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44th Billygoat Run
Sunday, May 12
Register on or before April 24 to avoid late fee (and risk not getting a well-deserved Billygoat 2024 shirt at the event!)
The Billygoat Run is a long (11 – 11.5 km.) orienteering course requiring at least intermediate orienteering skills. Finishing in under 3 ½ hours gets you that coveted t-shirt.
“The Kid” is a shorter version (6 k) that still requires at least intermediate orienteering skills.
There will also be a local orienteering meet at Gunstock on May 12 providing shorter courses for beginners and intermediate orienteers. More details about the local meet may be found here.
Make it a Weekend of Orienteering!
On Saturday, May 11, there will be a ‘Bring Your Own Map’ event available in the general area (< 20 miles) of Gunstock. There will be courses/score-O suitable for all ability levels for those who want some additional low-key fun on the day prior. Watch this website for more information.
Important Times
This is the 44th edition of the Billygoat. The mass start for the Billygoat will be at 11:00 AM. The walk to the start will depart at 10:40 AM. We suggest you arrive for the Billygoat by 10:15 AM. “The Kid” will have a mass start at 11:30 AM. The walk to the start will depart at 11:10 AM. We suggest you arrive for “The Kid” by 10:45 AM. The Billygoat and Kid courses close at 4:00 PM.
Cost
The cost to register for the Billygoat as an Adult is $38 which includes your finishing (under 3 ½ hours) t-shirt. After April 24, an additional late registration surcharge of $12 is applied bringing the registration fee to $50.
The cost to register for the Billygoat as a Junior, age 20 or under, is $20 which includes your finishing (under 3 ½ hours) t-shirt. After April 24, an additional late registration surcharge of $10 is applied bringing the registration free to $30.
The cost to register for “The Kid” is $20 as an Adult and it is $15 for a Junior (age 20 or under). After April 24, an additional late registration surcharge of $5 is applied bringing the registration fees to $25 and $20 respectively.
Registration
Please register for the Billygoat or “The Kid” at the online registration site:
https://eventreg.orienteeringusa.org/eventregister/register/start/2024bg
Regular registration is through April 25. Late Registration fees apply from April 25 until registration closes May 5.
Those registering for the Billygoat after April 24 might not receive their t-shirt at the event for finishing under 3 ½ hours. Our regular registration deadline is based on when we need to confirm our T shirt order.
Check-In
On the day of the event please check in at the Billygoat event tent so we can confirm your participation, confirm your SI number, and give you control descriptions (if you want). We will also continue the Billygoat tradition of bringing your special drinks/snacks to the midway refreshment stop if you leave them at the event tent.
Venue
The event will take place on the Up North Orienteers (UNO) Gunstock map. This map, produced by Jim Arsenault, was used for the 2019 US Masters National Orienteering Championships. Parking and finish will be near the main lodge and will be signed from the entrance to the resort. This is an excellent map. Since Gunstock is a ski resort, the terrain, as you might expect, features open, semi-open and rough open areas as well as drainage swales and an abundance of rock features.
The map scale for the Billygoat Run is expected to be 1:10000.
Directions
The address of the Gunstock Mountain Resort is 719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford, NH 03249.
GPS coordinates: N 43 32.480 W 71 21.900
From I-93 (North of Manchester and Concord, NH, or South of Quebec): Take exit 20 in NH, turning onto US Route 3 North / NH Route 11 East towards Laconia. Follow Routes 3/11 approximately 6 miles. Just past the Belknap Mall, bear right following Routes 3/11 (Laconia-Gilford By-Pass). Take the second exit, Route 11A in Gilford. Turn right at end of exit ramp. Follow Route 11A east approximately 6 miles to Gunstock Mountain Resort. Entrance is on the right.
From I-95 (North of Boston and NH Seacoast, or from Maine): Take exit 4 in NH onto US Route 4 West / NH Route 16 North (towards NH Lakes). Continue on Route 16 (Spaulding Turnpike) to exit 15W. Follow NH Route 11 West towards Alton. Stay on Route 11 around Alton traffic circle and through Alton Bay. Approximately 6 miles north of Alton Bay, turn left onto Route 11A (Cherry Valley Road). Take Route 11A west approximately 5 miles to Gunstock entrance on left.
Lodging
For more information about motels, inns, hotels and other accommodations near Gunstock please visit https://www.gunstock.com/discover/lodging-partners/.
Camping
Camping at Gunstock will not be available on the weekend of the Billygoat.
Ellacoya State Park is nearby. It has camping sites which are geared towards RVs and pull-ins.
If you have any questions about camping or other camping options, please email unorienteers@gmail.com.
The Events
The Billygoat is a long mass-start orienteering event. UNO will also offer “The Kid” a shorter (~6 km) mass-start orienteering event as well as White, Yellow, and Orange recreational orienteering courses.
Approximate distances
- Billygoat 11.2 km (/Intermediate/Advanced)
- The Kid 5.7 km (Intermediate/Advanced)
- Orange 3.5km (Intermediate)
- Yellow 2.0 km (Advance Beginner)
- White 1.5 km (Beginner)
Billygoat Traditions
T-Shirts: Custom designed t-shirts will, as at all Billygoats, be awarded to all who finish within 3 ½ hours. A central tradition of the Billygoat has always been that the 3:30 limit is ruthlessly enforced. If you hear people at the finish yelling at you to run, give it all you’ve got.
T-shirts will be unisex and will be available in sizes XS, S, M, L, XL and 2XL. Please indicate your t-shirt size when registering for the event.
Forked Control: There is one forked control. Both controls are shown on the map; you choose which fork to visit (you may also choose this as your skipped control; see below). Both controls have identical control descriptions, so you will not be able to tell from the clue sheet which control is the forked one.
Skipped Control: One of the primary Billygoat traditions. You may skip one and only one control (this goes for “The Kid” as well). This can be any control. You may skip the first control, the last control, the control before or after the forked control or the forked control itself, or any other control. But only one. Choose wisely.
Following: Another key tradition. Following is explicitly allowed.
Saeger Loop: This is a short loopy section with a deliberate dogleg in an area of good visibility. This will allow you a good look at who is 3 to 4 minutes ahead of you and who is 3 to 4 minutes behind you.
Control Codes: Keeping with tradition, control codes correspond to the initials of the top finishers of last year’s Billygoat Run.
Club Award: The Club Award is given based solely on the judgment of the Head Goat and using criteria not announced, though in the past club spirit, enthusiasm, and perhaps most importantly bribery–which like following is explicitly allowed–have been notable features.
And the Central Billygoat Tradition: Have fun!
Safety
You must check in at the finish even if you do not complete the course. The safety bearing for the event is generally east. More details will be provided orienteers upon check-in.
Restrooms
There will be porta-potties at the registration/finish location. No porta-potties at the start.
Special Thanks to
- Jim Arsenault and Paul Regan – Course Consulting, Vetting
- Lex Bundschuh – Registrar
- Pete and Lex Bundschuh – the Gunstock Local Meet
- UNO day-of-event volunteers
All of us in UNO are looking forward to having you join us at Gunstock for this year’s Billygoat Run!
Jon Nash – Head Goat 2024