We have a special treat planned for Sunday, February 12 at Needle Vista. In addition to hosting a 3-hour Score-O at one of the most scenic locations used by our club, we're also planning to throw in a 5-hour adventure race for those who really want to get some navigation practice. We hope you'll find the time to join us for a great day of orienteering.
| Adventure Race Registration Begins | 07:00 |
| Mandatory Adventure Race Briefing | 07:45 |
| Adventure Race Mass Start | 08:00 |
| Score-O Registration Begins | 08:30 |
| Score-O Course Opens | 09:00 |
| Beginner's Clinic | 09:30 |
| Registration Ends | 12:00 |
|
5-hour Adventure Race Ends Last Time to Finish Score-O |
13:00 |
| Participants Marked as "DNF" for arrival after this time limit. | 13:15 |
| Individual (member/non-member) | $5/$10 |
| Family/team rate (member/non-member) | $8/$15 |
The Score-O will consist of 25+ controls spread out around a start/finish point. Participants choose their own route in order to visit as many controls as they can while maximizing their point total within the three-hour time limit. Controls are allotted different point values based on the distance from the start/finish area and the navigation difficulty. For our friends with less orienteering experience, we'll provide plenty of controls closer to the staging area to give you some easier navigation practice. We'll add a few extra difficult controls further out to try to keep our hardier orienteers entertained. The total straight-line distance to visit all controls will be about 10 km. The total elevation gain will be 600+ meters. We'll give everyone 3-hours to visit as many controls as they can. We hope this extra time will allow more people to find all controls in the allotted time. Please remember that participants can decide to visit as few or as many controls as they like. You can even bring your camera to capture the incredible views of Weaver's Needle.
Registration for the Score-O begins at 08:30. The Score-O course opens at 09:00. Depending on attendance, we'll provide a beginners clinic at around 09:30. We'll be happy to answer individual questions outside of the clinic too. Although the race is officially a 3-hour Score-O, you're welcome to start the event any time up until 12:00. The course officially closes at 13:00. If you start late, you won't be given the full 3-hours to complete the course. We'll deduct 10 points for each minute a participant arrives after the 3-hour time limit. We'll also deduct 10 points for each minute a participant arrives after 13:00. All points will be lost and the participant will be marked as "Did Not Finish" if they arrive after 13:15.
Our 5-hour adventure race will include 3 separate navigation events. Because of the difficulty in obtaining a permit for
bicycle events starting at the Needle Vista site, all of the navigation events will be done on foot. During each of the
navigation events, a single point will be awarded for each control visited. The winner of the adventure race is the
participant who visits the most controls.
UTM-Plotting
The adventure race will start with participants plotting 6 UTM coordinates on a map, then spending time visiting each
of the plotted locations. To be an official finisher of the adventure race, participants are required to visit all 6
UTM controls. If all UTM coordinates are not visited, the participant(s) will be marked as "DNF".
Mystery Navigation
After completing the UTM section of the event, participants will be faced with a mystery course consisting of 5 or 6
navigation challenges. Participants may decide to visit as few or as many of the mystery controls as they like. All
mystery event controls are optional.
Score-O
Finally, participants in the adventure race will navigate the same Score-O as other orienteers. Just like the
Score-O, participants in the adventure race may decide to visit as few or as many of the Score-O controls as they like.
Unlike the Score-O, each control is only worth 1 point. Adventure racers will plan their routes to maximize the number of
controls that they visit.
Registration for the Adventure Race begins at 07:00. There will be a mandatory briefing at 07:45, followed by
a mass start at 08:00. The race ends at 13:00. For those coming in after 13:00, a single point will be deducted for
each minute a participant arrives after the time limit. All points will be deducted and "Did Not Finish" will be
recorded for participants that arrive after 13:15.
Please note that you're welcome to start the adventure race after 08:00. However, you will not be given the full 5-hours
if you start late. The race will terminate at 13:00 regardless of when you start the race.
Depending on the number of participants, the AR-5 will have the categories listed below. "Teams" will be comprised of 1,2,3,or 4 individuals.
Whistle (Mandatory for all. Available for purchase for $1)
Compass (Mandatory for all. Available for rent for $1)
Water. There will be water at the start/finish . We will also have one or two water stations
on the course. However, you are strongly encouraged to bring your own water bottles or a camelback.
Sun screen. There will be little or no shade on the course.
Sturdy hiking shoes and long pants are recommended. You may encounter cactus, cat claw, and loose
terrain, especially on the Score-O.
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.