Discussion: Gay City or Nobscot

For some reason, NEOC has scheduled events at both Gay City and Nobscot for the same day. I've been to Gay City, but not Nobscot. Any opinions as to which promises a better map, terrain or event? (Nobscot has e-punching).

Glen, I'm from eastern Mass. and like to support events here, but I find Nobscot to be tough, not always in a good way -- I end up thrashing around in green a fair bit and rarely have a "clean" run. Maybe that's just me. I recall the woods at Gay City as being much more runnable.

Gay City is a nice map. Has there been an A meet there? can't remember. Nobscot is OK, but it's a Scout area, crisscrossed with trails, nestled in a suburban area and bounded with houses and roads. It's hard to squeeze in an advanced course in there.

Although both have Red courses on the menu, my guess is that a Gay City Red course will give you lots of off-trail, challenging (physically and mentally) legs. Nobscot may have technical control placements, and there may indeed be some physical challenge, but there will be a significant portion of almost eny long leg where you'll be able to go on trail (or across the trail.)

there was a billygoat at Gay city some years ago. map and course should be somewhere on PG's log I am guessing.

Gay City's first event was a Troll Cup in 1998. Steve Fluegel's swim photo on the cover of ONA was taken at that first A meet. Glen, you came in 13th in M21 at that meet on a Blue course set by Charlie DeWeese. Billygoat was in 2001. I directed both meets and am more that a little biased when I say that it has some fine terrain. Mountain bikers have added some trails, but the map is still pretty good - even if Clint does say so himself. On the other hand, depending on who is directing, you may end up copying your course on the clock at Gay City. Just like the good old days.

I've been to Gay City 4 or 5 times (and remember at least some of it and have maps to look at). Nobscot is the unknown. Looking forward to practicing my "copying on time" skills . :-)

Certainly, Gay City has the more open woods. But Nobscot is a nice map, and the terrain isn't as green as a lot of other Boston-area maps. Worth a try if you've never been there, some time if not this time.

Gay City is definitely a nicer area. Nobscot's OK, but Gay City is top-notch.

My main issue with Gay City is that it gets scheduled the same weekend every year - opposite Nipmuck Marathon. I realize NEOC schedules it then to coincide with Trails Day (and no gate fees). But I still have Troll Cup maps for most courses, so I run there when I can :-)

I would put in a pitch for Nobscot. I think it's a nice place. And worth a visit if you haven't been there before. Sure there are lots of trails, but that makes it nicer for summer orienteering.

Donna let me hijack her AP account to thank Jim H for reminding everyone about my Troll Cup Swim. A dozen years after the fact and people still bring it up when I meet them, so it looks like it will be my legacy to the orienteering world. I guess it’s better to be remembered for something than to fade into orienteering obscurity.

The Berman’s were running ONA at the time so I have them to thank for the initial photo. Then, Adrian Z. resurrected it in a recent ONA article about competition rules that reran the cover. Just a few weeks ago, the indignity took an international twist when CompassSport (the British O mag) ran Adrian’s article including the cover shot.

For anyone interested, here is a PG map for that day (I think I was on red and this looks like green) but the GO control was the same.

http://www.petergagarin.org/2008/20080330(gaycity)...

-may have to copy and paste above or link from his archive on 3-29-08
http://www.attackpoint.org/viewlog.jsp/user_62/per...

Not the best route choice but not terrible.

I was awarded a damaged metal Troll Cup (chalice actually) for the maneuver and I still cherish it.
Steve

The weekend of the 1998 Gay City A-event was memorable for me in a few ways -- even though I was only there for Saturday's race, due to a family gathering on Sunday.

I was not a witness to Steve's legendary swim, and my run was nothing to write home about, but, IMO, the event dinner that evening was one of the best in my 27+ years of O-ing. It was hosted at and by a local church; besides the food being delicious and homemade, it was served at the tables, so there was no waiting in a long line.

Being a NY Yankees fan, Sunday was memorable because David Wells pitched his perfect game. Finally, at midnight, New Jersey raised its freeway speed limits from 55 to 65 mph -- a change I had actually testified in favor of before legislative committees.

A memorable weekend for me because it was my most impressive performance in a chase start. I was on M-Brown because I had a really bad cold/sinus infection, and walked the course on Saturday just because I wanted to see this new map. I wound up in second place on the course, about a half-hour behind Al Smith, and was dumbfounded that at a walking pace I had managed to be ahead of everybody else. I was feeling somewhat better on Sunday, and Peter asked whether I thought I could catch Al. I took it as a challenge, and despite a vicious coughing fit partway through, I did catch Al with a couple of controls to go, and then just tucked in immediately behind him and blatantly followed him for the rest of the course, until blowing by at high speed in the finish chute. So mean. But I then hung around the finish for the rest of the day, and got to watch Steve's swim (I think there was a splash, and we looked over and figured out who it had to be, then wildly cheered him on).

I have it on good authority that there will be pre-printed courses for this weekend's meet. The NEOC site is now showing Green and Red courses too. This makes it an easy decision for me...Gay City here I come.

If you go to Gay City, be sure to tell the gate attendant that you are there for orienteering so they will waive the hefty parking fee.

I pre-ran the Red course at Gay City this AM. Nice course, about 7.2km, marshes are wet and the FDF's are out in force. Green course is 5.7km.

You won't be disappointed if you opt for Gay City...

You won't be disappointed if you opt for Gay City...

Unless the additional travel time makes me late for the dance recital...

I am having trouble getting the image of JJ quickly changing from his O kit to a tutu while driving out of my head.

Come on Joe, think, he's an efficient guy, he'll obviously be orienteering in the tutu. No changing needed.

Looks like I will not be in the audience for this one, actually. I expect to be on stage, in appropriate attire.