2024 Ultimate Orienteer #1 – Hamlin Park (Night-O)
Registration and start time signups are now closed.
If you did not sign up for a start time, look at the list here and find a slot for your course without a name and show up at the event a few minutes before that time.
Registration is here.
Event #1/8 in the Ultimate Orienteer Series!
Let’s kick off the Ultimate Orienteer Series in the dark! Get out your headlamps and join us for this fun event at Hamlin Park in Shoreline. Even if you’ve been to a park many times, things look different in the dark.
COURSES
Course designer(s): Vicki Morella
Beginner: 1.2k, 8 controls, 65m climb
Intermediate: 2.2k, 12 controls, 85m, climb
Short Advanced: 2.5k, 17 controls, 110m climb
Long Advanced: 3.5k, 19 controls, 180m climb
What is my age class?
Night-O Course/Class Assignments for Ultimate points
If you want to earn Ultimate points, check the table below to see which category you should sign up for.
For example, if you’re a female 16 or under, your Ultimate age class is F-16 and, for this event, is assigned to the Intermediate course. If you are up for a more challenging course, you can also earn points in F-18 on the Short Advanced course, or F-20 or F-21+ on the Long Advanced course. Just keep in mind that other courses are more difficult, both navigationally and physically. Also keep in mind that you’ll be earning points only in the class you sign up for.
| Age Class | Course |
| • Female 16 and Under • Open 16 and Under |
Intermediate |
| • Female 18 and Under • Open 18 and Under |
Short Advanced |
| • Female 50+ • Open 50+ |
Short Advanced |
| • Female 70+ • Open 70+ |
Short Advanced |
| • Female 20 and Under • Open 20 and Under |
Long Advanced |
| • Female 21+ • Open 21+ |
Long Advanced |
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
Bring your headlamps and be ready for fast courses designed to challenge your night vision skills on the trail and in the variable open/mature forests of Hamlin Park. All courses are restricted to Hamlin Park and will not extend to Shorecrest campus or South Woods. Be aware of the out of bounds areas indicated on the map and ensure you do not enter these sections of the park or bordering areas.
A stump is a green X, a large tree is a green circle, and a rootstock is a brown triangle.
Multiple new trails may not be mapped due to recent increase in social paths. The darkness may further hinder your visibility of the numerous trails, so thumbing your map will be a useful tool. For all courses, safety bearing in any direction will take one to a road.
There could be rain in the forecast which means water accumulation on some trails, where avoidance of puddles may be challenging. Come prepared for the darkness, elements, and to have a fun evening!
Vicki Morrella, Course Designer
SCHEDULE
Pre-registration only!
6:30-8:15 pm – Check in
6:30-7:30 pm – Newcomer instruction
7:00-8:30 pm – Starts (start times are pre-assigned; sign up for a start time here by Thursday of event week at 9pm; if you don’t, you’ll have to wait for an available spot)
9:15 pm – Courses close*
*Wear a watch to ensure that you return to the finish by course closure time, even if you have to abandon your course to do so. Those returning after course closure will be disqualified and will make the volunteer staff very grumpy.
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
Online pre-registration only!
$22 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 (18+) group
member, no cost for additional minors, but they have to be registered.
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
LOCATION
PARKING
Parking is available in the park.
CARPOOL
Looking for a carpool? Join the club email group and share your request to find a ride.
THE MAP
With its combination of varied contours and runnable forest, Hamlin Park was one of our favorite training maps for years. The contours remain, but the park has increasingly focused on planting new forest undergrowth–perhaps necessary in a popular city park that gets constant foot traffic. So today most contour recognition happens from the trails.
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.
