2017 Nav-X Challenge @ Harvey Bear
Course Setter Notes - click here
Quick Info
Date: Sunday, March 5, 2017
Location: On the SW shore of Coyote Lake in Harvey Bear Ranch County Park, Gilroy, California
Event Director: Vicki Woolworth (contact)
Course Directors: Lubomir Sebo
Courses: 2 & 4h Map Trek
Produced in cooperation with Bay Area Orienteering Club
List of Registered Entrants
Follow this link to an updated list of entrants.
Event summary
The first event in the 2017 Nav-X Challenge series brings us to a Wilderness just 40 minutes from downtown San Jose. Harvey Bear Ranch County Park is a vast wild area with oak studded hills, right next to Henry Coe State Park near Morgan Hill, CA. Using a map produced by the Bay Area Orienteering Club, course setter Lubomir Sebo will be treating us to a Map Trekking adventure sure to please any navigation sports enthusiast, whether you are looking for a scenic 2 hr hike in the green hills, or a 4 hr endurance race against some of the best in the West.
Schedule
| Time | Long Course - 4h | Short Course - 2h |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 | Event Check-in (and Day of Event Registration) | |
| 9:00 | Event Check-in (and Day of Event Registration) | |
| 9:15 | Event Briefing | |
| 9:30 | Mass Start | First Timer Clinic - Map Help |
| 10:15 | Event Briefing | |
| 10:30 | Mass Start | |
| 12:30 | Finish | |
| 13:00 | 2h Awards | |
| 13:30 | Finish | |
| 14:00 | 4h Awards |
New to Map Trekking or Rogaining?
Map Trekking is a “Navigation Sport” that has elements of a few other sports and activities like Trail Running, Fell Running (XC hill running), Hiking, Orienteering and Geo Caching. More specifically, Map Trekking is a time-based challenge, 2 hrs or more in length, where participants try to score as many points as possible within the time allowed, by visiting checkpoints scattered across a vast, wild landscape. Participants are free to decide which checkpoints to visit, and in what order. Typically, a set time is allowed before the start for participants to study the map, and determine their route. Participants travel on foot and navigate their chosen route using the map and a compass (No GPS allowed except for recording your track). A late finish comes with point penalties, adding another layer of challenge to the sport. Checkpoints vary in difficulty and the point value reflects the same, so that easy ones yield a lower point value than difficult ones. To encourage beginners, course setters typically provide plenty of easy checkpoints near the start and finish location.
Venue / Park Info
The park is a 6,695 acre regional recreation area, nestled in the hills east of Gilroy, CA, and features a 449 acre lake for fishing and boating. The park provides habitats for many species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. The park is home to rare western pond turtle, California tiger salamander and Bay checkerspot butterfly. Two-Hundred-Nineteen species of birds have been seen, including our “National Bird” the bald eagle. During your visit you can also be sure to see black-tailed deer, and turkeys. Visitors can explore over 33 miles of trails that wind through cool oak forests and along breezy ridgelines with wonderful views.
About the Map
More to come...
Courses and Divisions
There will be two courses offered:
- 2 hr Map Trek
- 4 hr Map Trek.
Participants can compete in the following divisions:
- Junior Male or Mixed (19 & Under, 1-5 person teams, All-male or mixed Male-Female)
- Junior Female (19 & Under, 1-5 person teams, All-female)
- Open Male or Mixed (20-49, 1-5 person teams, All-male or mixed Male-Female)
- Open Female (20-49, 1-5 person teams, All-female)
- Masters Male or Mixed (50 and up, 1-5 person teams, All-male or mixed Male-Female)
- Masters Female (50 and up, 1-5 person teams, All-female)
- Family - Adult + children up to 12 yo
Results from this event count toward the 2017 Series Championship.
Price
Early fees (25% off) through February 19th (via online registration). Regular fee is February 20th - March 2nd (via online registration). Day of Event Registration is cash only.
Discounts for orienteering club members (BAOC/GCO/etc...), $4 for adults and $2 for juniors. Discount applied during online registration process.
For family teams (2-hr course only), it is required to have at least one adult (20 & over) and at least one child (12 & under). Children 12 & under race free. Children must be registered and accompanied by an adult.
Additional fees to rent an e-punch ($5) and/or compass ($2). Only one e-punch number or rental request is required per team. On the registration page, please enter "0" for e-punch number if you are not the first person registering for your team.
| Early Registration | Regular Registration | Day of Event Registration | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Length | 2h | 4h | 2h | 4h | 2h | 4h |
| Junior (19 & Under) | $11 | $19 | $13 | $21 | $15 | $25 |
| Adult (20+) | $23 | $38 | $26 | $43 | $30 | $50 |
What to Bring
Wear what you would normally wear for a strenuous hike in Northern California. Here are some tips:
- Sturdy shoes with a good tread
- Long pants or gaiters
- Visor hat
- Compass (you may rent one for $2)
- ePunch (SI stick with 50 control capacity - you may rent one for $5 if you don’t have one)
- Pen and maybe a highlighter marker (for marking up your map and making notes)
- Water (enough for the time you will be out on the course)
- On the go snacks (energy bar, gel, etc.)
Map and Directions
(Google Map)
Coyote Lake - From U.S. Highway 101 in Gilroy, take the Leavesley Road exit. Proceed east on Leavesley Road 2 miles to New Avenue. Proceed north on New Avenue 0.5 miles to Roop Road. Proceed 3.5 miles east on Roop Road into the foothills past the Mendoza Ranch entrance. Turn left into the park and proceed 1 mile north to the entrance station and visitor center.