Mapper's and Course Setter's Notes and Information
East Fork Map History
Bantam Highlands (Friday)
A small area (less than 1 square kilometer) was
originally mapped by Mike Minium in 1992, as a pre-OCAD color copy.
The map was updated and expanded in 1995 and again in 1998, mostly by Mike
Minium, with some slight assistance from Derek Hertel and Vladimir Gusiatnikov.
An additional area of approximately 14 square kilometers was mapped by
Vladimir Zherdev in fall, 2003. The area was used by the classic
courses of Flying Pig IX on April 3, 2005.
East Fork North (Saturday and Sunday)
This area was newly mapped by Valdimir Zherdev in
fall, 2004 and fall, 2005, and has not previously been used for orienteering.
General Notes that apply to all days and courses
The ground is saturated, so you WILL get wet and muddy. Also, normally we start to see our first ticks in early April. I haven't seen any yet, but if it is a warm weekend, they could start to emerge.
Map symbols are generally ISOM, with a few exceptions. Brown X has been used for rootstocks. In general, these are at least 1.5 meter tall, although a few older, smaller ones are still on the map.
Green O is a distinct single tree. The map makes no distinction between deciduous or coniferous.
Black X and O have also been used. Along roadsides, the black O is generally a utility junction box, perhaps 2 meters in height and width. Along trails, black O is often a very small, thin 1 meter tall mileage post. There are a number of other similar posts along trails that aren't mapped; only the ones with mileage numbers are shown. Black X has been used for a wide variety of manmade objects, including sign posts and larger junk piles. There has been a lot of dumping in East Fork, and only the larger junk piles are shown. In general, these are large (2 or 3 meters across or more) middens of trash or decaying automobiles. Smaller junk piles, including old appliances, even as large as refrigerators, may not be shown.
The predominant vegetation you will encounter is multiflora rose. Armed with sharp, downward pointing thorns, it attaches easily and releases only with tearing of flesh and clothing. Do not wear shorts. You will regret it. Areas mapped as dark green are often thick with multiflora rose, but you can find it in some quantity just about anywhere, even in white forest.
The flatter upland areas are often mapped light or medium green, and generally, this is young, closely spaced trees, but not excessively thorny. The ground is saturated and you can expect standing water or muddy conditions in most of the flatter areas.
There are many old wire fences in various states of decay throughout the area. Where setters or vetters tripped over them, you may find orange or pink streamers on them, but don't expect every fence to be marked.
As of early March, buds on honeysuckle bushes and multiflora rose had begun to open (this is quite a bit earlier than usual). As of now (March 25), visibility in most places is still excellent.
As of March 25, the lake level is below pool, so there is open shoreline, somehwat muddy but often runnable. This should not have a significant effect on courses. If we were to get heavy rain and a significant rise in lake level, a couple legs of the relay might have to go further to avoid high water. Otherwise, the lake shouldn't really come into play.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Middle Distance Courses at East Fork State Park (South)
Course Setter Mike Minium Course Consultant Elis Eberlein Vetter Bill Swift
Walk to the start
parking to registration
less than 100 meters
registration to start
about 1500 meters
Courses
The map is approximately 16 by 11 inches. Descriptions
are on the front of the map. Descriptions for white and yellow courses
are in English only. Descriptions for orange and above are in IOF
symbols only (ISCD2004).
| Course | Length | Climb | Controls |
| white | 2.7 km | 80 | 13 |
| yellow | 2.9 | 110 | 13 |
| orange | 3.3 | 120 | 9 |
| brown | 2.7 | 60 | 10 |
| green | 3.4 | 100 | 12 |
| red | 4.4 | 180 | 13 |
| blue | 5.4 | 220 | 17 |
Restrooms There will be indoor restrooms at the park office and registration, within 100 meters of parking and 200 meters of the finish. However, we must do our best to keep the building clean by removing muddy shoes and metal-studded shoes. There are no facilities at the start.
Warm up You are permitted to warm up in the woods SOUTH of the trail along the walk to the start. You may NOT enter the woods north of the trail.
Clothing return Warm-up clothing may be dropped in bags by the road at the start call-up line & will be transported to the finish.
Course Setter's Notes
The Buckeye Trail winds throughout the area, and is marked with light blue blazes. Following it out of the park will take you on a 1400 mile loop through more than half of Ohio's 88 counties. This portion of the Buckeye Trail is also shared with the North Country National Scenic Trail and the trans-continental American Discovery Trail. It is generally well-blazed, and where it does not share its route with horse or bike trails, it is in the best condition (less muddy, better cleared) than any other trail in the park. On the map, it is marked with small blue "BT" next to the trail.
The Backpack Trail loops out and back through this area, sharing about half of it's route with the Buckeye Trail. It is marked with orange or red blazes. Where it does not share route with the Buckeye Trail, it is less distinct and less maintained. Although mapped as a major trail, there are places where an incautious runner could lose it. Blazing is inconsistent. In some places, almost every tree is blazed but in others, there are gaps where you can't see a blaze or where it is blazed only in one direction.
All Friday courses will pass through an area criss-crossed by a network of mountain bike trails. The bikers are building new trails, with a work party averaging 30 or more people on the first weekend of every month. We should have all of the new trail sections from the March work weekend on the map. Just keep in mind that the trail routes and conditions are changing rapidly. Where a trail segment is replaced, the workers are throwing some branches across them at the connecting points, but the old tread is compacted and will remain visible for some time, probably several seasons at least. So, we've left the abandoned segments on the map, but they may be shown with "minor trail" or "indistinct trail" symbols. There is still some orange survey flagging on some of the new trails.
The Horse Trails are in a word, horrible. Many segments could easily have been mapped as a linear marsh, instead of as a trail. Brace for shoe-sucking mud if you dare to follow a horse trail. They are sporadically marked with dark green blazes. You won't see many of the horse trails on Friday, but Sunday will more than make up for it. You probably won't see horses Friday, but if you do, please use courtesy and give them plenty of room.
The Friday map is composed of the work of different mappers. The mapping between the two map sections is different. Probably the biggest difference is the mapping of vegetation. The new map (Zherdev) has extremely detailed vegetation mapping, while the old map (Minium) has more generalized and simplified vegetation mapping.
Courses cross at least one major stream. If there are storms Saturday or Sunday morning, there may be a need for designated crossing points. Check for any last-minute instructions at the start.
White course has two legs with streamers leading from the control to within sight of the next control. Yellow course shares one of these streamered legs.
Advanced courses (orange and above) may see one segment of trail mapped as an indistinct trail which is not visible on the ground, but is marked with head-high orange streamers (unless the mountain bike work crew has completed it, in which case it will be a new trail with freshly cut bare dirt).
- Mike Minium
| Fri. 31 March 2006 | Eastern STANDARD Time |
| Begin civil twilight | 5:55 a.m. |
| Sunrise | 6:22 a.m. |
| Sun transit | 12:40 p.m. |
| Sunset | 7:00 p.m. |
| End civil twilight | 7:27 p.m. |
Saturday, April 1, 2006
U. S. Sprint Course Championship at East Fork State Park (North)
Course Setter Mike Minium Course Consultant Elis Eberlein Vetter Bill Swift
Walk to the start is 50 to 350 meters depending where you park. Return from finish is 50 to 500 meters, again depending where you park.
Courses
There will be 3 courses. Classes normally on
white or yellow will share course 1. Classes normally on orange,
brown and green will share Course 2. Classes normally on red and
blue will share course 3. The start interval on the Sprint course
is one minute. The map is approximately 8.5 by 11 inches. Descriptions
are on the front of the map. Descriptions for Course 1 are in English
only. Descriptions for Course 2 and 3 are in IOF symbols only (ISCD2004).
| Sprint Course | Normal
USOF Courses |
Length | Climb | Controls | Estimated Winning Time | Max.Points in the
U.S. Sprint Series |
| Course 3
Sprint |
blue
red |
2.8 - 2.9 | 40 | 9 | 12 - 15 minute winning time
for top M-21+ runners |
50 |
| Course 2
Sprint |
green
brown orange |
2.3 - 2.4 | 80 | 9 | 12 - 15 minute winning time
for top M 50+ runners |
40 |
| Course 1
Sprint |
yellow
white |
1.5 - 1.6 | 100 | 12 | 12 - 15 minute winning time
for top M-14 runners |
30 |
Restrooms The Sprint and the Relay will be based in the campground. There are several restrooms, which also have showers available. It is NOT known if the restrooms closest to the Sprint and Relay starts and finish will be opened by April 1. (The park assistant manager has assured me that they will be open). At this time (March 22) only Loop C is open. If you are camping, please camp in Loop C. If you are NOT camping and wish to use showers, please purchase a shower card at registration for $1 per shower.
Warm up There will be a small model area. Parking and the model area will be in Loop H.
Clothing return Because the start is very convenient from parking, there will be no transportation of warm-up clothing. You may leave clothing at teh call-up line but you are responsible for returning to pick it up after your race.
Lunch Following the sprint, a selection of food and beverage items will be available for purchase. Concession will be run by the Stephen T. Badin High School Orienteering Team. The lunch will be in loop G. Loop G will be closed to car traffic during the sprint, but once you finish your sprint, you may walk in to buy lunch and snacks. Once all sprinters have finished, the gate will be opened and you may move your car into Loop G to be closer to the Relay start/finish.
Setter's Notes
The map is 1:5000 with 5 meter contours. There is no legend printed
on the map. Normal ISOM symbols are used. Roads and campsites
are shown with the standard brown road symbol. There are not many
large, wide areas of pavement, so we did not use the lighter "paved area"
symbols. There are several small buildings, but no significant overhangs
or pass-throughs. There are a few single trees (green circles) and
a few rootstocks (brown x). The most unique use of a symbol is the
blue circle normally used for a well. Throughout the campground,
there are concrete and brick structures about 1 meter tall. They
are either drinking water sources or waste-water disposal drains.
From any distance, they look identical. These are shown with the
blue circle. The start triangle is centered on one and it is described
with the ISCD symbol for "water tank" or "water trough". There are
not any others with controls, but they are quite visible from a distance
and can help you track your progress through the campground. The
forest is mostly quite open, but patches of dark green are thick with greenbriar
thorns.
| Sat. 1 April 2006 | Eastern STANDARD Time |
| Begin civil twilight | 5:54 a.m. |
| Sunrise | 6:21 a.m. |
| Sun transit | 12:40 p.m. |
| Sunset | 7:01 p.m. |
| End civil twilight | 7:28 p.m. |
Saturday, April 1, 2006
Lunch A selection of food and beverage items will be available for purchase. Concession will be run by the Stephen T. Badin High School Orienteering Team.
U. S. Relay Championship at East Fork State Park (North)
12:45
Pre-start briefing and demonstration of map exchange
12:55
First leg competitors line up
1:00
Mass start of first leg runners
Course Setter Matthew Robbins Course Consultant Elis Eberlein Vetter Mike Minium
Walk to the start is less than 200 to 500 meters depending where you park if you move your car into loop G, 500 to 1000 meters from Spring Parking in Loop H.
Courses
Order and approximate difficulty of legs
| leg 1 | leg 2 | leg 3 | leg 4 | |
| 4 point team | green (A) | orange | green (B) | red |
| 8 point team | orange | yellow | green | red |
| 12 point team | orange | yellow | brown | green |
| Team | Leg # | Leg | Length | Climb |
| 4pt | 1 | Green A-Short | 5.4 | 235 |
| 4pt | 2 | Orange 4 | 4.2 | 190 |
| 4pt | 3 | Green B-Long | 6.1 | 265 |
| 4pt | 4 | Red 4 | 6.6 | 270 |
| 8pt | 1 | Orange | 3.8 | 165 |
| 8pt | 2 | Yellow | 2.9 | 100 |
| 8pt | 3 | Green 8 | 6.1 | 265 |
| 8pt | 4 | Red 8 | 6.5 | 270 |
| 12pt | 1 | Orange | 3.8 | 165 |
| 12pt | 2 | Yellow | 2.9 | 100 |
| 12pt | 3 | Brown 12 | 3 | 110 |
| 12pt | 4 | Green 12 | 5.1 | 235 |
Restrooms See information for "Sprint" above.
Warm up Please confine warm up activities to Loop H.
Clothing return Start and finish are together & you have team-mates to watch your things. So, there will be no return of warm-up clothing.
Setter's Notes
1. You'll need Big Cleats. Yellow, Orange, and Brown are probably okay with whatever you normally use, but big cleats are still a good idea.
2. It is virtually certain that your feet will be wet.
3. The courses are forked. This means you will be running slightly different courses from other people running your leg (the "4-legs make a relay" type of leg), but the combined 4 runners on each team will have completed the same combination of legs (the control-to-control type of leg).
4. The Green and Red courses have been described as "rugged". The terrain is a plateau cut by erosion gullies. From the lake to the flat plateau is about 35m. Green and Red should expect do this 25-35m climb many times.
5. Probably the most serious hazard on the course is the steepness of the slopes. You must read the map and pick areas that are less steep for climbing and descending. In most places, but not all, the lowest 1 or 2 contour lines are very steep, and the higher contours are not as steep. Again, read the map carefully. In the interest of fairness to the slower competitors as well as the elites, I propose that there are two strategies for handling the steepness:
a. In the steepest areas, the only real option is climbing in the water path of the gullies. I have tried to avoid legs that require specific gullies, because I would expect them to be chokepoints slowing the faster runners. In many cases, the gullies are very narrow. If someone faster is coming up behind you, please yield so they can pass. I have seen very few impassable gullies, although the footing is often poor, and there are usually some fallen branches. We did find one unmapped cliff in a gully that made it impassable. We believe it changed since Vladimir mapped it.
b. In most locations where the slopes are more moderate, the safer route choice might be to avoid the gullies and climb on the spurs. This will prevent any traffic jams in the gullies from slowing you down.
6. Another hazard on this map is the thorny vegetation. This area seems to have more varieties of briar than other maps in Cincinnati. In the green and green-bar areas, the plants and stems are more easily visible. There are a lot of little knee-high 2-5 stem plants that don't slow you down much, even in white areas. Even in the white areas of the map, there are very occasional long, tangled, single stems of greenbriar that are hard to see. They extend from the ground to the branches and are sometimes over 10 feet high. Please keep an eye out as you're running along. Trust me---it hurts. I've found that an extra layer under your O'Pants really helps, like some polypro long johns or some old tights. Long sleeves and gaiters are probably a good idea. (And I have tried to keep in whiter areas as much as possible.)
7. Because of the steepness, and the variability of the ease of climbing the slopes, we really don't have a good feel for winning times. In particular the times will depend upon the amount of rain before the event. Our guess is that Red is a little short and the longer Greens a little too long. The complications of forking, primarily, made it difficult to adjust the lengths. For the slower teams, we will be watching the time and giving you adequate time to finish before dark.
8. Map comments:
a. Vladimir Zherdev has made us a great map. It has been a pleasure to use during the course setting process.
b. In the lowland flat areas, especially near the lake, there is a 3-foot-high segmented plant that looks like little stems of bamboo. However, it is very bendable, squeaks when you run through it, and tries to trip you. We received the map too late to incorporate changes for this. In general, there are little trails in these areas that make it lot easier to travel. It is found throughout the lowland areas. I'm guessing it was significantly different when Vladimir mapped it in the fall.
c. It is sometimes difficult to understand why Vladimir chose the symbols he did when he mapped reentrants, dry ditches, and erosion gullies. There seems to be a progression from dry ditches to reentrants to erosion gullies, in terms of difficulty to cross, but there also seems to be a lot of overlap. Dry ditches seem to be less extreme, and erosion gullies the worst, but in general, they all tend to be steep.
9. Please carry a good whistle: Did I mention that it's steep?
I must thank the course consultant, Elis Eberlein, and the event director, Mike Minium, for all their help with these courses. Their input has made these courses better than I could have done alone. In a few cases, they gave me good advice that I didn't take, so I'm hoping you and I don't regret that.
Last year for the Team Trials classic course, Mike and Eric Weyman and I were discussing how to set the courses using the map we had to be "representative" to Japan. We didn't have a map that allowed a lot of interesting hill legs, so we decided to emphasize reading vegetation problems. Looking at the Japanese WOC maps, I don't think this relay area is representative either, but it's a lot more representative than last year's maps.
I hope you enjoy the courses, both for the relay and for the other events. Please come again next year!
Matthew Robbins
Cincinnati
Start/Finish Details:
1. The first starts will be from a line, with maps facedown on the ground in front of you. At the start signal, the first leg will grab their maps and then run about 100m down a start corridor. At the end of the corridor is the start triangle. Runners must run to the start triangle before proceeding to control 1. The mass start first leg, however, will not punch at the start triangle.
2. As runners run down the finish corridor, they will cross the finish line, punch a finish control box, surrender their map, find the next leg's map, and hand it to the next leg runner. Maps will be arranged by bib number. If the first leg runner is bib 501, 501 will collect map 502, and hand it across a fence to the person wearing bib 502. Be very careful to collect the correct map. Because of the forking, all the maps are specific to the bib number.
3. Runners for legs 2, 3, and 4 will wait near the map exchange area and will queue up as their teammate finishes. When the runners receive their maps, they must run about 100m down the start corridor. After the mass start, an SI control will be placed in the start triangle. Runners for legs 2, 3, and 4 must punch the start triangle. This is purely to accommodate the SI software, and to provide first leg splits to each runner, as well as transition time information.
4. All courses will pass through a spectator control very close to the map exchange area. This means that runners on the course and runners in the start corridor may be on collision paths. Please pay attention in these areas.
5. One purpose of the spectator control, other than its obvious purpose, is to provide notification to teammates that the runner will be finishing soon. We are not planning any other notification.
6. Regarding the start, finish, and map exchange areas. Runners must proceed to the end of the start corridor. Finishers must run in using the finish corridor. No one but a finisher collecting a map is allowed in the fenced in map area. While runners on the course will probably favor the "expected flow" into and out of the spectator control, the only area specifically out-of-bounds is the actual finish *line* and the fenced in map area. The entire spectator area is in-bounds. Crossing the finish corridor and the start corridor is acceptable. Please keep an eye out for runners running through from unexpected directions.
7. Timing and splits printouts will be using the SportIdent “Run-In Order” mode, which means everyone’s time at download will be your team’s cumulative time. The time between controls will be calculated correctly, but your time on the course will not be correct (except for the first leg). As I’ve stated above, the start triangle will be a punched control for all but the first, mass-start leg, so that we can more easily keep track of the data, and you can get a good start time for your leg.
8. Finally, the anchor leg runners have one last idiosyncrasy. USOF Rules require a run-through finish. In the event of close finishes, the winner will be decided by finish line judges. Please maintain your run-in order as you punch the finish control. Again, you will punch the finish control after you run through the finish line. For all legs, the finish control will be some distance from the finish line---We’re not planning to move it during the event.
Tips for juniors:
1. It is very easy to get turned around on this map. If you're having trouble, use your compass to align the map to north, and verify that the linear features around you line up correctly. (And if you don't understand this, ask someone to explain it to you.)
2. Always check the control code when you punch. Check at every control---The courses are forked, and if you blindly follow someone into a control, it might not be your control.
3. If you miss a control, you have to go back and get it, and then get all the remaining controls in order. Say you went from 3 to 5, missing 4. You have to go back to 4, punch it, and then go to 5 again. If you punch 3-5-4-6 and then finish, you'll be disqualified. However, it is okay if you accidentally punch out of order, as long as you go back and have punched all the controls in the correct order. For example, if you punch 3 then 5, you are okay if you go back and then punch 4 and then 5 (again). The scoring software will ignore the wrong punch at 5, *as long as you went back* and got them in order.
4. If you're lost or having trouble, think it through and try to figure out where you are. Try to find features that are on the map so you can relocate.
5. Remember, your teammates are counting on you.
Vetter's Notes
There is a good chance you
will cross horse trails and see horses on both the Relay and Sunday events.
If you meet horses on the trail, please give them a wide berth. If
you can't leave the trail and give them at least 20 or 30 meters clearance,
slow down or stop if the horse seems skittish. Talking to the rider
in conversational tones also helps calm the horse.
There is a major stream that crosses all relay courses.
It will probably be a wet-foot but not dangerous crossing unless there
is very heavy rain immediately before or during the event. We'll
advise you if any special precautions should be taken.
Sunday, April 2, 2006
Daylight Savings Time begins. Turn clocks ahead 1 hour!
Classic Distance courses at East Fork State Park (North)
Course Setter Steve Vaughan Course Consultant Elis Eberlein Vetter Mike Minium
Walk to the start is 1.3 to 1.5 km, mostly on park roads. From the parking lots, look for flagging tape along the park road to the south.
Courses
The map is approximately 11 by 16 inches. Descriptions
are on the front of the map. Descriptions for white and yellow courses
are in English only. Descriptions for orange and above are in IOF
symbols only (ISCD2004).
| Course | Length | Climb | Controls |
| white | 2.2 | 100 | 11 |
| yellow | 3.2 | 200 | 11 |
| orange | 4.9 | 230 | 13 |
| brown | 3.8 | 190 | 9 |
| green | 5.4 | 240 | 14 |
| red | 7.6 | 360 | 18 |
| blue | 9.8 | 360 | 20 |
Restrooms There is a 2-stall outhouse (one marked for each gender) at the parking lot for registration and finish. There are modern restrooms and showers in the campground (about a 3 mile drive on park roads). Please buy a shower pass for $1 per shower from OCIN registration. There are no facilities at the start.
Warm up You may warm up along the park road . You may enter the woods for 100 meters east of the road along the area streamered to the start. Once the trail to the start leaves the road, you may also arm up along the trail and within 50 meters to the south of the trail.
Clothing return Warm-up clothing may be dropped in bags where the trail to the start leaves the road (about 300 meters to the start). Clothing will be transported to the finish.
Vetter's Notes
There will be mud and there
will be blood. Horse trails and multiflora rose are waiting.
Although the courses make good use of the steeply eroded ridges and ravines
near the lake, they also all cross a large area of very flat, very bland
upland terrain. 90% of your climb will be in the first half to two
thirds of your courses.
The ground is saturated
and you can expect to find standing water throughout the flat areas.
You'll need to pay careful attention to old fence lines and vegetation
boundaries in order to stay on course through these areas. If you
happen to use a horse trail in the flatlands (there are a few opportunities),
then expect to do some running in mud and several inches of standing water.
As the horse trails go into the hillier areas, their condition improves
substantially. You'll still find mudholes, but you'll also find segments
with decent footing. If you meet horses on the trail, please give
them a wide berth. If you can't leave the trail and give them at
least 20 or 30 meters clearance, slow down or stop if the horse seems skittish.
Talking to the rider in conversational tones also helps calm the horse.
In January 2005, the lake
flooded to its highest level ever, almost 3 contours above pool level.
In some areas (mainly around the first blue and red controls), you will
find large amounts of debris left by the high water. Watch your footing
& keep your eyes open for dangerous metal & glass objects.
Also, in a few of the ravines near the lake, you may find that many of
the smaller trees (less than 1-2 inch diameter) have been snapped off,
leaving sharp stakes from one to five feet tall. When the lake flooded,
a very hard freeze caused thick ice to form. As the lake level dropped,
these ice sheets moved, snapping off all of the smaller trees. It
didn't happen in every flooded ravine, but you'll probably see one or two
of these areas.
White and Yellow have a
separate finish from the other courses. White and yellow courses
do not cross the road while on the course. After finishing, white
and yellow orienteers will need to cross the road to download. Look
carefully. If it is a nice day, there may be lots of boat trailers
racing to and from the lake. All other courses have one crossing
of the main park road during the course, and the download will be close
to the finish.
| Sun. 2 April 2006 | Eastern DAYLIGHT SAVINGS Time |
| Begin civil twilight | 6:53 a.m. |
| Sunrise | 7:20 a.m. |
| Sun transit | 1:40 p.m. |
| Sunset | 8:02 p.m. |
| End civil twilight | 8:29 p.m. |
Pig Weather
In early April, we typically
get rain about one day in three. Snow is possible, but usually melts
quickly.
| Date | Normal High | Normal Low | Record High | Record Low | Forecast |
| Thu.
Mar. 30 |
59 (15 C) | 39 (4 C) | |||
| Fri.
Mar 31 |
59 (15 C) | 39 (4 C) | 84 (29 C) | 14 (-10 C) | |
| Sat.
Apr 1 |
61 (16 C) | 40 (4 C) | 86 (30 C) | 17 (-8 C) | |
| Sun.
Apr 2 |
60 (16 C) | 40 (4 C) | 84 (29 C) | 23 (-5 C) | |
| Mon.
Apr 3 |
61 (16 C) | 40 (4 C) | 85 (29 C) | 23 (-5 C) |
Entry Form (printable version)
East Fork State Park web site (leaving OCIN site)
How to Use Electronic Punching
archived 7 April 2006