Discussion: HVO/WCOC Winter Series 2021

HVO and WCOC are pleased to host the Winter Series again. This year, we kick-off earlier than usual and we have expanded the number of events. The format is the same as prior years. Each event offers a Brown, Green and Red course, and participants download the course maps from HVO’s website. The maps are typically available a day before each event starts. Standard orienteering control flags will be out in the woods for about four weeks. Run whenever you want while the flags are out. There are no boxes/punches on the controls. Feel free to time yourself and post the splits on Attackpoint.

A big thank you to our course designers who make the Winter Series possible: Jordan, Greg, Geof, Joe, George, Lyn, David, and Clinton.

Event schedule:
#1 Nov 1 - Dec 6 – Harriman State Park – Jordan Laughlin (course designer)
#2 Nov 24 - Dec 27 – Blue Mountain – Greg Balter
#3 Dec 6 - Dec 20 – Ward Pound Ridge South – Geof Connor
#4 Dec 19 - Jan 17 – Ansonia/Osbornedale – Joe Brautigam
#5 Jan 9 - Feb 7 – Sessions Woods (tbc) – George & Lyn Walker
#6 Jan 23 - Feb 21 – Ward Pound Ridge North – David Oxenstierna
#7 Feb 13 - Mar 14 – Case Mountain/Gay City SP – Clinton Morse
#8 March (tentative) – Harriman State Park – Jordan Laughlin

Control flags are now out in the woods at Harriman State Park and maps and course notes/directions are posted at

https://www.hvorienteering.com/hvo-wcoc-winter-ser...

For those familiar with the area, these first Harriman courses are on the map historically known as Lake Stilwell (later the NW part of Long Mountain).

Route Gadget is up for Harriman (Winter Series 20 1)
http://www.vmeyer.net/gadget/cgi-bin/reitti.cgi

Had great fun last Saturday at Harriman - weather was awesome and quite a lot of folks out on the course. Somewhere between 5-10 folks by all accounts

Happy Thanksgiving Week everyone. We hope you are staying safe and healthy, and that you have a chance to enjoy the woods.
This week we give thanks to Greg Balter, who has designed seven (edited) courses at the Blue Mountain Reservation in Westchester, NY:
Brown #1. 3.3km
Brown #2. 2.9km
Green #1. 4.9km
Green #2. 5.0km
Red #1. 7.8km
Red #2. 7.9km
All controls course. 6.1km (edited)
Note that two separate start locations are used, and for all courses, the final control marked (#147) is the finish. The flags are out in the woods and the course maps have been posted.

Greg also has a seventh course posted using all 21 controls.
Use the same link as above for directions and to to download maps.
As Niels noted the Finish control is 147, not the car park, so if you are timing yourself or are going to download to RG stop the clock at 147.

Route Gadget is up for Blue Mt. Same link as above.

If you downloaded the maps before this morning you will find, when you run the course, that some numbers on the flags are not the same as on the map. If you download now (Sat 12.00) the numbers are correct.

I ran the all controls and brown 1 today (printed yesterday) and both courses had issues. I believe almost every control code on the all controls was off. So are all these things fixed now?

I also ran the Red "all controls" and didn't check any codes. so I had no issues.

Teaser for WS #7: A little historical background on the Coop Sawmill, dating from colonial times in Glastonbury, CT. Field checking is coming along well and it looks like we'll have about 3.75 sq km of navigable terrain in play for mid February. Lots of gorgeous open woods, moderately dense trail network.

https://lostglastonbury.com/2016/07/19/coop-road-s...

Winter Series 3, Ward Pound Ridge, flags are out and maps are posted. Four courses,
Red 7.5
Green 5.6
Brown 3.7
Orange 3.1
These are the same courses used for HVO local meet last weekend.

Maps (WPR color) at https://www.hvorienteering.com/hvo-wcoc-winter-ser...

Route Gadget: WPR Dec 2020 at http://www.vmeyer.net/gadget/cgi-bin/reitti.cgi

Also directions to start posted

Ooh I'd love to do that Glastonbury one. My 4th-great grandmother was born there in 1777. I know almost nothing more about her though. Maybe I should do some research ...

Start with the CT quarantine requirements...

Interesting fact Peggy. My 4th great grandmother, Milla Redfield, was born in 1777 in Killingworth, Ct - about 15-20 miles S of Glastonbury.

Paul, they probably knew each other. ;-)
I doubt I will be able to meet the CT quarantine requirements. Sad.

I doubt I will be able to meet the CT quarantine requirements.

Just stay in CT for less than 24 hours. Exempt from quarantine and reporting requirements.

No reason to interact with anyone outside of your home state for this sort of event, provided you have someone to share the driving.

(I have a first cousin who lives in Glastonbury now.)

Tempting.

#4 Osbornedale and Ansonia.

Joe has set one short (advanced) course at each park 2.5 and 2.9 km.

Flags are out, set low but above snow.

Maps (OSP/ASP) at 1:5,000 are at https://www.hvorienteering.com/hvo-wcoc-winter-ser...

FYI. I was out checking on the courses today. Osbornedale was fine. Ansonia was missing the first control flag. I replaced it. Also I noticed a hunters tree stand and a camo tent set up in the woods. I don’t know if it’s rabbit or duck season but it Might be a good idea to run here on Sunday.

Happy New Year!
Good news. In addition to the originally posted WS events, Greg Balter has designed a new set of courses at Harriman SP. Flags are out and maps will be posted later today.

Maps posted (Dater Mt.).
Red/green 1:10,000
Brown 1:7,500
Note: no control numbers on flags which are made of metallic paper.

Osbornedale #5 flag between the 2 boulders is missing.

Joe, thanks for two fun challenging corses. Beautiful woods on Jan 1!

Route Gadget up for Osborndale, Ansonia and Dater Mountain

http://www.vmeyer.net/gadget/cgi-bin/reitti.cgi

Control flags out and Route Gadget up for Sessions Woods.

Charlie DeWeese has set a course at Ratlum Mt. Flags are out.
Details at https://www.hvorienteering.com/hvo-wcoc-winter-ser...

details at https://www.hvorienteering.com/hvo-wcoc-winter-ser...

#7 Ratlum Mt. Directions are posted on the HVO website. Charlie has set a 3.1km course with 1:5,000 map scale. The flags have no control codes.

Anybody who might go has probably been there before. Parking can be in front of the barn if you don't block the doors, or behind the barn. It would be appreciated if participants send an email (deweesecc@gmail.com) to let Charlie know you are coming.

David Oxenstierna has set three courses (Red/Green/Brown) at Ward Pound Ridge (north side).
Parking is at Kimberly Bridge Paring Area. Most Easterly parking area where Park Road crosses river.
Flags will stay out until end of February.
Details and maps at https://www.hvorienteering.com/hvo-wcoc-winter-ser...
Route Gadget will be up in a day or two.

Route Gadget is up

http://www.vmeyer.net/gadget/cgi-bin/reitti.cgi

We started collecting the controls from Sessions yesterday. Still 7 left if anyone wants a short course. Let me know as we plan to collect the rest tomorrow. Best to bring snowshoes as there is over a foot of snow in the woods.

I’d be happy to get them.

Collected the rest today. Thanks, Charlie.

WS#9 at Coop Sawmill (new map) in Glastonbury, CT has received official permissions and courses are being finalized this afternoon. Hopefully get flags in the woods tomorrow. Currently 8-10" of snow in the woods in these parts, but the courses will be out until mid-March so there's no hurry unless you want to do a snowshoe-O while the getting is good...

Tentative course lengths are 3.8, 5.0 & 7.7 km for Br/Gr/Re respectively. Each course is distinct (Br/Gr are not merely shortened Red) so plenty of options.

Maps are posted for Coop Sawmill on HVO website

Coop Sawmill update - Control #31 (#7 on Brown, #9 on Green and #1 on Red) is mis-hung. Jim hung it in the correct spot yesterday but wasn't 100% certain and so when I ran the course today I moved it down to the spot I mentally had in mind when I designed the course. But looking at my track in RG confirms that I moved it from the knoll down to the formline spur just down the hill. One of us will fix it in the next day or two. The flag is visible down the hill from the correct location if you get there before we do.

Coop Sawmill #31 has been fixed. All courses should be good to go.

Please note that if you opt for Green or Red at this time the stream just SE of control #44 is somewhat dicey due to snowpack. Stream is easily crossable, but between the snow banks and ice shelves hiding the water you may need to wander up/down a bit to find a crossing point that doesn't risk dipping a foot into the water (only about 12" deep). Many of the stones/logs one might normally use to cross are currently covered in ice/snow.

Does anyone know what the woods look like at Ward Pound Ridge? How much/what kind of snow? Will the courses still be pulled this weekend/next week?

Ward Pound Ridge is still under nearly a foot of snow - more after today/tomorrow, only major trails are hikeable with microspikes (as of this morning) and minor trails with snowshoes. When snow finally goes we will check flags and they will stay out for about 4 weeks from then.

Thanks!

The woods at Coop Sawmill are still mostly snowy, but bare spots are appearing in some areas. The existing snow has mostly settled to a 2-3" dense layer - quite runnable, but taxing as it is soft underfoot. Stream crossings are shallow but quite cold, not worth the time/effort to find a dry crossing point so a change of shoes/socks is highly recommended. Trails are icy at this point - ok with spikes, but just as easy to run the woods beside them instead. Flags will be out until the 15th.

Dater Mountain has 6+ inches of snow everywhere. All was very soft and very taxing due to the above freezing temperatures. All controls are still clearly visible although a few controls are starting to show some sign of wear. Expect very wet and cold feet throughout the course.

Is it possible to update the list of active events (including new dates - sounds like maybe Ward Pond is out for longer than stated above for example, dater still out etc). Thanks

Dater Mountain and WPR North flags will be out until March 28th, Coop Sawmill until March 15th.
WPR should be runnable by this weekend.

Thanks Geoff

I noticed that the red map at Blue Mountain is on Dropbox. Is the course still in the woods?

Ooops. No BM are long gone (as are the maps from Drop Box now!)
Still open are Dater Mt., Coops, WPR North, and Charlie's course at Ratlum.

Coop Sawmill is closed unless you want to run flagless- courses are on O-Range. Flags likely be retrieved later today.

Jordan has set 3 courses at Surebridge Mt, Harriman.
Flags are out. Maps and directions at https://www.hvorienteering.com/hvo-wcoc-winter-ser...

Route Gadget: WS10 SureBridge at http://www.vmeyer.net/gadget/cgi-bin/reitti.cgi

Also, last call at Ward Pound Ridge North. Flags will be collected on Wednesday March 31.

Big turn out for a gorgeous day at Ward Pound today - West Point had three vans of cadets plus maybe four extra cars of regular members! Great fun day.

Great to hear about WPR turnout!

These winter series have been a lifesaver for the West Point Orienteering Team during this time. The no contact nature has made them possible to attend.

And attendance at the WS events is probably quite a bit higher than might be inferred from the results posted to AP. I know of quite a few folks that did courses (or parts of courses) at Coop Sawmill that have not submitted results. I am sure it is probably the same for the other venues as well.

Sincere thanks to HVO and WCOC for making these courses available! We've been able to make it to some of the closer maps to practice.

A note about the brown and red Surebridge courses: a route choice between #37 and #39 above the cliff at the ne end of the large marsh (where the n-s line would be) might be considered passable with difficulty. The map’s terrain is accurate; however, safety might be an issue there with significant deadfall and a loose rock involved. The woods were otherwise quite enjoyable.

Clint’s comment about results seems correct. I’ve done a few and never reported. Plus, I’ve met a few other participants involved that apparently didn’t report either. I, at least, am appreciative for the opportunities the series presented, and enjoyed them.

Going forward, I think it would be a good idea to come up with a method (other than reporting results) to ascertain how many folks are taking advantage of the DIY courses. I know the landowner for Coop Sawmill requested a followup on how things went, assurances flags were retrieved and a tally on how many people participated. The latter was a total WAG on my part. It would also reinforce to the folks setting these courses that the effort is indeed worth their time and commitment to ensure they keep happening...

Brown 37-39. I found going west of the swamp down to the trail to be open easy terrain, probably the easiest leg for me on an otherwise 'very tough for the elderly'; course.

Clint, you might take a look at QOC's Upper Marlboro Map Run now on the QOC website, before it disappears. Craig Sheldon put it together, and Greg Lennon created the link with PayPal. The fees would get you a pretty good count - among other things.

Last call for the courses in Harriman State Park. I plan on pulling the controls Sunday.

Pulling the controls at Ratlum in the next day or so, unless I get an urgent request to leave them up.

@JLaughlin- does this include both Dater Mountain and Surebridge courses...heading up Saturday morning from Staten Island

@hughbike - Just the Surebridge mountain courses. My Sunday plans may be delayed a day or two...

Thanks JLaughlin!

Greg B informed me that Dater Mountain flags were collected a few weeks ago.