February 8, 2020

Eagle Island Orienteering

Perhaps you know orienteering at Eagle Island from one of our October Vampire-O meets held at night. This daytime meet will feature an intermediate course to test your navigation in the more complex parts not visited at night and an advanced course to test your speed and endurance to the far corners of the park. We will also have a beginner course suitable for folks who want to stay on the trails and get an introduction to orienteering.

LOCATION
Make sure you pay the $5 vehicle entry fee on the way into the park at the entrance kiosk. For a bargain the Idaho State Park Passport is only $10 for full year access to all 30 state parks. It' a windshield sticker for Idahoans and is available for purchase at the time you register your motorhome or passenger vehicle, online, or by mail-in renewal or at any county DMV office. The park has generously allowed us use of the park without paying any event or shelter rental fee. In return, please pay the park entry fee if you do not have the Annual State Park pass.
Access to the park is now from State Street.

When: 
Saturday, February 15. Starts from 9:00 - 11:00 AM, possibly later depending on the weather. Sometimes during the middle of February an early start on frozen ground is more desirable than a warmer start on muddy ground. I don't expect it will make much difference, but if it does we will be flexible. In any case, the course will remain open for 2 hours after the last orienteer starts.
Course closes at 1:00 PM unless we have late starts due to weather, so if you want more time you should come earlier in the window.

ADVANCED
Format: Classic: approximately 6.6 km.

INTERMEDIATE
Format: Classic: approximately 3.0 km.

BEGINNER
Format: Classic: approximately 1.6 km.

RSVP: To minimize waste, please email me (jnm2870 at cableone dot net) with your count of maps needed and your choice of course(s) (beginner, intermediate, advanced) needed by Thursday, February 13. A request for a beginner map will be regarded as a request for both a beginner and an intermediate map as many beginners try that course and then want to take on the intermediate course--two maps for the price of one. If you show up off the cuff, I will probably have a few blank maps to copy a course by hand, buy don't count on it.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Cost:
Local meet fees paid at the start desk on the day of the meet:
Single meet (day) membership: $10 per person/team, free for members
Single Junior (up to 20 years old): $5 per person/team, free for annual memberships.
If more than one map is needed for a team, a small additional fee may be needed per the discretion of the meet director depending on printing costs.
You may join CTOC for the full year which makes all local meets free! See member info at http://ctoc-boise.blogspot.com/2008/09/membership-and-fees.html. Annual memberships are pro-rated based on the number of months remaining in the year. Family memberships in February are $60. Individual memberships are $42.

Bring:
Compass! Rentals available for $1.00.
SportIdent chip. Rentals available for $2.00.
Waiver, prepared in advance especially if you are not a CTOC member. You can download a waiver from the documents under the Membership and Fees heading. If you are bringing a minor who is not your own child, you MUST bring a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
A suitable pack with essentials and snacks as you usually need to prepare for a day hike in the woods.
Sufficient water for yourself.
Sunscreen and/or hat. This is very exposed terrain.
Gaitors are recommended for the intermediate and advanced courses.
Cell phone.

Important notes:

Please carry out any waste.
There are a few barbed wire fences around. As always be alert to loose strands of wire on the ground, and as always watch where you run and step. Hope to see you out navigating with us!

John Murray

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