It’s been a long time since we’ve orienteered here. Forest 44 Conservation Area is known as the gateway to the Ozarks. One of the closest locations to St. Louis with a typical Ozark type ecology. Once a cattle ranch, it was purchased by the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1990. There are spring-fed creeks, a network of trails, and a mix of flat areas and large hills. This time of year will still have great visibility in the woods, but with a splash of color from the early blooming red buds. Come out and play!
Date: Sunday, March 29
Location:Â Forest 44 Conservation Area. East entrance parking lot. From I-44, exit Hwy 141 south. Turn west on Meramec Station Road, then south on Hillsboro Road to parking lot on right. *Note: There is lots of construction. The last half mile of road is completely torn up (it’s temporary gravel). Hillsboro Road is closed south of the parking lot (so you must come from the north). Easiest navigation directions would be to Kraus Farms Equestrian Center. The conservation area parking lot is right next door.
Time: Courses open at 10:00 am. First start 10:00 am. Last start Noon. Courses close at 2:00 pm.
Courses: The Yellow course is the best option for beginners, families, and those that want to have an easy walk. Some are off-trail, but not far. The orange course has a mix of easy and difficult checkpoints. It may be harder than a typical orange course, but appropriate for adventure racers working on their navigation. The red course is for the more experienced participants.
Meet Notes:
- This area is popular for horse-back riding. Yield to any horses on the trails and/or let the riders know you are there.
- All courses will require a creek crossing at the beginning and end. There might be dry spots to cross but getting your shoes wet is likely (and the odds will increase depending on the rain in the days before the event).
- The map is old. The trail network is about 75% accurate. Some trails have been re-routed and some retired. The only update to the map was to clarify trails for the Yellow course.
- The mapped vegetation has matured, but vegetation boundaries are still fairly close. The western half of the area has open woods with great visibility and good running.
- There are numerous “watering holes” for cattle across the area. These are mapped as small ponds. You’ll visit several of them.
Meet Director: Mark Geldmeier mgeldmeier@earthlink.net
