value and the goal is generate the most points. Being successful requires both speed and thoughtfulness.
· For those of you who are inexperienced, we will attempt to pair you with an experienced navigator. I am aware of who is inexperienced and who claims they are an experienced navigator.
· For those of you who have not done an event like this before, here is what is recommended:
o A compass (if you buy one, make sure to ask the people behind the counter to set the declination for you)
o A light (headlamp or flashlight but most people prefer a headlamp since it is hand-free – purchase at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Madison if you’re local)
o Food and drink, if desired, in a backpack
o Long pants (since many of the checkpoints will be off trail, you may not be very happy if you go in shorts)
o Long shirt (optional, but same logic as the pants)
o Clear glasses (some people prefer not to have to worry about branches whacking them in eye)
o Bug spray (there are ticks in the area so in addition to bug spray you will need to check yourself post-race. Please note that if you are a woman, we have a number of volunteers willing to assist you in full body post-race tick detection. If you’re a man, we assume that you’re fine.)
o Map case (to carry the map if you don’t want to hold or a zip lock bag if it is wet out)
· Here is what you are NOT allowed to bring:
o GPS unit
o Bike (it’s all on foot)
o Weapon
· We will meet at the Millburn Library parking lot by no later than 7 pm. Jeff Gattens will give an overview of the course, go through the directions, answer questions, hand out maps, etc. We will also be collecting $10 per person to cover the cost of this event. Please bring exactly $10 per person because we won’t be able to easily make change.
· The race will end at exactly 10:30 pm, back in the Millburn Library parking lot. I am sure Jeff will create penalties for stragglers.
· Post race we will head to either Charlie Brown’s, Martini’s or MC for post-race drinks, depending on how grungy the group looks. The valuable and coveted prizes will be handed out then.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Brett
