2020 Nav-X Challenge @ Diablo Foothills
UPDATE 3-4-2020: Course Setter Notes
UPDATE 3-2-2020: Updated Schedule - Shifted up 10mins to include Walk to Mass Start
Quick Info
Date: Sunday, March 8th, 2020
Location: Orchard Staging Area, Diablo Foothills Regional Park, California
Event Director: Vicki Woolworth (contact)
Course Directors: Dennis Wilkinson
Courses: 2 & 4h Map Trek
List of Registered Entrants
Follow this link to an updated list of entrants.
Event Summary
Nav-X Challenge's first 2020 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. This event will feature interesting 2- or 4-hour courses to challenge your intellect and fitness. Come for the scenic vistas, hidden meadows, spectacular rock formations, and abundant wild life - birds, deer, coyote, ground squirrels, and many more.
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) | |
| 9:05 | Event Briefing | |
| 9:15 | Walk to Mass Start | |
| 9:30 | Mass Start | First Timer Clinic - Map Help |
| 10:05 | Event Briefing | |
| 10:15 | Walk to Mass Start | |
| 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 the Orchard Staging Area, which has parking, a few picnic tables and one restroom. There are additional facilities about a 0.25 mile walk away. 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. 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 many more.There is overflow parking nearby in the event (unlikely) that the main lot is closed (possible in very wet conditions).
ABOUT THE MAP
Orienteering map at 1:15,000 scale
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 (19 & Under, 1-5 person teams)
Open Female (20-49, 1-5 person teams, All-female)
Open Male (20-49, 1-5 person teams, All-male)
Open Mixed (20-49, 2-5 person teams, mixed Male-Female)
Masters Female (50 and up, 1-5 person teams, All-female)
Masters Male (50 and up, 1-5 person teams, All-male)
Masters Mixed (50 and up, 2-5 person teams, mixed Male-Female)
Family - Adults (20+) + children (12 & under)
Results from this event count toward the 2020 Series Championship.
Price
Early fees (20% off) through Feb 23rd (via online registration). Regular fee is Feb 24th - March 5th (via online registration). Day of Event Registration is cash or check only.
Discounts for orienteering club members (BAOC/GCO/etc...), $3 for adults (no member discount 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. No e-punch trade-ins allowed (ie. to get a higher punch count e-punch).
| Early Registration | Regular Registration | Day of Event Registration | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Length | 2h | 4h | 2h | 4h | 2h | 4h |
| Junior (19 & Under) | $14 | $20 | $16 | $23 | $18 | $25 |
| Adult (20+) | $28 | $40 | $32 | $45 | $35 | $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. 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 may be closed during winter and wet weather). There is informal parking and an overflow lot nearby.