Ultimate Orienteer #7: Score-O
Special parking information: Only cars with at least 4 people will be allowed to park in the lot. More information at the bottom of the page.
May 10th update: There will be NO participant parking at the Lick Creek gate. We are providing a shuttle to transport everyone to and from the registration/check-in area. See schedule and details at the bottom of the page.
The Ultimate Orienteer series is the sampler pack of orienteering: each event gives you the opportunity to try a different flavor!
The seventh event in the series is: SCORE-O!
At a score-o, you can find controls in any order and earn a “point” for each control you find. The only limitation is time: how many controls can you find before the clock runs out? Keep an eye on your watch, or else you’ll lose points for every minute that you’re late!
While the terrain is rugged and navigationally challenging, the format of a score-o is beginner-friendly since you control (pun intended) the difficulty of every control simply by choosing which to find. And, if you have trouble finding a control, you can skip it and move on!
Pro Tips: it is handy to have a highlighter or other writing utensil at the start of the race, so that you can mark your intended route. Also, don’t forget to wear a watch so that you know when to return to the finish!
DOUBLE HEADER
The Score-O is the second part in a double-header weekend in the Teanaway valley. Join us on Saturday for the Classic, then stay for Sunday’s Score-O. There’s free camping nearby and a selection of hotels in Cle Elum.
COURSES
Course designer(s): Kean Williams
At a score-o, courses are measured by time instead of distance. Your goal is to find as many controls as you can within the time limit. How far you go is completely up to you!
There are two options:
- 60-minute time limit
- 90-minute time limit
Details:
- There will be 30 controls and 1600 points possible
- The point values range from 10 to 100 points
- The penalty for returning late is 20 points per minute, or fraction of a minute (e.g. being 1 minute and 5 seconds late = 40-point penalty)
If you wish to compete for Ultimate Orienteer series points, sign up for the corresponding course and you’ll automatically be entered into the series competition:
- Juniors (20 and under) – 60 minutes
- Masters (50 and older) – 60 minutes
- Open (anyone) – 90 minutes
**SPECIAL START**
We’ll be using a Le Mans-style start at this race. Maps will be laid out on the ground. When the signal is given at 10:30, pick up a map and start! You’ll plan your route on the clock.
COURSE NOTES
“Greetings Orienteers- welcome to the upcoming doubleheader at Cle Elum. Bring water if desired and certainly a whistle with you. Safety bearing is S.E to the paved road. Lick Creek is a great area for orienteering. The map is slotted for further mapping so some overgrown vegetation in light or medium green may appear a bit thicker or expanded. Big thanks for contributions by Jourdan, Celia, and Alex Frank in vetting, computer work, and analysis. Enjoy the woods!” -Kean
SCHEDULE
8:30am – Registration opens
10:00am – Registration closes
*The start is a 500 meter walk from the registration area
**Portable toilets will be located near parking. There will be NO toilets at the start.
10:15am – Pre-race instructions (at the start)
10:20am – Map setup (at the start)
10:30am – MASS START, all categories
11:30am – End time limit for juniors and masters categories
12:00pm – End time limit for open categories
1:00pm – All courses close
This is a mass start event with a time limit: be sure to wear a watch so that you can return to the finish on time!
PRICES
PRE-REGISTRATION PRICES
$17 base price
– subtract $5 for CascadeOC members
– subtract $5 for using your own e-punch
DAY-OF-EVENT REGISTRATION
$20 base price
– subtract $5 for CascadeOC members
– subtract $5 for using your own e-punch
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
Beginning May 1st, parking will no longer be allowed along North Fork Teanaway Road. There is a small area we are allowed to use for parking. However, there is only room for 10-15 cars here, so it’s CRITICAL that you form carpools.
You can meet for carpooling at the Teanaway Forks parking area and then drive to lick Creek. Only cars with at least 4 people will be allowed to park in the lot.
There will be NO participant parking at the Lick Creek gate. We are providing a shuttle to transport everyone to and from the registration/check-in area
Shuttle pick-up location: Teanaway Forks parking area
Shuttle drop-off location: Lick Creek turnaround area
SHUTTLE SCHEDULE
To Lick Creek
8:00am – First-shift volunteer shuttle leaves for Lick Creek
8:30am – First shuttle leaves for Lick Creek
9:45am – Last shuttle leaves for Lick Creek
Back to Teanaway
12:30pm – First shuttle leaves for Teanaway
1:45pm – Last shuttle leaves for Teanaway
Approximate round-trip time: 15 minutes
ALTERNATIVES
You might also consider parking at Teanaway Forks and riding a bike the approximately 2.5 miles to Lick Creek.
There is also a small parking area 1.5 miles north of Lick Creek gate, from which you could park and bike. We do not recommend walking along North Fork Teanaway Road, as there is not much of a shoulder and vehicles sometimes drive fast.
DISCOVER PASS
A Discover Pass is required to park, and there is no on-site pay station. You can purchase a Discover Pass online and print a temporary pass until your pass arrives in the mail. You can also purchase a pass in-person at various retail locations. One-day and annual passes are available.
CARPOOL
Looking for a carpool? Join the Yahoo listserv and share your request to find a ride.
THE MAP
Part of a chain of orienteering maps in the Teanaway Community Forest, Lick Creek is rugged, challenging, and beautiful. There is a ton of contour details 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.
Lick Creek is rugged and moderately hilly, with some especially steep areas that nice course designers try to avoid. Deadfall on the ground makes running or hiking more strenuous.
Read more on the map pageCAMPING
There is free camping at West Fork Teanaway Campground, located about 2 miles from event parking. Yes, it’s really free (aside from the required Discover Pass). Just show up and pitch your tent wherever there is room. There are several porta-potties located around the camp. It is a popular venue, so ear plugs are advised if you are a light sleeper. It is also a primitive campground, meaning that there is no running water. Bring a lot of water.
A Discover Pass is required to camp at the campground. They are not purchasable on-site, so buy one online or at a retail location before you come. One-day and annual passes are available.
SAFETY & 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.
