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Catherine Creek

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This event will follow special procedures due to COVID-19 to reduce risks to participants

All participation requires pre registration (no event day registration).

  • This event is open to anyone who is a member of an orienteering club.

  • If you do not feel completely well, please stay home.

  • The course will have an on-site volunteer on Saturday, October 10 to record start and finish times and provide some guidance.

  • We will have assigned start times to minimize the number of participants in the start area at the same time.

  • The course will remain open through Friday, October 16.  If you plan to run the course after 2 pm on October 10 you are required to come to Catherine Creek with a friend and carry a cell phone for safety.

  • Face masks are required except when actually on the course.

  • Please observe social distancing courtesy.

  • We will eliminate common objects to touch as much as possible.

  • The Sporteering smartphone app can be used to verify your course and record split times.  We will also accept self reported times which will be marked as unverified on the results report. Learn how to use the Sporteering app here.

  • We are not conducting skills clinics or renting compasses as this event.

  • Please note there will be no restroom on-site.  You can care of business on the Oregon side of the Hood River Bridge (Chevron, Shell, Starbucks, etc.). There is also a state recreation area 1 mile West of the event site with a pit toilet in excellent condition: see driving directions.


QUICK INFO

  • Date/Time

    • Assigned starts on Sat Oct 10 (assigned between 9 AM and 2 PM)

    • Self-starts from Sun Oct 11 to Fri Oct 16

  • Location: Catherine Creek Day Use Area Trailhead, Old Hwy 8, near Lyle, Washington

  • Requirements:

    • Day of event  orienteers (Sat Oct 10 participants): 

      • Be a member of an orienteering club

      • Pre registration required for start time and map

      • Sporteering cell phone app to verify your arrival at each control site. NOTE: Be sure your cell phone is fully charged.

      • Compass (no rental compasses)

    • Self-start orienteers (Sun Oct 11 to Fri Oct 16  participants):

      • Be a member of an orienteering club

      • Safety plan: self-start orienteers must come to Catherine Creek with a friend and carry a cell phone

      • Pre registration required for map

      • Maps will be sent by email or postal service to self-start orienteers

      • (Optional) Sporteering cell phone app NOTE: If using a cell phone, be sure that it is fully charged.

      • Compass

  • Director: Mike (electro) Bruns (ormike11 at gmail dot com) and 503 730-6886


ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

To receive maps (and pick start times for day-of-event orienteers) you must pre-register. There will not be any registration on event day.

  • First deadline: pre register by 11 pm Thurs, Oct 8

    • for day of event and self-start orienteers

    • processed on Friday Oct 9

  • Second deadline: pre register by 11 pm Mon, Oct 12

    • for self-start orienteers

    • processed on Tuesday Oct 13


COSTS

No fee will be charged this year per our arrangement with the Forest Service, but you must pre-register. There will be no on-site registrations.

There is no fee for parking.


EVENT OVERVIEW

Catherine Creek offers up incomparable Columbia Gorge scenery. The terrain is open and the features are varied and intricate, adding up to some fun orienteering at all levels. Advanced courses are mostly off-trail.


TIMES

  • Registration: Online until 11:00 pm Thurs Oct 8 (first deadline) and until 11:00 pm Monday Oct 12 (second deadline)

  • Course starts for day of event orienteers: Assigned between 9 AM and 2 PM on Sat Oct 10. You must complete your course by 4 pm.

  • Self-start orienteers: Set your own time (within park hours) when you arrive in the following week (until Fri Oct 16). Courses are automatically closed when the park is closed.


COURSES

  • Yellow: 1.5 km 65 m climb for beginning orienteers. Follows linear features with short visible off-trail excursions

  • Orange: 3.4 km 100 m climb for intermediate orienteers, Offers some route choices and the chance to use navigation skills

  • Brown: 4.2 km 165 m climb for advanced orienteers (off-trail navigation) wanting a course less physically strenuous than the red course. Gaiters and long pants recommended.

  • Red: 5.7 km 265 m climb for advanced orienteers (off-trail navigation) wanting a full physical challenge. Gaiters and long pants recommended.


MAP

After you register for this event, you will receive a map in one of the following ways (that you choose):

  • PDF file sent to you by email (you must print that map)

  • Printed map sent to you by mail 

  • Printed map presented to you at the event on Saturday October 10


RESULTS

Results are posted to the Events & Results web page a few days after the event.


DRIVING DIRECTIONS AND LOCATION

45.7105, -121.3620

Latitude longitude coordinates of the event location. Copy paste these into Google maps or a smartphone mapping app to get a map and directions to the event.

  • From Portland, go east on I-84 to Hood River. Cross the bridge to the Washington side, and turn right on WA 14.

  • Go about 5.8 miles, and then turn left on Old Highway 8. Drive about 1.5 more miles and look for the orienteering signs by the parking area.

  • For a public toilet, look for an unsigned state recreation area 0.5 miles after turning on Old Highway 8, 1.0 miles before reaching the event site. There is a pit toilet here in excellent condition. 45.71025, -121.38068

  • NOTE: there are no services near the event. Bingen is the nearest town.

Earlier Event: September 19
Champoeg State Park