Training Log Archive: GlenT

Event: WPOC - Babcock Bog & Boulder Challenge 2024
 

Babcock Bog and Boulder Challenge 6 hour rogaine in Gallitzin SF near Windber, PA. On a 1:15000 orienteering map by Jim Wolfe covering about 5500 acres (printed on two 11"x17" sheets in landscape format with significant overlap). The area is fairly flat with lots of marshy areas (the bogs) and rocks (the boulders). Some trails, forest roads and streams to serve as handrails and several logged areas surrounded by deer fence useful for navigation. The area is bisected by the east-west PA route 56, with the start/finish/assembly area along that road in the western part of the map. There is a large rough open area in the northeast which is a reclaimed coal mining area (no complex contour detail, just some ponds, drainage ditches and a variety of vegetation).

There were 40 control points with values ranging from 31 to 86 (control code was the point value) with a total possible of 2260 points. Temperatures were in the upper 40s with rain ending just as we started (at 11am). So the woods were wet but the conditions were good for moving through the woods for 6 hours (i.e. no issues with overheating of dehydration). There was some breeze in open areas and fog developed, reducing the visibility to about 100 feet when I was out in the open area. Control flags were hung high and visibility in the woods was very good, so getting close and scanning around usually found the flag.

On the previous two events I had done here I did a counterclockwise loop starting to the southwest, so even before seeing the map my plan was to head north and do a clockwise loop. Knowing I was unlikely to be able to get all the controls, I planned a route which prioritized higher point controls.

Quite happy with my navigation, keeping good map contact almost the whole time. Overshot one control by about 70m (control 71) when I couldn't tell what was going on in the control circle and made it trickier than it actually was (lost ~2 minutes). Lost a bigger chunk of time (8-10 min) between controls 86 and 40 misreading marshy stuff and pushing way to the north of the line I intended to be on. I had problems in this same area last year (headed in the opposite direction), so I guess this is my Bermuda triangle.

Visited a total of 28 controls for 1698 points, good enough for 1st in the Veterans Men category (55+) and 6th overall. Near the end I had 8 minutes to get control 31 which was only about 150m from the finish, but decided not to go for it. That cost me one place in the overall.

Thanks to Jim Wolfe for all he does to make this event happen (mapping, organizing, course design and setting) and Loretta Opila for her contributions (awards, food, etc.).

Control order: 34-54-61-82-74-42-55-75-63-41-81-56-62-76-36-37-83-86-40-84-39-65-85-44-71-66-73-33

Results
Livelox
Route Gadget

Test running at Merli.

Merli. Upper 50s, sunny. Bugs were out but not biting.

More hills in Lower Milford (some roads too). Mid 60s, mostly sunny.

Quick out and back to get a little piece of road near the township line which is isolated by a missing bridge.

Lower Milford. Low 60s, sunny.