For those of you who aren't able to make the official Needle Vista Score-O and Adventure race events on Sunday, February 12, we're offering a special opportunity to informally navigate the same courses on Saturday. You won't be official finishers of the race, but you will have plenty of opportunity to navigate through a unique course set in a beautiful location not far from Phoenix. We'll supply you with a map with 25+ controls marked on it. The catch is that we haven't hung bags yet. We only have pink flagging tape hung in trees and bushes in the locations marked on the map. We'll ask that you hang a few bags as a trade for the free orienteering course. We'll also throw in some free drinks and snacks as a way of saying thanks for helping us out.
If you'd like some extra navigation practice outside of Sunday's competition, you're welcome to meet us at the Needle Vista parking area at 09:00 on Saturday, February 11. It would be nice if you could send me an e-mail too (E-mail Ron Birks), so I know to wait for you.
Compass
Water
Sunscreen
Sturdy hiking shoes and long pants are recommended. You may encounter cactus, cat claw, and loose
terrain
From Phoenix, take US 60 (Superstition Freeway) east to Apache Junction, then exit at Idaho Road (exit 196). Turn left on Idaho Road and continue about 2.5 miles north to the point where AZ 88, the Apache Trail, veers to the right. Continue on AZ 88 for approximately 7.5 miles to mile marker 203, then 0.6 miles further to the Needle Vista Viewpoint on your right. The events will be staged from the Needle Vista Viewpoint parking lot.
Please note that there are no bathroom facilities at the Needle Vista Viewpoint. Make sure to stop along the drive to the event site if you feel particularly shy about the lack of bathroom facilities.