The Lost Ranch Score-O and Mini Rogaine, May 23, 2010

The Lost Ranch Score-O and Mini Rogaine, May 23, 2010

LAOC will host a one-day Score-O/Mini-Rogaine event near the mountain resort community of Lake Arrowhead, California on Sunday, May 23, 2010. The = event will be held on a new map, consisting of approximately 6,000 acres (24.6 sq= uare kilometers/9.5 square miles) of U.S. Forest Service land. Event headquarters will be located= on a privately owned ranch, known as the Lost Ranch, at the center of the mapped area. The Lost Ranch is also = the location of Lake Arrowhead Airport. Our host for the event is the owner/operator of the Lost Ranch/Lake Arrowhead Airport. Registration is limited to 75 participants. All registratio= ns must be made in advance. No same-day registration. This e= vent is not recommended for beginners. See details below.

Race Information

Date: Ma= y 23, 2010

Cost: $1= 0 per person ($20 per team of 2)

Map distribution at 9:40 am

Final instructions at 9:50 am

Mass start at 10 am

Categories: 1-hour, 2-hour and 4-hour

Controls: 30+, using manual punches and punch cards

Map: 1:1= 0,000 scale, 5 meter contours, IOF Standard (see below)

Rules: M= ix of USOF and IRF rules, details to be provided later

Sunrise: 5:43 am

Sunset: = 7:56 pm

In addition to the $10 pe= r person registration fee, there will be a $5 per vehicle charge for parking at the = Lost Ranch/Lake Arrowhead Airport, which will be collected in cash on-site by the owner or by LAOC. No parking = will be allowed by participants on adjacent USFS land.

You should plan to arrive= at the LAOC registration table at Lake Arrowhead Airport not later than 9:15 am, so that you can pay, receive a bib number and a pun= ch card, and complete paperwork, including a liability waiver, prior to 9:30 am. The map distribution, fin= al instructions and mass start will not be delayed to accommodate late arrivals. Those who arrive at= the registration table after 9:15 am may not be processed in time for the mass start at 10 am.

All payments must be in c= ash on day of event, prior to 9:30 am. Exact payment is preferred, and may be required. If change is not available, then t= he difference will be gladly accepted as a donation to the map fund.

At registration, all part= icipants must show the registrar that they have their own whistle and compass. No rentals will be available.

The airport is currently = a gravel airstrip with a few ranch buildings. Limited restroom facilities will be available at the airport. Participants should bring their ow= n food, and should consider bringing their own water. A limited quantity of water will be available at the start/finish. At least two water stations will be on the map. The water stations will probably n= ot be located at controls, but at locations between controls.

The owner of the Lost Ran= ch/Lake Arrowhead Airport offers overnight campsites, RV parking, and other amenities. Anyone desiring to= fly in/out of the airport may do so, subject to payment of landing and other fees. Please see website (link below) and contact the owner directly.&nbs= p;

The mapped area includes = a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. A= mong other sites, Deep Creek Hot Springs are a 3-4 mile hike to the north of the Airport. Devil’s Hole swimming hole is a 1-2 mile hike east of the airport.

Registration

All participants must pre-register. No same-day registrations. Participation = may be by individuals or teams of 2. No teams of more than 2. Partici= pation will be limited to 75 individuals total.&n= bsp; The list of registered participants will be available on the LAOC website, and may be posted elsewhere.

To register, send an e-ma= il to ahubsch at msn.com stating your full name (and the name of your teammate, if you want to participate as a team), the USOF club of which you are a member, and the e-mail address to which you would l= ike the meet director to send you updates about the event.

E-mail addresses provided= will be used to send updates about the event, close to the day of the event. Remember, registration is limited = to 75 participants. Don’t wai= t!

Results

Each control will have a = point value. Highest point total in= each time category will win in that category. Participants who do not return within their category’s time li= mit will have points deducted for each minute by which they are over the limit.= Details to be provided later. If you are late for the mass start= , you will still be subject to the course closure time for your category.

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Category        &= nbsp; Closes

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; 1-hour        &= nbsp;     11:00 am

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; 2 hour      &nb= sp;       12:00 noon

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; 4 hour      &nb= sp;       2:00 pm

The 4-hour category will = include a Scavenger-O. At 2:00 pm, participants will be allowed to collect and carry controls, which will no longer be available for punching by other participants. If more than one person is at a co= ntrol at 2:00 pm, the person who was there first is allowed to collect the control. Participants who ret= urn to the finish with the entire control (stand, stake, flag and punch) will rece= ive a bonus equal to the point value of the control, in addition to the points = for having punched the control. I= f the Scavenger-O rules change, an announcement will be made after map distribution, and befo= re the start.

Results will be posted as= soon as available.

The Map

The mapped area is locate= d in what might be described as an alpine desert. The topography is generally low hi= lls with moderate slope. The topo= graphy is flat enough to include an airport at the center of the map. The pictures in the following albu= m were taken of portions of the mapped area in September 2009: http:= //www.flickr.com/photos/awhubsch/sets/72157622363317491.

The contours for the map = have been prepared from a digital terrain model developed with Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR) technology. This map may be the first orientee= ring map in the United St= ates in which contours are based upon IFSAR.&nb= sp; The contour data has been supplemented by a super high-quality aerial photo which has been geo-referenced to the contour data using the Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system.&nbs= p; Stirling Surveys, a well-known orienteering basemapper, is preparing= the basemap. The basemap will not= have been field checked prior to the event, other than to the minimal extent involved in placing the controls. As such, the accuracy of the map may be lower than some other LAOC m= aps, but is expected to be higher than a typical rogaine or adventure race map.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> LAOC requests that, after the even= t, participants provide feedback on the terrain and the map including (a) the accuracy of the contours; (b) whether the terrain, or portions of it might = be suitable for a future A-meet, and (b) which areas might benefit the most fr= om field-checking.

Directions/Road Conditions

Use Google Maps or simila= r. Access to <= st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">Lake Arrowhead Airport is via Ash Meadows Road (USFS Road 2N75). From Yosemite Drive in Lake Arrowhead, drive approximately 3 miles on Ash Meadows Road. See http://www.lakearrowhe= adairport.com/map.php. NOTE: Ash Meadows Road is a dirt road. While Ash Meadows Road is generall= y drivable (slowly) by a regular passenger vehicle, its condition on May 23 cannot be predicted. Be reasonable, and= plan in advance.

Volunteers

There will be no frills.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Adjust your expectations according= ly. The meet director is also the cour= se setter and may also be the registrar / map provider / cashier / parking attendant / scorekeeper / etc. If you think of things that could improve the event, please feel free to volun= teer to do them yourself, or to politely make constructive comments. The meet director would particular= ly appreciate one or two course vetters / pre-runners who would be willing to = run / check the course on Saturday, May 22, especially if those same persons co= uld stay overnight and help out on Sunday, May 23 as registrars / cashiers / et= c. The help would be much appreciated,= and budget accommodations on Saturday night in Lake Arrowhead might be available for the lucky volunteer! The meet director will definitely = need help on the day of the event, and will ask and/or twist arms, as appropriat= e!

Social<= /p>
For those who are in Lake Arrowhead on Saturday evening, there will likely be an informal dinner and/or social event in the village area in the evening.&= nbsp; And, after the event, there will likely be another informal dinner and/or social event back in the village area. Details like these will probably b= e sent by e-mail a few days before the event.

Lodging=

The Lake Arrowhead Resort= & Spa is the nicest hotel on the mountain, and regular rates there start at a= bout $169/night per room. There ar= e numerous other choices that are less expensive.&nbs= p; See: http://www.lakearrowhead= .net/lodging.html.

Miscellaneous

No awards will be given.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> No t-shirts sold. No child care will be offered. No food will be sold. No fundraising will be held.

Other Sources of Information

For more information abou= t Lake Arrowhead (including lodging and restaurants), The Lost Ranch or Lake Arrowhead Airport, please vis= it the following websites:

http://www.l= akearrowhead.net

http://www.th= elostranch.com

http:= //www.lakearrowheadairport.com

Communication with Meet Director

If you have questions or = need information and cannot find it here or on the internet, or if you have suggestions, please feel free to send a private e-mail (not a blog posting)= to Allen Hubsch, the meet director. As= his schedule allows, he will reply, if a reply seems appropriate.