TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
September and October are membership renewal months at CROC; thanks for continuing your support of orienteering! Renew your membership here.
Advance online registration is required for this event.
Makes things fast and easy for YOU on event day (no paperwork or payment)
Simplifies processing the results
Helps meet directors know how many maps to print
See who’s attending, maybe plan a carpool
Quick info
Advance online registration required, deadline Thursday, Sept 7, 11:00pm
Courses: Five different courses for all skill levels. Classic point-to-point orienteering format
TImes: Map handout opens at 10:30. Start your course anytime between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
Everyone welcome, members and nonmembers
Carpool: If you need a ride, request one here and we’ll see if we can connect you with a driver
Event directors: Jill and Rick McBee
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.
See detailed course setter’s notes here.
Gaiters or similar lower leg coverings are recommended to repel evil grass seeds. Poison oak is in the area, another reason to wear long pants.
We use an electronic scoring and timing system known as “e-punch”. Each entry or team needs to have an e-punch stick. If you don't have your own e-punch stick, the rental cost is included in your registration fee. Using e-punch is easy. You can learn how at the event, or read about e-punch here.
CROC thanks our land management partner the US Forest Service.
NEW TO ORIENTEERING? WELCOME!
Our events are open to both members and non-members. Beginners, families and dogs are welcome.
Have a look at our “New to O?” webpage, which covers just about every question you may have.
At most events, we offer free beginner clinics (they take about 10 minutes) to teach you everything you need to know. These are typically at half-hour intervals; choose your time slot on the registration page.
If you'd like to get reminders about upcoming events, sign up at our newsletter page. (No more than a couple of emails per month, we promise!)
Thanks for coming out and trying something new, we think you'll like it!
START WINDOWS
For this event we’re using assigned 30 minute start windows between 11 AM and 1 PM. This spreads participants over the entire two hour start window instead of a big rush at the beginning, easing the workload on event volunteers.
Please choose your start window during registration. The earlier you register, the better chance you have of a preferred window. If you arrive early for your start window, you may be asked to wait. If you're late, no worries, we’ll allow you to start when we have an opening. It's a guideline, not a firm rule.
TIMES
Map handout begins: 10:30
Beginner clinics: 11:00 am and 11:30 am. Choose your preferred time when you register.
Course starts: anytime between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
All courses close: 3:00 pm (controls will be picked up)
(All teams must check out through the course finish area before leaving, even if the team does not finish the course or returns after the course closes.)
Courses
White: Beginner (about 1.1 km, climb 30 meters, on-trail and near-trail navigation)
Yellow: Beginner / Intermediate (about 2.2 km, climb 50 meters, on-trail and near-trail navigation)
Orange: Intermediate (about 3.2 km, climb 65 meters, off-trail and on-trail navigation)
Brown: Advanced, short (about 4.5 km, climb 90 meters, some trail, mostly off-trail navigation)
Green: Advanced, long (about 6.3 km, climb 125 meters, some trail, mostly off-trail navigation)
REGISTRATION AND OTHER COSTS
Event Cost
$17 base price - individuals
$22 base price - groups of 2 or more
- Subtract $5 for membership in CROC or other orienteering club
- Subtract $5 if you have your own e-stick
Become a CROC member - Buy your own epunch
VOLUNTEERS
All CROC events are put on by volunteers, and the meet director can almost always use some extra hands. Please keep in mind:
No prior experience is needed for many of the tasks
You can help out AND still run your course of choice
Typical ways to assist are: helping with starts and finishes, handing out maps, and picking up control flags after the course closes. Typical shifts are one hour.
If you'd like to help, you can choose a task and time shift when you register online. Thanks!
Results
Results are posted to the Events & Results web page a day or two 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. NOTE: there are no services near the event. Bingen is the nearest town.