Yes, it's only a week until Shell Ridge blooms with controls, despite (or thanks to) the dry spell we've been having.

Beginners are welcome — introductory clinics will be available!

Some highlights of the event are below.

Schedule ↑

Registration open – (about) 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon

Starts open – 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Courses close – 2:00 PM

Please note that everyone must report back at the download table by 2:00 (even if you haven't completed your course) so we know that you have returned safely.

Location ↑

New assembly area and start location! Follow the directions below to EBRPD's Orchard Staging Area/Castle Rock Parking. Park there, get registered, and check in with e-punch.

Carpool or Hike to/from the Start/Finish ↑

Note: Do not go directly to the Start. After you have registered, you can take a 15 min (70 m climb) walk/hike, or join a carpool for a 5-minute drive to the Start area. (There is only 20 m climb back to registration/epunch download from the Finish.)

There is limited parking at Bob Pond Picnic Area for the starts (near Borges Ranch), so remember to register at the staging area and find a ride.

New Map! ↑

Matej Sebo is in the process of creating an amazing new map — and despite the fact that it's not finished, it's such a significant improvement over the old one that we decided to use it. Contours and vegetation are very accurate, although rocks may be absent. More details will be in the upcoming Course Setter's Notes.

Courses ↑

The standard seven courses, for beginners through advanced participants, will be available. The course stats are as follows:

Course      Length      Climb

White       1.9 km       90 m
Yellow      3.1 km      180 m   
Orange      3.7 km      250 m   
Brown       4.4 km      240 m   
Green       5.2 km      290 m   
Red         5.9 km      330 m   
Blue        8.0 km      500 m

Note that the course lengths above represent the straight-line distances from control to control. The actual distance you will travel will almost certainly be longer — determined by your route choices (and any navigation errors you might make).

See the Course Setter's Notes below for more information. Some comments on comparing the course difficulties are available here.

Competitive Categories ↑

The following courses will be used for the BAOC COOL classes:

Elementary boys and girls – White

Middle School boys and girls – Yellow

Junior Varsity boys and girls – Orange

Varsity girls – Brown

Varsity boys – Green

The following courses will be used for the BAOC Winter Series classes:

Winter Series women – Brown (or above)

Winter Series men – Green (or above)

Help Wanted ↑

It would be great to get some help with registration, beginners' clinics, monitoring the Start/Finish, bring and/or set up snacks, epunch, control pick-up. Please contact Vicki if you can help (phone number is above).

Local Interest ↑

For the young (and others), there is a nearby farm with sheep, goats, chickens, and old farm machinery, and a historic house just past the Finish area. You are welcome to take a look after your run.

Driving Directions ↑

Traveling north on I-680: Take the Ygnacio Valley Road exit (which is just north of the Hwy 24 interchange). Turn right onto Ygnacio Valley Road and go 2.3 miles to Walnut Avenue (past Walnut Blvd). See below for the continuation from there.

Traveling south on I-680: Take the N Main Street exit, and head south on Main St. Turn left onto Ygnacio Valley Road and go to Walnut Avenue (past Walnut Blvd).

Turn right onto Walnut Avenue (not Walnut Blvd), and continue 1.5 miles to a roundabout — take the first right onto Castle Rock Road. In 1.4 miles you will reach the Orchard Staging Area/Castle Rock Parking.

There's a map here that shows the approximate location of the event.