Wednesday Evening #4 – Seattle Pacific University
The fourth event in this year’s Wednesday Evening Series! The Wednesday Evening Series is our most relaxed, casual set of navigation events, held in local parks once the weather warms up. These events are a little more low-key than those in the WIOL/Winter Series, and we always offer a barbeque afterward for all participants. Decompress after work, with or without your coworkers. Or meet your family at the park and enjoy a night off from cooking. Or meet a bunch of friends at the park for an evening of exploring together, chatting over some food, and finishing up with frisbee on the lawn.
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.
COURSES
Course designer(s): Will Enger
Here are the estimated optimum course lengths:
Course 1 – 1.6 km, 10 controls, 30 meters climb
Course 2 – 2.0 km, 11 controls, 55 meters climb
Course 3 – 3.1 km, 17 controls, 90 meters climb
Course 4 (Course 2 and 3 combined) – 5.1 km, 28 controls, 145 meters climb
Note that as Course 4 is a combination of Courses 2 and 3, participants will go through a map exchange between the two courses. Instead of punching the finish after completing Course 2, simply return to the start area, drop your Course 2 map, receive a Course 3 map, and resume navigation.
How are courses measured?
Note that in the case of this event, the posted distances are *actual* distances based on test-running data, rather than the usual straight-line distance. This is sometimes done for urban and/or sprint orienteering races because it provides a far more accurate estimation of the distance competitors must cover, due to the presence of uncrossable obstacles (buildings, fences, walls, etc.) which make it an impossibility to go straight on many legs. You will usually see this referred to as the “optimum” course length – in other words, it is the most efficient (shortest) distance over which it is possible to legally complete the course.
This is useful, because it gives a more accurate estimation of the distance you too can expect to cover. For example, the published optimum distance for Course 4 is 5.1 kilometers. Therefore, if you make reasonable route choices you can reliably expect to travel somewhere between five and six kilometers in total.
COURSE NOTES
Seattle Pacific University is located at the northern foot of Queen Anne hill, and is a highly complex urban venue. You won’t find any forests here, but you will find many buildings, walls, small passages and tight corners – all of which call for careful map-reading and quick decision-making. There are several streets that criss-cross through the map; these are generally not busy, but please do exercise the usual cautions when crossing. As this venue is a college campus, please also watch for and avoid students and other pedestrians.
The SPU map is an example of what’s known as a “sprint” map, which means that it has been created according to a specific set of rules governing what the competitor is and is not allowed to do. The two most important examples:
- The rules dictate that no competitor may enter an area mapped as olive green.
- The rules dictate that no competitor may cross any wall, fence or other linear barrier mapped with a thick black line.
Not to worry, though – if you have any questions about these rules before you start your course, meet staff and/or other orienteers will be happy to help!
You can view the orienteering map of Seattle Pacific University here: http://rg.cascadeoc.org/rg2/#157
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
$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
There is no specific parking area for this event; however, street parking is available near the main campus quad at the intersection of 3rd Avenue W and W Cremona Street. Registration, starts, etc. will be located on the large grassy areas adjacent to that intersection.
CARPOOL
Looking for a carpool? Join the Yahoo listserv and share your request to find a ride.
THE MAP
No map preview 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.
