Raccoongaine

Georgetown, PA, US
Mar 27, 2011

Type: Orienteering - Regional

event website

added by: sherpes

The Raccoongaine
Sunday, March 27, 2011 – 11 AM
Raccoon Creek State Park
(30 miles West of Pittsburgh)
3-hr and 6-hr foot race mini-rogaine (orienteering - scavenger hunt)

In a rogaine-style format, individuals or teams have a fixed time (3 or 6 hours in this event) to visit as many checkpoints as possible; walking, running and resting as they see fit. The checkpoints are spread over a large area, and are pre-marked on a map issued shortly before the start of the event. Point values for visiting each control vary (and are specified in advance) depending on such factors as distance from the start/finish area, elevation, navigational complexity.

Participants in a Rogaine come from diverse backgrounds: adventure racers, hikers, walkers, cross-country runners, trail runners, ultra runners, orienteerers, and family groups. Widely varying levels of competitive intensity are found, going from the casual stroller who wants a little variety added to the weekend hike to the serious athlete. Map reading skill is perhaps the most important technique needed. Route planning strategy is also very important since there won’t be time to get all the controls, so the choice of which to try for is crucial in maximizing scores.

Time: Event starts at 11 AM. on Sunday, March 27, 2011. The registration desk opens at 9:30 AM. Maps will be distributed at 10:00 AM. There is a mandatory meeting at 10:45 AM at the start location for all participants.

Organizers: Western Pennsylvania Orienteering Club – website: www.WPOC.org

Start/Finish area: Rec Hall in Raccoon Creek State Park. Located 30 miles West of Pittsburgh, near the town of Frankfort Springs. Rec Hall is located 1.5 miles west of the park headquarters, located on route 18.

Directions: From Pittsburgh, take Parkway West (I-376) in direction towards the airport. Change to Route 22 West, and exit at Route 18. Follow Route 18 for 5 miles to the north to park headquarters, and follow signs and road for 1.5 miles West to Rec Hall (GPS coordinates: N 40 30.570 , W 080 26.800)

Provided Equipment: A special-purpose topographic map on a large sheet at a 1:15,000 scale and 5 meter contour interval. with a large plastic bag will be provided to each participant. In addition, a checkpoint control punch card, and a checkpoint description sheet are also provided to each team or solo competitor. Water is available at the base camp and at selected points marked on the map. Food will be available at end of event.

Mandatory/reccomended equipment: compass, whistle, water bottle or camelback, watch, snack food, sunscreen.

Rules: No help from others is allowed during the race away from the base camp. If in a team, team members must stay within sight and speaking distance throughout the event. Portable GPS systems are allowed as long as the intention is to simply record the route taken, for later analysis and sharing.

Checkpoints: Each checkpoint is marked by an orange/white control, a triangular prism with sides approximately one foot square. The control flags will usually be visible from some distance, not intentionally concealed, but also not in view of trails or roads. There will be about 50 control points distributed in the state park area.

Scoring: The point value of all control points visited is totaled. The late penalty will be 10 points for every minute late. Tie scores will be decided by the order of finishing times. If in a team, all members of the team must be present at finish.

Awards Categories: Primary award categories will be Men, Women and Mixed, Masters (age over 40), Super veterans (age over 55), teams or individuals.

Fees: Entries postmarked by 3/17/2011 will pay a fee of $25 per person for the 6-hr events and $15 for the 3 hour event. After that date, the fees are $35 for the 6-hr event, and $25 for the 3-hr event. Race day registration is allowed. WPOC members get a $5/$3 discount on the 6/3 hr course respectively.

Registration: mail your entry to WPOC c/o Jim Wolfe, 1904 Bates Drive, Johnstown, PA 15905. Checks should be made out to “WPOC”. E-mail of registrar is jlwolfe@atlanticbb.net

Yahoo group created for this event, for communication between entrants or potential entrants ahead of the meet (people looking for a partner, looking for a ride, etc.), and for a chance to compare notes on your performance and strategy after the meet. The web site is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RaccoonGaine.

Course setter notes:
it is estimated that a foot travel route of about 36 km will be needed to visit all 50 checkpoints.

Registration

Last year's videos, stories, results, routes can be seen on the event blog

Last year's photos

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Attending:

36.1		bishop22 (log) Depends on nate
		sherpes let it go: LeBron ain't coming back
		RJM (log) Can we bring the UA soccer team?
		The Lost Pole Soloing as Beavis, Butthead couldn't make it
		JonD (log)
		Jerkface
		David_Waller (log) day after ICO's rogaine; 6 days before the Pig. Unfortunately just isn't doable
		JayXC (log) Won't be making the trip now