2017 Nav-X Challenge @ Diablo
Update: Course Setter Notes - Click Here
Quick Info
- Date: Sunday, November 12, 2017
- Location: Walnut Creek, California
- Event Director: Gavin Wyatt-Mair (contact)
- Course Director: Rex Winterbottom
- Courses: 2 & 4h Map Trek
List of Registered Entrants
Follow this link to an updated list of entrants.
Event Summary
Nav-X Challenge's final 2017 event brings you to the foothills of Mount Diablo in Walnut Creek, CA. This hilly area has beautiful views, and excellent visibility including in the Oak forests. Rex Winterbottom will bring you interesting 2- or 4-hour courses to challenge your intellect and fitness.
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 | |
| 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 event center is at Diablo Foothills picnic area. Facilities include water, bathrooms and picnic tables. The event starts and ends in Diablo Foothills, but extends widely into Shell Ridge. The terrain is hilly, with gorgeous Live Oak deciduous forests, beautiful hidden meadows, scenic rocky promontories and a well developed network of trails. The ground is hard underfoot unless it rains beforehand. Poison Oak is minimal and avoidable. There is abundant wild life - birds, deer, coyote, ground squirrels, and much more.
Please note that it is a 0.25 mile walk, approximately, from the parking area to the picnic area. Cars cannot drive close to the event center.
About the Map
A quality orienteering map most likely printed at 1:15,000 scale
Courses & 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 October 30th (via online registration). Regular fee is October 31st - November 9th (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 |
REFUND POLICY
Refund policy: 100% refund up to 10 days before event. Future race credit 1-9 days before event. No refunds for no-show.
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
Exit I-680 on Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek and drive east. After about three miles turn right on Walnut Avenue (not Walnut Blvd. Walnut AVENUE). After about two miles turn right on Oak Grove Road at the circle, then bear right onto Castle Rock Road and follow it to the Orchard Staging Area on the right. (This lot closed during winter and wet weather). There is informal parking near the park entrance at the end of Castle Rock Road. It is a 0.25 mile walk to the event center; cars cannot drive close to the event center.