Foley Mountain Spring Event Spring Series

Map: Foley Mountain Conservation Area

This event is still a regular Orienteering Ottawa Sunday morning event open to everyone; however, a few things are different as it is also combined with the Spring Training Weekend

The start/finish area is at the Foley Mountain Interpretive Centre at the very end of Foley Mountain Lane. If it is raining, we will have registration indoors, but otherwise please keep out of the building unless you are part of the training camp. There are washrooms accessible outside the building on the parking lot side.

You do not need to buy a parking pass - parking is included in Orienteering Ottawa’s rental fee of the Interpretive Centre. Ignore the sign when you drive in.

The first event on Sunday morning is a Middle Distance race. Middle Distance races typically require continuous map reading as they are meant to be technically challenging in detailed terrain. Controls are closer together with constant change of direction. Expected finish times are about 25-30 minutes (shorter courses = faster speed = more challenging map reading). Spending 10 minutes relocating is undesirable, so careful map reading is necessary!

In the early afternoon we will have a fun relay event. The more the merrier for the relay - please stay and socialize and have fun with your orienteering clubmates. You can plan your own team or you can be put on a team onsite. There is no additional cost for the relay event.

Please tell your kids to keep away from the water near the start/finish. There is a steep hill/cliff that borders the water. There is a beach for swimming nearby if you are interested.

Course Setter Notes:

This map was created for the 2017 Canadian Orienteering Champs. It is still very accurate for the most part. The woods are mostly runnable. Foley Mountain has some very detailed areas that require precision orienteering and careful use of your compass!

There is a lot of rocky ground out there. Some of it is mapped, some isn’t. I found the rocky ground symbol to not be that useful. Boulders are on the small side (compared with Gatineau Park). Bare rock is not marked.>

Ticks are very common at Foley Mountain. You need to do a tick check afterwards and at home in the shower to prevent Lyme disease. Bag up your clothes and throw it in the laundry. Clubmate Mike Raz wrote a great article on ticks for orienteers. Most importantly, CHECK & REMOVE TICKS WITHIN 24 HOURS!

There was some poison ivy spotted - the usual precautions are recommended.

Middle Distances:

• Novice: 1.5km (all controls on trails)
• Easy Intermediate: 1.5km (controls just slightly off trails)
• Intermediate: 2.3km
• Short Advanced: 2.6km<
• Long Advanced: 4.2km

Relay Details:

fun forest relay event will start at 1pm. Everyone is invited to participate and there is no additional fee. Teams will need to register at the SI station prior to the relay race. There will be a whiteboard that can be used for those looking for team members.

There are two levels of difficulty: advanced and a hard novice / easy intermediate course. Intermediate-level orienteers are challenged to run as fast as they can as the course will be easier than normal.

Mass start is at 1pm for leg 1 runners. Runners finish their course and tag their next teammate who grabs their map and then heads out.

• Leg 1: 2.3 km Advanced forest orienteering (fastest will take ~15 minutes)
• Leg 2: 1 km Novice/Kids (~10 minutes running)
• Leg 3: 1 km Novice/Kids (~10 minutes running)
• Leg 4: 2.3 km Advanced forest orienteering (fastest will take ~15 minutes)

There will be mass starts for legs 2-4 (1:30, 1:45, & 2:00) for any runners whose teammate has not yet returned (so the event doesn’t drag on waiting for a slow participant).

Modified Schedule:

• Registration: 10-11
• Middle Distance Start: 10:15 - 11:30
• Relay Registration: Ongoing until 12:30.
• Relay Start: 1pm

Finish: Middle distance closes and controls are collected at 2pm. All participants must report to finish by 2pm. Relay race closes at 3pm. Everyone must be out of the woods at 3pm except those wonderful volunteers who will pick up controls as soon as everyone is back.

Please bring your own lunch for between races. The lunch that will be served is for camp participants only.

Enjoy!

Cherie Revells, course setter , Peter Laurich, controller

Location