2019 Ultimate Orienteer #8 – Riverside State Park Camp 7-Mile (Classic)
ULTIMATE ORIENTEER
Saturday, June 15 at Riverside State Park in Spokane, WA
Meet Director: John Beck
Double Header
Download a PDF with details for both the Classic and Ultralong events.
Our 3rd two-day event in the Ultimate Series! Head to Spokane for Day 1, where our friends in the Eastern Washington Orienteering Club will provide courses for a Classic event at Riverside State Park (Camp Seven Mile) on Saturday. This event is NOT included in the Ultimate Series registration.
On Sunday, head out to the Ultralong at Fishtrap Lake, just west of Spokane. You have to experience this unique scabland terrain for yourself!
This event will use MANUAL punching.
If you have additional questions, please contact John Beck.
Camping at Riverside
EWOC has reserved group campsite #2 at Riverside State Park’s Bowl & Pitcher for Saturday night. This is for tents only (people with RVs can reserve their own site online at http://parks.state.wa.us/223/Reservations or by phone (888-226-7688)).
Space is limited (40 people/12 vehicles max), so if you want to secure a spot, make sure you email John Beck (beck@gonzaga.edu) as soon as possible. Rates are $10/vehicle, which will be collected at event registration.
Saturday Night Social
Bring your own food and join us at Riverside’s Bowl & Pitcher Campground (Group Site #2) for fun and conversation. If you’re not camping in the group site, park in the day use area and make the short walk to the group site. We’ll get things started at 5:30.
COURSES
Course designer(s): John Harbuck
Courses
See the chart below for Ultimate points categories.
White (beginner) – 1.8k, 9 controls, 35m climb
Orange (intermediate) – 3.6k, 10 controls, 65m climb
Green (advanced) – 4.7k, 13 controls, 120m climb
Red (advanced) – 8.5k, 18 controls, 225m climb
Map scale: 1:10,000 for all courses.
Course Notes
–John Harbuck
Welcome to the (mostly) open Ponderosa pine terrain of Riverside State Park. Much of the park consists of mostly flat benches, some with lots of rock detail, some just open mostly flat running. Most of the climb is climbing from one bench to the next. Some pretty steep. The terrain has been invaded by much Douglas fir since the map was made. Some of these areas have been updated on the map with shades of green, some not so much. Some areas shown on the map as a mixture of yellow (open) and white (open forest) are now all forest. But the old areas of forest (shown as white) are considerably taller than the younger forest (still mapped as yellow). That may help….. Mountain bikes have created many many new trails, most of which are mapped. Your choice as to whether you run trails or straight through the (mostly) open woods.
Age classes
Juniors – 20 and under
Masters – 50+
Open – any age
Ultimate points
While you can run any course you wish, you will receive Ultimate points in a class only if you qualify by age and gender on that course. Please see the chart below for categories in which you can receive Ultimate points.
| Orange (int) | Green (Adv) | Red (Adv) | |
| Women 20 and under | no points* | Jr. Women | Open Women |
| Men 20 and under | no points* | Jr. Men | Open Men |
| Women 50+ | no points* | Masters Women | Open Women |
| Men 50+ | no points* | Masters Men | Open Men |
| Women 21-49 | no points* | no points* | Open Women |
| Men 21-49 | no points* | no points* | Open Men |
*You may run this course but will not receive Ultimate points.
How are courses measured?
Courses are measured as the crow flies, in a direct line from control to control. Unless you have wings, you will travel farther than this distance! Courses are measured in kilometers, so a good rule of thumb is to simply round up to miles to estimate how far you will go. So in a 5 kilometer race, you’ll likely travel up to 5 miles.
SCHEDULE
12:30-2:00pm – Registration
1:00-3:00pm – Starts
6:00p – Courses close
Why is there a start window?
This event uses an interval start, which means that participants are started in waves instead of all at once. When you arrive at the start tent, find the chute for your course and follow the start volunteer’s instructions.
PRICES
Registration and pricing
To help in printing enough maps for everyone, please pre-register by June 11 via email to: beck@gonzaga.edu. Registration will also be available on-site. Payment (see rates below) will be collected on-site.
- White – $7
- Orange – $9
- Green – $12
- Red – $12
SIGN UP
LOCATION
You will need a Discover Pass to park at Riverside State Park. You can purchase a (annual or one-day) Discover Pass online or in person at many hunting/fishing license vendors or at several retail locations. Check the Discover Pass website for details.
CARPOOL
Looking for a carpool? Join the Yahoo listserv and share your request to find a ride.
THE MAP
This Riverside State Park orienteering map was produced and is owned by our friends at Eastern Washington Orienteering Club.
Feeling a bit scuffed up from thick Western Washington forests? Take a trip to the east side to frolic through “white” open forest, and “yellow” open land. Camping and a gorgeous river are nearby, making it a real summer treat.
Read more on the map pageSAFETY & ETIQUETTE
Return to the Finish
All participants MUST return to the finish and download their e-punch or turn in their punch card.
Even if you have not finished your course, you must still return to the the finish and confirm with event staff that you have returned safely.
Out of Bounds
Some areas may be marked out of bounds. It is imperative to respect these boundaries to maintain our relationships with land managers. Participants MUST NOT go out of bounds. Any participant caught going out of bounds will be disqualified.
Course Closure
All participants MUST return to the finish by course closure time. If a participant does not return by course closure, event volunteers will begin coordinating a search party.
If you need a long time on the course, start as early in the start window as possible, wear a watch, and be prepared to cut your course short to make it back by the course closure time.
Whistle
All participants MUST carry a whistle on the course. Complimentary whistles are available at the start tent (please only take one).
If you are injured on the course and need assistance, blow three long blasts to call for help.
If you hear a call for help, abandon your course to find the person in distress.
Voices
Part of the fun and fairness of orienteering is navigating your own course, so please be polite when you find a checkpoint and don’t holler that you’ve found it.
