Okay, so we had an issue with the park permit and had to re-schedule for 9 days after Halloween…but, we’re not changing the name. After all, the spooky holiday tradition must continue! With dozens of depressions, sinkholes, and caves, even the experienced navigator is sure to get turned around in circles.  However, with plenty of catching features it’s also a great park for beginners.

The format this year is a score-O for the beginners and intermediate, plus a “dog-bone” score-O for the advanced. A score-O means you have a fixed amount of time. For this event, it’s 2 hours. And you can get any CP’s in any order. You don’t have to get them all, but you have to be back before the time limit. The dog-bone variety is when two CP’s are connected with a line on the map. If you get one, you must go directly to the other before getting anything else.

Registration is OPEN

Date: Saturday, November 9th.

Location: Cliff Cave County Park. Upper Parking lot.

Time: Registration opens at 10:00 am. First Start: 11:00 am. Last Start: Noon. Course closes at 2:00 pm.

Meet Director: Jeff & Carrie Sona

Courses:

• Beginner – 2-hour score-O
• Intermediate – 2-hour score-O
• Advanced – 2-hour score-O with dog-bone format

Sprint #6 of the Tuesday evening summer series.

Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 6pm

We are back in lovely Old Town Eureka for the third time in 6 years with another bike orienteering event.  Come join us for an evening ride around our small town checking out a number of the local parks.  REGISTER NOW!

The Courses

The short course is about a 3 mile ride but you are welcome to scale that shorter, or add in some of the long course points to make it longer.  The navigation will be beginner level, but intermediate level folks might find a short cut or two.  This course is almost completely flat and uses the paved trail system around Eureka with a few brief road sections in the downtown area.  There are cross walks as well so families can feel very comfortable on this course.

The long course will take you about 8-10 miles.  While this course remains flat, more navigational skill will be needed to complete the course in a competitive time.  The long course will incorporate the short course. You will use two maps, there will be a seperate map with only the long course.

SPECIAL CHALLENGE! In partnership with our friends at Eureka Crossfit, there will be a special challenge this year that will be required on both courses.  The challenge location will be indicated on your map and when you arrive you will follow the instructions of the facilitator.  You must complete the challenge successfully in order to receive the punch for that control.  We are not spilling all the details but be ready to be off your bike for a few minutes.  

The Details

In person registration begins at 6pm with starts to begin at 6:15pm.  No starts will be allowed after 7pm. We will use ePunch for the courses and both courses use a Score O format meaning you get as many checkpoints (a.k.a. controls) as possible within a 60 minute window from your start.  All checkpoints are worth 10 points.  Anyone finishing past 60 minutes will be penalized 5 points per full minute.  The course closes at 8pm sharp.  

The Start/Finish

Like in 2022, we will be hosted by Joe Boccardi’s in Eureka.  We will be on the patio.  Please park behind the building in the designated lot and use either that lot or the adjacent lot across from the Eureka Post Office for your bike staging.  

Do not bring your bike into the restaurant or patio area.  Access the HQ at all times before and during the event ONLY through the back door entrance of the restaurant.  

After you finish the course and turn in your punch card (eStick), please join the SLOC family for food, drink, and tales of the course on the patio to Joe Boccardi’s!

The Gear

You are welcome to ride any bike you wish. You must wear a bike helmet. From there, bring your own snacks and hydration. We will provide you with the materials to make a simple but effective way to attach your map to your handlebars.

Meet Director: Nathan Graves

The map you first used last year at this meet has been fully completed. The Southeastern portion of Greensfelder, about 33% of the park and now including the Wyman Center, is complete and it’s a gem! This meet will take you around the section in great detail over four courses. HQ is at the Wyman Center, Enterprise Shelter.

Start with your annual SLOC membership, which is the best deal in St. Louis activities that you can find anywhere.  We put on at least one meet per month with courses for every level of skill, every time. Use our on-line system FIRST, to purchase your membership and receive a coupon code instantly by email to then, SECOND, register for meets at a discount for the rest of the year. We have single, family, and special group memberships. The meet is $5 for members and $20 for non-members in advance. Those go up to $10 and $25 inside of two days prior to the meet.

Registration is Open

COURSES OPEN FROM 12PM-5PM

COURSES:

WHITE: This course will be about 1.8km in length with 11 controls and climb of about 25m. The course is built to allow a youth to go out on their own with the map and feel confident. A special 1:5000 map will be provided. All controls will be along well-established paths and trails and will keep the orienteerer close to the Wyman property at all times.

ORANGE: I’ve noticed our usual orange course group has been getting good so I’m kicking this up a little on the navigation level. The length will be 3.4km with 11 controls and about 150m of climb. You will use handrails throughout and have bigger features to catch and will generally stay within the basin of Wyman.

GREEN: The green course folks will get a shot at some longer legs, more climb, and a number of route choices. This is essentially the group that is not going for the GROM (more on that to come) but still want that full course feel. This course is 4.8k in length with 12 controls and 250m of climb. You’ll be in the woods, don’t expect trails as handrails, expect to have to use all your skills.

BLUE: The blue course is designed to be course 1 of the GROM, but you are welcome to just do the blue course and be ranked on this course and not do course 2 of the GROM.  The blue course is 7.3k in length with 14 controls and 400m of climb. This is a big course by design, thus the blue designation. There will be three big climbs on this course and of course many smaller ones based on your route choices. There will be long legs with route choice options. I am excited to see what our orienteerers come up on this course.

GREEN ROCK ORIENTEERING MASTER (GROM): This is the return of the GROM. You may recall this from last year. The format is two courses; part 1 is the blue course that must be run first (as described above). Then for part 2, you check back in, find out where you stand, and get the score O map. The score O allows you to obtain any control on the map in any order. The new addition for this year is that the controls are worth different points values to increase strategy. You will have 90 minutes to obtain as many as you can. You may take as long as you like to plan your route before heading out. Everyone will be chasing the person who finished first in points on the blue course. It will be amazing!

Scoring from the GROM will be based on a weighted system combining the two scores from the blue course and the score O course. The weighting goal is to allow for balance between two different styles of course. The winner of the GROM will be the highest point total in the combined scoring system. All those who complete the blue course will also be ranked in the blue results as well.

If you are participating in the GROM, please indicate it when you arrive for the day. I am working on a unique prize for this year just like last year.

Registration Here

Location: Use the Laumeier Park entrance off Rott Road, about 100 meters East of Geyer.  Look for signs and banners at the end of the last parking lot.

The map was updated by Jon Torrance in 2021.  It’s in good shape.  Trails are generally accurate, though the less distinct trails are overgrown.  There’s a lot of green (thick vegetation).  The course design is meant to keep you out of the green.  You can run in shorts (unless you like to make interesting route choices).

Beginner Course:  Find as many of the 20 checkpoint locations as you like in any order.  No time limit, but the courses closes at 7:30 pm.  Never been orienteering before…come on out…you’ll love it!

Intermediate Course:  A 30-minute score-O.  Find as many of the 20 checkpoint locations as you can in any order, but within the time limit.  If you go over 30 minutes, there’s a one CP per minute deduction.  Oh…and you don’t get to look at you map until your time starts.

Advanced Course: A 3.2 km point to point course with 16 checkpoints.  Must go in sequence.  You don’t get to see the map until your time starts.

Note: Only beginners get to review the map before starting.  Some checkpoint locations are shared.  So, if you’re helping a beginner, please do not look at the CP locations.

We’ll be using e-punch.  Checkpoint locations may have a control flag, a metal stake without a control flag, or maybe only an e-punch unit.  Look around.  Use your clue sheet.

Twist: Laumeier Park has 70 sculptures installed across its’ 105 acres.  Definitely a unique and unusual experience.  To have some fun and whimsy, you’ll receive a printed clue sheet with “unusual” clue descriptions.  These might be helpful or might not.  You’ll get this ahead of time and can study before you start.  A traditional symbol clue sheet is printed on the map.

Register online ahead of time and things will be ready for you!

It’s the traditional 3-hour (and 1-hour) score-O event the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  This year we’ll be at Cuivre River State Park.  This is a gorgeous park and we’ve been neglecting it.  Haven’t been there?  Well, the terrain is glacially modified.  That means the hills are not as steep as some of our other large parks – perfect for some post-feast exercise and fresh air!

Family and friends in town?  Bring them orienteering.  If they’re not into orienteering, have them come out and walk the incredibly scenic 3.5 mile hiking trail around the lake…while you’re out in the woods.

A score-O format means you have a fixed amount of time to find as many checkpoints (controls) as you can.  For this one, you have your choice of either 3 hours or 1 hour.  There are a total of 25 CPs.  CPs #1-#20 are worth 10 points and #21-#25 are worth 20 points.  There’s a penalty of 10 points for every minute you’re late.

This event is great for beginners.  There are ten CPs fairly easy to find not far from the start.  If you register as Beginner, we’ll assign you to the 1-hour.  If you register as Intermediate or Advanced, we’ll assign you to the 3-hour.  But you can change your mind when you arrive.  Or even change your mind when you finish – it’s a holiday weekend after all!  Everyone gets a map with CPs #1-#20.  Advanced participants will get a second map with CPs #21-#25. 

We’ll be at the beach.  From the Highway 47 entrance, follow the signs to the park campground.  Take the turn off at the parking lot for the swimming beach. Oh, and sorry, but no, doing a “polar bear plunge” will not get you any extra points!

**Update**: The park has decided not to open the bathroom at the beach.  The nearest bathroom is a 0.4 mile walk/drive uphill to the campground (bathroom across from playground).  The Hilltop Shelter bathroom is also open.  It’s on the way as you drive through the park and is also CP #4 on the course. Also, there is no running water at the beach.  Nearest is at the campground host (site #69).  There’ll be a limited amount of water on the course and at the finish.  Please plan to bring your own.

Date/Time: Saturday, November 25

Start anytime between 10:00 am and Noon.  Course closes at 3:00 pm.

Location: Cuivre River State Park

Courses: 3-Hour and 1-Hour Score-O

Meet Director: Mark Geldmeier

Candy and spookiness at Cliff Cave!  With dozens of depressions, sinkholes, and caves, even the experienced navigator is sure to get turned around in circles.  But with plenty of catching features it’s also great for beginners.  The format will be a “score-O”.  Find as many CP’s as you can in 90 minutes. 

First start 11:00 am.  Last start is Noon.

Date/Time: October 28, 11 AM first start, 12 PM last start

Location: Cliff Cave County Park

Courses: 90 minutes Score-O

Meet Director: Jeff and Carrie Sona

Paddle Orienteering at Creve Coeur Lake

REGISTRATION

UPDATED 8/12/23 AT 6AM – QUITE THE STORM BUT IT SEEMS TO BE PASSING. WE ARE ON FOR TODAY UNLESS THE WEATHER DOES SOMETHING UNEXPECTED IN THE NEXT THREE HOURS. SEE YOU THERE!

It’s been many years since SLOC held an orienteering meet on the water and the wait is over. Join us on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Creve Coeur Lake Park. Registration and starts begin at 9am, last starts occur at 12pm. Course closes at 1pm (UPDATED TIME – LARGER WINDOW OFFERED)

How does it work?

Paddle orienteering works just like a regular orienteering meet except you use a water craft of your choice to navigate your way around the course. Any non-motorized watercraft is permitted, including canoe, kayak, pack raft, stand up paddleboard, or whatever else you have in your personal livery.

Strategy

This meet will be a Score O format so you will receive your map at registration, plot your course, get your boat all ready to go, and set out.  You will only have 60 minutes to obtain as many controls as you can.  A one-point penalty will first commence at 60:00:01 and another for each additional minute. Don’t be late!

Watch your clue sheet closely as some of the farther controls are worth more points. The Score O format allows paddlers and navigators of all levels to enjoy the course at their pace.  A non-competitive category will also be available. There is no time limit in the non-competitive category other than the course closing at 1pm.

Don’t have a boat – no problem.

Boats are not provided by SLOC but are available for rent at the Creve Coeur Lake Park boat rental kiosk. The race HQ/registration will be set up right next to the kiosk and they are expecting us and holding boats.

PLEASE PRE-REGISTER SO WE CAN TELL THE BOAT RENTAL COMPANY HOW MANY TO EXPECT!  Those who pre-register are guaranteed a rental boat.  Those who do not are first come, first serve along with the rest of those who are on the lake.

After you register and get your map, walk a few steps over to the kiosk and rent your boat. Start the meet when you have your boat and route ready.

Here is a link to the rentals, they rent canoes ($20), kayaks ($15), tandem kayaks ($20), and stand up paddle boards (SUP) ($15).  https://crevecoeurlakerentals.net/pricing/

Divisions/Categories

In order to account for the different types of boats, talents, combos, and ages this event will feature the following divisions:

Solo kayak/canoe

Tandem kayak/canoe (includes 3 person)

Stand Up Paddle Board

Pack Raft

In addition, there will be three categories of competitors:

Juniors: Solo/All team members must be under 18 years old

Masters: Solo/All team members must be 55 years or over

Adult: Anything else (including combinations where one person is in another category)

Non-competitive: Any boat, any combination, no time limit, just be back by 12pm.

Safety

The standard SLOC waiver must be signed by every participant and for minors an adult must sign.  EVERY PARTICIPANT MUST WEAR A COAST GUARD APPROVED TYPE III PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD).  It is required TO BE WORN for the entire event, no matter what water craft you use, your skill level, or how hot it is, including when using a stand up paddle board. You MAY NOT just carry it or strap it to the water craft.

These are available through the rental company or provide your own.  This rule will be enforced and if you break this rule while on the course you will eliminated from the results and may be barred from future SLOC events at the discretion of the SLOC Board.  Those renting boats must sign all rental company agreements as directed.

The event will be cancelled if there is inclement weather and we will attempt to reschedule.  We will use our website to announce this. Watch for updates if you see the weather is looking questionable that day.

Gear

The event will use e-punch.  Anyone borrowing a SLOC e-punch will be responsible for it.  If you lose the e-punch, you will owe a $30 replacement fee.  We will have string and zip ties for extra security if you would like.  It might be a good idea to bring a hat, sunscreen, and water as it will be hot.

Fees

The meet is free for SLOC members as part of your annual membership. The fee is $20 for those who are non-members and $10 for those under 18. The annual membership is still availible for only $50, that is 5 more meets before the year turns over, still the BEST DEAL in St. Louis outdoor sports!

Register Here

Date/Time: July 25, 6:00 -7:30pm (check in starting at 6:00 and begin immediately )

Location: Forest Park, Near Here: https://goo.gl/maps/m4exryWcNek7kf9m7 May change slightly as date gets closer

Courses: The first “official” event will consist of an option between a 30 minute Score-O (select beginner) OR a traditional Orienteering Sprint (select advanced). Once you complete the official event, there will be something more experimental (and shorter) that you can participate in … no registration required.

Meet Director: Bryan Niehaus

February 5, 2023

RESULTS!!!

After many years of using the old map, the club invested in updating the entire park. Thus far, about 25% is complete, enough to have a great meet! We will be exploring the newly acquired part of the park on the East side of Greensfelde Park.

Registration/check-in: 11am; no starts after 12pm

Start Location: Thanks to our friends at Wyman and Alpine Shop, our meet headquarters will be in the Enterprise Center on the Wyman campus. After entering, take an immediate right up the hill and follow the signs. All registration, starts, and finish are there. Restrooms and an indoor space are provided.

Click to access CAMP-WYMAN-EXPERIENCES-MAP.pdf

Courses available: Three options:

White Course:  For beginners; several points around the pond area and large mowed paths.  A few points off the trail to get your feet of the path in a very accessible but challenging way.  Look for remnants of the Wyman Camp there and enjoy the mix of vegetation.  Keep an eye out for shortcuts.

Score O:  23 point, Orange (mid-level) Score O course with a 90 minute time limit challenging you to plan and navigate your chosen course wisely.  Any order, penalty for any time over the limit.

Blue Course:  point to point, 6.4km, with 330m of climb.  This course is built for a winning time around 75 minutes.  Get your climb in right out of the gate, but be ready to strategically move through the rest of the course finding balance against climb. 

The bags will be on stakes, knee level, using epunch for the Score O and Blue courses. Orienteer to the feature first, not the control marker.

GROM:  Combine both the Blue and Score O for double the fun and its own category and a PRIZE for the winner of this combo. The Green Rock Orienteering Master (GROM) will be awarded to the person or team who completes both the Score O and Blue Course in the fastest time. The victor will earn the 1st ever GROM Rock as their prize.

Course notes: The new map is a different take from the SLOC maps you are used to. I find the local SLOC maps have a welcome quality and uniformity to them; likely due to those same folks building the club’s core maps inventory all around the same time. Kudos to all those who have given SLOC such a rich map history.

But this new map is a bit different, and you’ll notice that at first glance. There is a focus on smaller vegetation boundaries and more green X’s and O’s than we have ever seen. Its a chance to test your mind using a whole new set of catching features.

To that end, I have tried to highlight more of those features which we don’t see as much; root stocks take center stage. I found a nice little cave that is tucked away and placed it on the Blue course.

The Score O was built with the moderate level orienteerer in mind. My favorite new valley up off the Northwest part of the field is utilized and is rich with interesting features. The concept of the course moves in a circle around the Wyman property in the newly mapped Greensfelder area and features the “new” Eastern part purchased by the county park system last year.

On Blue you’ll do the whole loop. On the Score O, you may elect to do only the Northwestern corridor as a loop or try for the Southern piece. If you get to South section, you will get a chance to work your way up (or down) through a seldom explored area (for now). There are easier ways through this area, try to find one.

The White course explores the new pond area and wide mowed trials and structures. This is a true White level course for skill but doesn’t short you on distance or paying attention to your map. Take the trip up the hill to see a massive cave. See it now, at some point the park administration will likely close it off. This would be an ideal course for a young orienteerer go out on their own for the first time.

Warning:  Keep an eye out for barbed wire, there are several places where it is more common, including above the pond and valley area out of the mowed area. 

Safety Bearing:  If you are North of the headquarters and the main road, your safety bearing is South.  If you are South of the road and Wyman property, your bearing is North.  The West bearing will take you to the Scenic Road Dr. in the park.  It is off course and you should be heading back East.

Checking In Checking In:  No matter how your day in the woods goes, you MUST CHECK BACK IN at the end to let us know you are off the course.  You will be REQUIRED to provide you cell number and car license plate before going out on course.

Looking forward to seeing you out there. Thanks to Jarrid, Jason, and Jeff for the Wyman/Apline connection. Thanks to Josh, Bryan, Jeff, and Mark for helping and inspiring.

Gain access to one of St. Louis’ most valued nature escapes: Beaumont Scout Reservation. Directors David Fisher and Josh Borgmeyer will have multiple courses for beginners to advanced orienteers to choose from.

Come join us at the beautiful Beaumont Scout Reservation to explore this great area. This event is in coordination with the John Smerek Memorial Scout Orienteering Festival. There will be a bunch of boy scouts doing a separate O-Course we’ve designed for them. There is separate registration and pricing for the scout event so please make sure you register at the club table.

When: Saturday, March 11th

Where: Beaumont Scout Reservation: https://stlbsa.org/properties/all-properties/beaumont-scout-reservation/

Beginner Briefing: 8:00 AM: Mass briefing for scouts and adults about general map and compass navigation and getting oriented to the Beaumont Map.

Registration: 8:30 AM with timed starts to follow. No further starts after 9:30 AM. Course closes at noon. Scouts will have 6 mass starts starting at 9:15 and every 15 minutes thereafter.

SLOC participants, please register online to help us know how many to expect for the event. You may also register in-person as a last resort. Scouts, please use the forms below to register.

Cost for SLOC attendees: $20 per individual or group using the same passport. Free for members. If you haven’t done so already, purchase your $50 annual membership for the whole family that allows you free access to all regular events ALL year!

We will have 3 courses prepared:

1. Beginner: Map Hike Course (White-Yellow level): 3 KM, 60 meters of climb.
2. Intermediate: Green Course: 4.5 KM, 320 meters of climb.
3. Advanced: Red Course: 6.3 KM, 400 meters of climb.

Questions? Contact event director, Josh Borgmeyer at 314-330-3

Questions? Contact Josh Borgmeyer at 314-330-3479

The forms below are for Scouts only. Scout leaders, please bring the completed paper forms and a check made out to St. Louis Orienteering Club to the registration table on the day of the event. Thank you.