Discussion: Blue Hills Traverse 2022?

Haven't been able to find any info on the Blue Hills Traverse this year. Is it not happening? Awaiting permits? Happening elsewhere?

I know that there have been permit issues in the Blue Hills so my instinct is that it will not be happening sadly... (unless they decide to go elsewhere? but I'm not sure where else it could be hosted)

There are possibilities... Beech Hill/Baldwin Hill?

Not me...........DCR has become impossible at Blue Hills.

Re Beech Hill/Baldwin Hill, I'm curious - they're DFW properties, which used to mean very easy permissions, but then a new regional manager came in who was not in favor of orienteering. What's the current status on that front?

If someone would like to put time in to help us figure this out, please e-mail me at wjohnecheck@yahoo.com. We welcome additional involvement on this front and have had various discussions on this topic! Right now there is not a plan for a Traverse this year. We are starting planning for 2023 now though!

It is highly unlikely we will have a Traverse at the BH in the near future (can't use area east of 28). Our goal right now in working with DCR is to be able to go off trail in other areas of the BH.

Beech Hill/Baldwin Hill was not discussed thus far in this context so good to know about it as an option. My understanding is that we have not asked about permissions since it became more difficult to use (so TP you probably still have the latest info).

Ah…the Blue Hills Traverse does bring back fun memories. Never the best map but always a great event including if I remember correctly the Saeger loop? And also a lift to the start although I’m unsure how enough cars and drivers were rustled up for the occasion.

I was working on permissions at Baldwin hill a few years ago just as the new manager was taking over. I was told then that they would not permit any events DFW land.

Well, that sucks.

Question: who at DCR is making these rules (or DFW)? They often seem to operate arbitrarily, but can be pushed one way or another by legislators. I'm happy to reach out to some who I know to ask why this is happening if there's not already a good reason. State workers often take their cues from legislators.

My info was from Ed and Alex, that few years back. I'd have to think that DFW might be more persuadable, if that one guy would listen to what we actually do. Hunters obviously go off trail. (and events on DFW land should be only on Sundays in hunting season)

Perhaps worth noting is that (last I knew, at least), Beech Hill has a practice orienteering course set up for hunters.

I think that course fell into disuse, and the building where the associated hunter safety program was based (E part of map) was torn down.

You're right, no sign of the that building (or the other old buildings) in Google Maps satellite view. (I haven't been out there in quite a while.)

These are rather far afield, but for the truly addicted, here are a couple of Traverse alternatives one could seek out:

Nov 20: Day 2 of the Ontario Championships in Milton, ON, near Hamilton, Toronto, and Guelph: 3 mass start races, the longest is 7-8 km.
https://www.dontgetlost.org/ontariochamps

Dec 4: the Possum Trot, day 2 of Possum Trot Weekend, in Lenexa, Kansas. Details aren't posted yet but the 2019 Trot was a mass start with a Billygoat-style skip, 13-ish km and winning time of 1h15m by a visiting Dane.
https://www.ptoc.org/htdocs/schedule.html

The Baldwin/Beech option is not available until after hunting season is over, so we'll have to see if there's interest in holding it in January.

Wil Smith and I are organizing an up to 50km teams of two ultra adventure run on May 7, 2023 in the Parry Sound region. Check out: challengetheshield.ca