COW Stage 1 at Morgan Territory Regional Preserve 2018

Day 1 of California Orienteering Week (COW) 2018

Mar 17, 2018 (Sat)

BAOC

Morgan Territory Regional Preserve Livermore, CA

Director: Vicki Woolworth (510.407.1876)
Course Setter: Matej Šebo

Type A: National Ranking Event (NRE). Offers courses in all the OUSA competitive classes (see section A.39) and are counted in the national rankings. Note, however, that these events also have courses for recreational orienteers and do welcome beginners, and sometimes an event will consist of a combination of NRE and non-NRE events.

Stage 1 of California Orienteering Week (COW)

Past events:
2017 • 2017 • 2014 • 2014 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2009 • 2008 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005

Related events:

Schedule ↑

Packet pickup: 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Recreational registration open: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Beginner clinics: 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Start window: 10:00 AM to noon
Courses close: 2:00 PM

Event dinner: 5:00–7:00 PM at the Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, 4805 Hacienda Dr, Dublin, CA (preregistration required)

Mapping workshop: 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Arrival Logistics ↑

This section provides comments about getting to the Start on time, with time estimates for the various steps. See the driving directions below for how to get to the event venue.

The Assembly Area (E-punch download, day-of-event registration, snacks, shuttle pick-up, restrooms and porta-potties, etc.) will be at the Morgan Territory parking lot both days. Since this parking lot has limited capacity, most people will have to park at Indian Springs Ranch (9601 Morgan Territory Rd) adjacent to Morgan Territory—there will be signs, parking staff, etc. (Note: We are grateful to have permission to park on this private property. Please don't litter!)

Note: The road from I-580 to the park includes a lengthy section of narrow, steep, twisty, 1.5-lane road. Please allow more time for the drive than the distance would lead you to expect.

Carpooling is strongly encouraged due to possibly limited parking.

Note: There will not be toilets at the Starts - they're at the Assembly Area.

  • You should plan to arrive at the parking area at least an hour before your scheduled start.
  • Park as directed by parking volunteers
  • Walk to Assembly Area (10 min)
  • Walk to Start (1.5 km, 15–25 minutes)
  • Check in at the Start 3 minutes before your start time
  • Extra clothing left at the Start will be carried to the Assembly Area.

Notes for Competitive Entries ↑

  • Start times are pre-assigned (except for event-day registrations). They are available here.
  • Times over 2 hours will be recorded as overtime (OVT) per OUSA rules.
  • You must return to the Finish by 2:00, and then go to the download tent, even if you have not finished your course.

Notes for Recreational Entries ↑

  • At registration, all juniors must be accompanied by parents or legal guardians, or bring with them a waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian (the registration form is available here (PDF/100KB)).
  • You can register and start on courses anytime during the open times above. Thus, for example, you do not need to be "punctual" when registration opens (but you can if you want, but please don't show up earlier and expect to be served).
  • Beginners' clinics are short, repeating sessions that introduce the sport of orienteering, and provide enough instruction to be able to complete the beginner (White) course.
  • You must return to the Finish by 2:00, and then go to the download tent, even if you have not finished your course. If there are unaccounted people after 2:00, we must initiate a search for them.

Courses ↑

Here is final course information:

                                       Water
Course    Length    Climb   Controls   Stops
White     2.4 km     80 m      14        0  
Yellow    2.6 km     90 m      12        0
Orange    3.3 km    110 m      16        0
Brown     3.3 km    110 m      18        1
Green     3.7 km    150 m      23        1
Red       4.5 km    180 m      25        1
Blue      5.0 km    225 m      28        1

Recreational (non-competitive) entries will be allowed on the beginner-level (White and Yellow) and intermediate-level (Orange) courses.

Beginners should note that the course Length is simply the sum of the straight-line distances between controls. Your actual distance will be somewhat longer, and will depend on your route choices (and any errors you make). (A rough rule of thumb is to mentally replace "km" with "mi", so a "2.4 km" course might cover about 2.4 miles.)

Climb is an estimate of the cumulative "up" that would be encountered on the optimum route, with no regard for any "down" along the way. As with course length, the actual climb you encounter will depend on your route choices (and errors).

Start Procedure ↑

The same start procedure will be used at every Stage of the COW event. It is described here.

For both days at Morgan Territory, after you punch START and pick up your map, you will follow streamers to the Start Triangle.

Note that there is a 1.5 km walk from the Assembly Area to the Start. Be sure to allow time to get there before your start time.

Assigned start times for competitive entries are available here.

Mapping Workshop ↑

There will be a mapping workshop in the evening after this event. The details are available here.

Driving Directions ↑

The approximate coordinates of the Assembly Area are 37.8186,-121.7956. The approximate coordinates for the turnoff for parking are 37.8156,-121.7954.

Please see the Arrival Logistics above for comments about parking.

From the Bay Area, take I-580 East to North Livermore Ave. After a straight, tree-lined stretch, North Livermore Ave ends at Manning Road. Go left and then promptly right on Morgan Territory Road (the first real street), which will ascend into the hills and to the park. It is a narrow, winding road—again, please drive slowly.

For anyone east of Livermore, do the same, reaching North Livermore Ave from I-580 West.

From the northeast bay (e.g., Antioch), there are more interesting route choices entering the park from the north. Consult your favorite mapping website or app (the coordinates of the Assembly Area and parking are above).

There's a map here that shows the location of the Assembly Area.

Carpool Sites ↑

Carpooling is encouraged because of limited parking at the event. The Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station is a great place to pick up passengers for the ride up the mountain.

Another place to meet for a prearranged carpool is the Walmart parking lot (10 miles from the event). Just off I-680, at the North Livermore Ave exit—head south on N. Livermore Ave and turn left onto Las Positas Rd at the first intersection. Carpooling from a location that close to the event might not seem useful, but there are two benefits: one or more cars would avoid the drive up the narrow, twisty road, and more parking space would be available at the event site. (Please do not park close to the store entrance.)

Updated: Jun 13, 2026, 3:37 PM PDT • Edit