Granite Peak Meet Results

 

It was the night before Granite Peak and all along the Payette

smoke filled the air just as all of the controls were set.

Up on the mountain top as day descended into night

Andy took a photo that made it alright.

Photo credit to Andy Hill who took this photo on Saturday morning.

I know that our sport has the reputation for going forward in daunting weather. I have directed meets in the snow and in triple digit temperatures. Where I draw the line is health and safety. Air quality in Cascade was decidedly unhealthy. I wavered until Friday evening on whether to postpone the meet. The much better air quality on the mountain decided the question. Andy camped there on Friday night and took the photo that illustrates the enormous difference between the air quality in the valley and on Granite Peak.

For me the highlight of the meet was Eloise's breakout performance. In national orienteering competition Eloise at age 14 would compete on an orange course. An orange course design encourages navigation using large features, trails and linear features (streams, fences, etc.). Effective navigation on the Granite Peak Intermediate Map requires contour reading, vegetation reading, and a higher level of topographic awareness. In addition, it is longer and more physically demanding. Her third-place performance against older and more experienced orienteers speaks to her expanding capabilities. Bear in mind that she was alone in truly rugged and wild country. A note about the terrain needs to be emphasized: There is only one road bisecting the map. There are no trails.

David and Alecia brought their friends, Daphne and Will Kemper, to get their first taste of orienteering. Will is a long-time competitive cross-country runner and the North Junior High XC coach. I hope that the distraction of a map and compass on unfamiliar terrain enhanced rather than distracted from the experience.

I am grateful to Kirsten and Pepper (she is a dog that can run like few others) for picking up the southern intermediate controls and to Carol and Peter for taking the long hike to pick up the advanced controls. Carol and Peter did not find Control 10 at its designated boulder. Detectives that they were, they determined that it had been vandalized ( my apologies to U of I alumni for that choice of words ). The investigators did provide accompanying photo of Control 10 along with elk tracks in the dirt. I know I'm presuming guilt in the absence of due process, but I still will not be sympathetic if the coming hunting season does not go well for that elk.

I am also grateful to Andy on two counts. He picked up the northern intermediate controls. Also he critiqued the map. Among his many observations, the bare rock and cliffs should be simplified and the distinct trees should meet some clearly stated standard. As the mapper I know that the designation of distinctive trees wasn't even up to the standard of haphazard. My apologies to those of you who struggled with those trees.

Put our next meet on your calendar. On Saturday, September 27 Sergey will direct a meet on a the new Idaho City Southwest Map. Check out his extensive mapper's notes on Meetup.com.

Also anyone inspired to compete at the top levels should consider the Orienteering National Championship Meet in the Boston area October 11-13.

John Murray

Meet Director