2024 Ultimate Orienteer #7 – Dickey Creek (Middle Distance Freestyle)
Event #7/9 in the Ultimate Orienteer Series!
Teanaway Weekend – Day 2
Head over the mountains for a weekend of orienteering fun in the Teanaway Community Forest!
- Saturday, May 18– Teanaway Forks, Goat
- Sunday, May 19 – Dickey Creek, Middle distance Freestyle
Do the Goat on Saturday and stay over for the Freestyle at Dickey Creek!
On most orienteering courses, you have to visit the controls in a designated order. On a freestyle course, you still must go to all controls but you choose the order.
What is my age class?
Freestyle 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. Find your age class in the left column, then follow the row across to the right until you find the dark orange cell. That is your “assigned” category.
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, or F-21+ on the Medium Advanced. 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 • Female 20 and Under • Female 50+ • Open 50+ • Female 70+ • Open 70+ |
Short Advanced |
| • Female 21+ • Open 20 and Under |
Medium Advanced |
| • Open 21+ | Long Advanced |
Camping/Lodging
There’s free camping near Teanaway and a selection of hotels in Cle Elum.
COURSES
Course designer(s): Ott Toomet
Course distances will be provided here once the courses are finalized.
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
Check back later for special notes from the Course Designer(s).
SCHEDULE
9:00am-12:15pm – Check-in
9:30am-12:30pm – Starts (start times are pre-selected; signup will be posted two weeks prior to the event)
9:30am-10:30am – Newcomer instruction
2:30pm – 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
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.
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
Discover Pass Required
This venue is part of the Teanaway Community Forest and you will need a Discover Pass to park. You can purchase a Discover Pass (annual or one-day) 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 club email group and share your request to find a ride.
THE MAP
Part of a chain of orienteering maps in the Teanaway Community Forest, Dickey Creek is rugged, challenging, and beautiful. There is a ton of contour detail and large areas without trails, making this one of Cascade’s most challenging and rewarding maps to navigate. Vegetation becomes quickly outdated here, so do not rely on vegetation alone; contours are your best friend!
New orienteers should consider choosing a shorter or easier course than usual.
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.
