2024 Wednesday Evening #5 – North Seattle College
WEDNESDAY EVENING
Wednesday, August 28 at North Seattle College in Seattle, WA
Meet Director: Will Enger
The fifth and final event in the 2024 Wednesday Evening Series will be held at North Seattle College. The Wednesday Evening Series is our most relaxed, casual set of navigation events, held in local parks once the weather (hopefully) warms up. These events are a little more low-key than those in the Winter League, and we typically offer a barbeque afterward for all participants.
Events in the Wednesday Evening Series are generally less challenging (both physically and navigationally) than many of our other events, and are therefore great for beginners and those less experienced with orienteering – while also offering a challenge to longtime participants of the sport.
We will be offering day-of event registration in addition to preregistration. There will be no start time pre-signup. Paying for parking is *NOT* required at this event, as we have rented the parking lot.
COURSES
Course designer(s): Will Enger
Here are the course statistics:
Course 1: 1.1 km, 10 controls, 10m climb
Course 2: 1.8 km, 12 controls, 20m climb
Course 3: 2.9 km, 17 controls, 45m climb
Course 4 (2+3): 4.7 km, 29 controls, 65m climb
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.
COURSE NOTES
Welcome back to North Seattle College! This is a venue we haven’t used in some five years; those who have orienteered here before will no doubt remember the unique multi-level character of the campus. The map has been updated to current mapping standards, which mainly means that the “shark teeth” symbol has been added to denote the ability to run underneath a mapped upper level, in hopes this will further enhance the legibility of the map.
In any case, Course 2 will feature only one or two controls where the “upstairs/downstairs” decision will need to be made. Course 3, on the other hand, will feature several such controls. Where applicable, the “upper” or “lower” descriptor has been used on the control descriptions to aid decision-making.
Courses 1 and 2 will remain on campus, while Course 3 will cross College Way N and take you to nearby Licton Springs Park and back. As always, please be careful crossing the street, and only cross at the designated crossing locations which are not marked out-of-bounds on your map.
SCHEDULE
5:00 pm – Registration and starts open.
7:00 pm – Registration and starts close.
8:00 pm – Course closure.
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
PRE-REGISTRATION PRICES
$22 base price
– subtract $5 for CascadeOC members
– subtract $5 for using your own e-punch
DAY-OF-EVENT REGISTRATION
$25 base price
– subtract $5 for CascadeOC members
– subtract $5 for using your own e-punch
Participating as a group? Just $5 for each additional adult (16+) group
member, no cost for additional minors.
What’s an e-punch?
An e-punch records your race. At each control, you’ll dip the e-punch into an electronic box, which will beep and flash as confirmation. After you finish, you’ll download the e-punch at the download tent and get a receipt that show which controls you visited and how long you took between each; these are your “splits.”
Part of the fun of orienteering is comparing your splits with people who completed the same course, and discussing the routes you took!
SIGN UP
Online pre-registration closes:
Day-of-event registration is available by cash or check, made payable to Cascade Orienteering Club
LOCATION
PARKING
Parking will be located in the lot on the north side of campus, accessed from the intersection of College Way and N 100th Street. The event center will be in the field adjacent to the parking lot. Paying for parking is *NOT* required, as we have rented the parking lot.
CARPOOL
Looking for a carpool? Join the club email group and share your request to find a ride.
THE MAP
Which way is up and which way is down? North Seattle College will have you asking this question. Featuring the unique opportunity to figure out whether you need to be “upstairs” or “downstairs,” and wonder whether there will be a wall or a pass-through when you turn the corner.
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.
