Note: Please drive slowly on the forest service roads. This is a requirement that is included in our permit, and must be respected if we want to continue our good relationship with the Fire Service ranger. ↑
September 11th Update ↑
A Green course has been added to the Boggs Sunday event. This is a late addition to the weekend based on requests by many BAOC and non-BAOC members. Please spread the word to other clubs and organizations to promote what will be an exciting weekend of orienteering.
Thank you to the following E-punch volunteers who have offered to help both days: Rex W. and George M.
Help is still needed for the following tasks on both days:
• Start
• Finish
• Registration
• Beginners clinics
• Control pick-up
I'm looking forward to seeing many of you the weekend of September 21 and 22 at Boggs.
The Bay Area Orienteering Club returns to the quiet pine forests of Boggs Mountain for a weekend of fun at this venue that many consider the finest orienteering terrain in Northern California.
Boggs Mountain is situated in Lake County, which is a hilly, rural region, about a two-hour drive from San Francisco, Oakland, or Sacramento, and just one mountain ridge north of Napa Valley. It is known for its recreational opportunities, its vibrant new wine industry, and the cleanest air in California. Clear Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in California, is the recreational hub of the county and is just a short drive from Boggs Mountain.
Boggs Mountain State Demonstration Forest is really a plateau topped with a series of small hilltops. The area is covered with a very runnable pine forest, and the slopes are fairly gradual over most of the plateau. The average elevation is about 3000 feet (900 meters) above sea level.
The event will consist of middle-distance, point-to-point courses on Saturday and a mass start Wilderness Scramble on Sunday. Orienteers of all levels of skill and experience, and of all ages, are welcome!
- The Saturday middle-distance event will offer the standard 7 courses, ranging in difficulty from beginner to advanced level.
- The Sunday Wilderness Scramble will consist of 30 checkpoints scattered in the forest. With your team of 1 to 5 people, find as many checkpoints as you can in 90 minutes or 3 hours. The Scramble will be part of BAOC's 2013 Wilderness Scramble Series.
Note: The original event announcement included a mountain bike event. Unfortunately, the mountain bike event was not approved by the ranger.
Schedule ↑Saturday Middle-Distance Courses ↑
9:00 AM – Noon: Registration
9:30–10:30 AM: Beginner's clinics
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Starts
2:00 PM: Courses close
Note:
- Everyone must check in at the Start to be assigned a start time.
- You have 3 hours, or until 2:00 PM, to complete your course, whichever comes first.
- All participants must check in at the Finish, whether or not you complete your course. This is the only way we know that you have returned safely; otherwise, we must initiate a search-and-rescue.
Sunday Wilderness Scramble ↑
8:45 AM: Registration
9:15 AM: Map distribution and pre-race instructions
9:25 AM: Instruction clinic for beginners
10:00 AM: Mass Start
11:30 AM: Course closes, 90-minute category
1:00 PM: Course closes, 3-hour category
Note:
- Everyone must check in at the Start so we can know you're on the course.
- You have 90 minutes or 3 hours to complete your course.
- All participants must check in at the Finish, whether or not you complete your course. This is the only way we know that you have returned safely; otherwise, we must initiate a search-and-rescue.
Sunday Green Course ↑
Here is the schedule for the course:
8:45–9:30 AM: Registration
10:10–11:00 AM: Starts
1:00 PM: Course closes
Note:
- Everyone must check in at the Start to be assigned a start time.
- All participants must check in at the Finish, whether or not you complete your course. This is the only way we know that you have returned safely; otherwise, we must initiate a search-and-rescue.
Saturday Middle-Distance Courses ↑
The standard BAOC event fees will apply for this day:
Beginner (White, Yellow) Courses
Entry fee for first person Adult $6 Junior $3
Each additional person in group Adult $3 Junior $2
2nd (3rd, 4th, ...) course Adult $3 Junior $2
Intermediate (Orange) and Advanced (Brown, Green, Red, Blue) Courses
Member entry fee, first person Adult $10 Junior $5
Non-member entry fee, first person Adult $15 Junior $5
Each additional person in group Adult $5 Junior $3
2nd (3rd, 4th, ...) course Adult $5 Junior $3
Children under 8 with parent,
guardian, or youth group leader Free
Beginners' Clinics Free
Compass Rental $1; no security deposit required
E-punch Rental $3; no security deposit required
($25 liability for lost stick)
A Junior is defined as anyone age 8 through 20.
Note that "group" refers to people going on a course together, not people arriving at the event together. For example, six people might arrive together, and go on courses as three groups of one, two, and three people, respectively. One person in each group pays the appropriate "first person" fee listed above; each of the other people in a group pays the lower, "additional person" fee.
Sunday Wilderness Scramble ↑
The following special fees will apply for this day:
$20 – For first adult team member
$10 – Each additional adult member
$5 – Each additional youth member (aged 12-20)
Free – Youth under 12, must be accompanying adult
Sunday Green Course ↑
The following fees will apply for this course:
Member entry fee, first person Adult $10 Junior $5
Non-member entry fee, first person Adult $15 Junior $5
Each additional person in group Adult $5 Junior $3
A Junior is defined as anyone age 8 through 20.
Note that "group" refers to people going on a course together, not people arriving at the event together. For example, six people might arrive together, and go on courses as three groups of one, two, and three people, respectively. One person in each group pays the appropriate "first person" fee listed above; each of the other people in a group pays the lower, "additional person" fee.
Course Information ↑Be sure to read the Course Setters' Notes for more information.
Saturday Middle-Distance Courses ↑
Course Length Climb Controls
White 1.9 km 60 km 3.2% 12
Yellow 3.1 km 95 km 3.1% 11
Orange 3.3 km 100 km 3.0% 11
Brown 3.2 km 125 km 3.9% 12
Green 3.6 km 170 km 4.7% 13
Red 4.4 km 195 km 4.4% 14
Blue 4.8 km 220 km 4.6% 17
Sunday Wilderness Scramble ↑
Optimal route to get all the controls:
16.7 km, 885 m climb (5.3%), 33 controls, 1000 points
Sunday Green Course ↑
The Green course will use controls that are on the Scramble. Here are the numbers:
4.6 km, 195 m climb (4.2%), 8 controls
Electronic Punching ↑The SPORTident E-Punch system will be used both days. Rental E-Punch will be available at the event.
Boggs Mountain Map ↑The map was field checked and drawn in OCAD in 2006 and 2007 by Vladimir Zherdev under the direction of Bob Cooley, BAOC Mapping Director. The contour interval is 5 meters. The map scale is 1:10000 for all the middle-distance courses and 1:15000 for the Scramble.
Volunteers ↑This event will require volunteer help. As of September 2nd, we're looking for volunteers for the following positions:
- Registration (to assist Gary)
- E-punch station (to assist Jeff)
- Starts
- Finishes
- Beginner's clinics
- Control pick-up (to assist Penny, Harold, and François, see below)
Please email the event director, Marie-Josée Parayre, if you can help.
Control Pick-Up ↑
Boggs Mountain is fast approaching ... the Course Setters' Notes have been published ... exciting times ahead! Yes, exciting times, but the controls still have to be picked up after each day's event. (Note that control pick-up will be able to begin earlier than usual on Sunday.) Penny and I have volunteered to organize control pick-up for each day, and we need volunteers to help. E-mail me and Marie-Josée if you can help. Either day, or hopefully both days, would be much appreciated. Thanks, Harold DeMoss
Lodging ↑Here are some suggestions for lodging in the towns nearest the event site. They are all fairly small, and may fill up quickly.
Eagle & Rose Inn, Cobb (707-928-5242). $75 and up. A roadside motel 1 mile from the forest entrance. Located next to the post office on the west side of Route 175.
Edie's Resort, Loch Lomond (707-928-9804). Rustic housekeeping cabins 3 miles from the forest entrance.
Mariah Meadows Resort and Spa, Kelseyville (707-928-9983). Newly renovated resort 5 miles from the forest entrance.
Eagle & Rose Inn, Middletown (707-987-7330). $70 and up. Roadside motel 20 minutes from the forest entrance.
Twin Pine Casino Hotel, Middletown (707-987-0297). New hotel with very nice rooms, connected to an Indian casino. $129 (AAA and senior discounts available). 25 minutes from the forest entrance.
Harbin Hot Springs, Middletown (707-987-2477). Non-profit retreat center offering a variety of accommodations, from tent cabins to dorm rooms to private cabins. Membership required ($10 for one-month trial).
The town of Clear Lake, about 40 minutes away, has a wider variety of accommodations, including:
America's Best Value Inn, Clear Lake (707-995-1555).
Best Western El Grande Inn, Clear Lake (707-994-2000). AAA discount.
Calistoga, in northern Napa County, is about 50 minutes away, but staying there shortens your Friday night drive by that amount. Lodging information can be found here.
Camping ↑Boggs Mountain State Demonstration Forest, at the event site itself
On the plus side, it's a beautiful spot, it's convenient, it's free, and it will be the center of all the organized social activity for the weekend (more information coming soon). On the minus side, the facilities are minimal (a pit latrine and portable toilets, limited tables and fire pits, no running water or trash containers). You will need to bring your own water and remove your own trash. No new fire circles may be constructed. You will also need to stay close to the camping area, since you will be surrounded by areas used for the weekend's courses (and thus off limits).
Jellystone RV Park and Camp Resort, 10 minutes away.
This is a well equipped private campground with tent and RV sites, a few cabins, laundry, playground, swimming pool, showers, etc. If you're not staying at this park, you can pay $3 to get a pass to take a shower (the previous "$13" amount was incorrect).
Clear Lake State Park, 30 minutes away
Lakefront park with tent/RV sites, restrooms, and showers.
Individual campsites (for up to 8 people each) are first come, first serve. There are two group campsites that can be reserved, but you need to have at least 9 people. Both types of sites have tiled, flush-toilet bathrooms, and nice, large, coin-operated (bring quarters), tiled showers.
There is a nice swimming area on the lake. If you are not camping there, you can pay the day-use fee to swim and take a shower.
Driving Directions ↑Traffic Warning: Friday afternoon and evening traffic on CA 29 through Napa Valley and US 101 to Santa Rosa is quite heavy. Give yourself at least an extra hour to get through this.
From San Francisco via Santa Rosa ↑
- Drive north on US-101 through Santa Rosa.
- Exit at River Road/Mark West Road.
- Turn right on Mark West Springs Road. This road becomes Porter Creek Road after about 5 miles, and eventually ends at a flashing red light after another 4 miles.
- Turn left onto Petrified Forest, following signs for Calistoga, for approx. 5 miles.
- Turn left onto Foothill Blvd/CA-128, and drive less than a mile.
- Turn right onto Tubbs Lane, and drive for 1.3 miles.
- Turn left onto CA-29, driving 15 miles into Middletown. (This is a curvy, mountainous road.)
- After you arrive in Middletown, turn left onto Hwy 175.
- Drive 7 miles to Cobb.
- About 1 mile past the center of Cobb, turn right onto Forestry Rd. (This is a small road at the end of a sharp bend. There is a blue sign that says CDF Fire Station.)
- Follow O' signs for about 1.5 miles. (The road soon becomes dirt, as you pass the ranger station.) Park at the campgrounds.
From the East Bay via Napa Valley ↑
- Take I-80 east past the town of Vallejo.
- Exit at Marine World Parkway/CA-37 toward Napa, and drive 2.5 miles.
- Exit Right on CA-29, driving for 39 miles to Calistoga.
(Once in the Napa Valley, you have the option of taking the scenic Silverado Trail instead of the traffic-heavy CA-29. Turn right to leave CA-29 at Trancas, then turn left onto Silverado heading north. You will turn right onto CA-29 just north of Calistoga.)
- Turn Right on CA-29 through the town of Calistoga, driving 18 miles to Middletown. (This is a curvy, mountainous road.)
- After you arrive in Middletown, turn left onto Hwy 175.
- Drive 7 miles to Cobb.
- About 1 mile past the center of Cobb, turn right onto Forestry Rd. (This is a small road at the end of a sharp bend. There is a blue sign that says CDF Fire Station.)
- Follow O' signs for about 1.5 miles. (The road soon becomes dirt, as you pass the ranger station.) Park at the campgrounds.
From Sacramento ↑
- Drive north on I-5 for 58 miles to the town of Williams.
- Exit west on CA-20 for 37 miles.
- Turn left onto CA-53, though Clearlake.
- Drive 8 miles south and make a right onto Hwy 29.
- Drive 1.5 miles and make a left onto Seigler Canyon Rd.
- Drive 4 miles and bear right onto Loch Lomond Rd (the main road changes name).
- Drive 4 miles and make a left onto Hwy 175.
- Drive 2 miles and make a left onto Forestry Rd. (This is a small road. There is a blue sign that says CDF Fire Station.)
- Follow O' signs for about 1.5 miles. (The road soon becomes dirt, as you pass the ranger station.) Park at the campgrounds.