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Orienteering US Masters Nationals at the Older Dash, Gilford, NH
October 19, 2019 - October 20, 2019
Last update 15 October 2019
The Events
Up North Orienteers is pleased to merge their traditional Boulder Dash with the 2019 Orienteering US Masters Nationals and create an event known as the Older Dash.
The Older Dash is a 2-day cumulative time classic event sanctioned by Orienteering USA, open to all age groups and classes. It is a National Ranking Event and we will offer a complete slate of courses for everyone from M/F 10+ to M/F 90+. Non-US citizens and residents are welcome and encouraged to compete.
For those looking for less competitive races, we will offer a parallel recreational event both days with white, yellow, and orange courses. These beginner to intermediate level courses are open to groups as well as individuals. The recreational courses do not require pre-registration, and instruction will be provided.
NEW UPDATES
See the registered participants and start times.
You should have received an email with your start times for both days. You can check for start times by clicking on THIS link.
Each participant must sign a Gunstock waiver which is not part of the on-line registration process. To save time at registration, you may download the form HERE, sign it, and bring it to the event. Otherwise, you will need to complete it prior to receiving your registration packet. A parent/guardian must sign for all competitors under 18. No joint or family waivers are allowed – each person must have their own waiver form.
Here are the Meet Director’s Notes. We will have printed copies available for you at registration.
Here are the mapper’s notes and the course setters’ notes.
Here are some maps of the immediate area to help you get oriented.
There is an old map of the area first made in 1999, and updated occasionally over the years. A copy of that is available by clicking HERE. Copies of this map will be posted at registration and be available for purchase for $5.00.
Please be sure you included your OUSA number in your registration. If not, you will not be eligible for the US Championships unless you provide it to Faye Doria. You can email her at fayetriesagain@gmail.com
Event Dates
The Older Dash will take place on October 19 and 20, 2019. Starts on Saturday will begin at 10:00 am. Sunday starts will begin at 9:00 am. All start times will be pre-assigned.
The New Map
We will be using a new map of the Gunstock Resort area made by Jim Arsenault in 2019. The new map expands the area mapped and all terrain has been newly field checked and drafted. Of course the map is 5-color and drawn to IOF standards.
Map Scale
White, Yellow, Brown-X, Brown-Y: 1:7500
All other courses: 1:10000
The Old Map
There is an old map of the area first made in 1999, and updated occasionally over the years. A copy of that is available by clicking HERE. Copies of this map will be posted at registration and be available for purchase for $5.00.
US Masters Championships
Championship medals will be awarded to US citizens and US permanent lawful residents who are OUSA members in all age groups 35+. Your OUSA membership must be current and your membership number must be included in your registration.
Course Details
Final course information is as follows:
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Registration
Each participant must sign a Gunstock waiver which is not part of the on-line registration process. You may download the form HERE, sign it, and bring it to the event. Otherwise, you must sign one prior to receiving your registration packet. A parent/guardian must sign for all competitors under 18. No joint or family waivers are allowed – each person must have their own waiver form.
All participants will be required to carry a safety whistles. We will have extras available at the start locations for all competitors.
Early registration ended June 30, 2019.
Regular registration prices run from July 1, 2019 to October 1, 2019. The per day price is $49 per adult and $25 per junior. Orienteering USA member receive an additional discount of $4 adult, $2 junior.
Late registration prices begin October 2, 2019 and run until October 9, 2019. The per day price increases to $59 per adult and $35 per junior. OUSA member discounts apply.
We do print a few extra maps, but they are often claimed by meet volunteers who cannot compete. If a map is available after October 9, 2019, you may register with special permission from the registrar for the late registration price plus an additional $10 per day.
Recreational courses (white, yellow, orange) do not require pre-registration. The recreation courses cost $10 per map and have their own start/finish area.
Model Event
A model map and controls will be available Friday, October 18, 2019 from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm at nearby Weeks Woods. This is another area mapped by Jim Arsenault, with similar features as the Older Dash area. Parking is available across the street at the Gilford Public Works Department, 55 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford, NH.
You may reserve your model event map for $5.00. We will print extra model maps which can be purchased at Weeks Woods or at packet pickup on Friday.
Please be careful crossing the street into Weeks Woods as it is a very busy road.
Bow Hunting or archery season for deer and turkey, as well as shotgun season for turkey (as opposed to rifles) is Oct 14-20. However, during the mapper’s several years in the woods, he has not seen any evidence of hunting on the Gunstock property. However, wearing hunter orange while in the woods is prudent.
Event Calendar
Sunday, June 30, 2019: Early registration closes
Tuesday, October 01, 2019: Regular registration closes
Wednesday, October 09, 2019: Late registration closes
Monday, October 14, 2019: start times posted on web
Friday October 18, 2019:
9:00 – 15:00 Mapping workshop – Learn How to Make O-Maps. No charge. Please sign up in advance. Contact pgwolfe66 at gmail dot com
13:00 Model event opens at Weeks Woods
14:00 Registration packet pick-up opens at Gunstock Resort – probably near the Campground Store.
18:00 Model event closes at Weeks Woods
21:00 Registration packet pick-up closes at Gunstock Resort
Saturday October 19, 2019
08:00 Registration packet pick-up opens at Gunstock Resort at The Stockade Lodge
09:00 Chairlift opens for Green, Red and Blue competitors – plan 30 minutes for the chairlift ride and the walk to start
White, Yellow, Orange, and Brown will have an uphill walk to their start. Allow 20 minutes for the walk to start
10:00 Older Dash courses open, first competitive starts
10:30 Recreational courses open
13:00 Last Older Dash start
12:30 Recreational starts end
14:00 Recreational courses close
16:00 Older Dash courses close
18:00 Dinner begins at Gilford Community Church
Sunday October 20, 2019
08:00 Registration packet pick-up opens at Gunstock Resort at The Stockade Lodge
09:00 Older Dash courses open, first competitive starts – All competitors should allow 20 minutes for the walk to start
09:30 Recreational courses open
11:30 Last recreational start
12:00 Last competitive start
13:00 Recreational courses close
14:30 awards ceremony (target time)
15:00 Orienteering courses close
Venue
The event will take place on a new map at Gunstock Mountain Resort https://www.gunstock.com. This year-round destination offers a variety of activities beyond orienteering and NH’s legendary leaf-peeping. Bring the family for the Mountain Coaster, ZipLine, and scenic lift rides.
Here are a couple maps of the immediate area to help you get oriented.
Bow Hunting or archery season for deer and turkey, as well as shotgun season for turkey (as opposed to rifles) is Oct 14-20. However, during the mapper’s several years in the woods, he has not seen any evidence of hunting on the Gunstock property. However, wearing hunter orange while in the woods is prudent.
Event Central will be The Stockade Lodge. It will be the site for registration, lost and found, and all questions. It has indoor restrooms and indoor space with tables, chairs, and electricity. We also expect to have an outdoor arena where you can watch the finish of the competitive event.
Restrooms
There will be indoor plumbing at the registration area. Porto-potties or outhouses will be near starts both days.
Embargo
Orienteering, hiking, and trail running are embargoed until after the event. You may take a ZipLine Tour, ride the Mountain Coaster, and ride the Scenic Chair Lift both ways. You may not hike up or down if you ride the Scenic Chair Lift.
Refund Policy
You may receive a refund of your full registration, less a $10 per day penalty, if you cancel before the end of early registration.
You may receive a refund of 50% of your full registration if you cancel before the end of regular registration.
There is no refund if you cancel after regular registration ends.
Childcare
No childcare will be provided, but we will make every effort to accommodate parents who are competing. Feel free to ask for early, late, or split start times when you register. There is an outside playground available within sight of the finish line, 250 meters away.
Gunstock Attractions
ZipLine Tours
Travel over 1.6 miles on one of the longest zip line canopy tours in the lower US. This can be done without breaching the embargoed area. This 1.5+ hour adventure takes you from the summit of Gunstock towards the top of Pistol – that’s over 3/4 of a mile! From there, you’ll get aboard another set of lines, zipping from Pistol to the Aerial Treetop Course, another 3,809 feet! Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling 603-737-4388 or online through https://www.gunstock.com/summer/ziptour/.
Mountain Coaster
Ride a roller coaster set on the mountainside in two-person carts on twin, stainless steel rails. This can be done without breaching the embargoed areas. The coaster takes riders uphill through the forest before gravity takes over. The downhill track has swooping turns, banked corners, rolling drops and 360° turns. Each cart is equipped with its own braking system. Reservations are not required.
Scenic Chair Lift Rides
Enjoy a leisurely 15-minute ride to the summit where you will disembark to marvel at the beautiful views of Lake Winnipesaukee, Mount Washington and the fall foliage. Explore hiking trails at the top of the mountain or have a picnic before riding back down. Competitors cannot buy a one-way ticket and hike down (or up) until after they have completed both days of Older Dash. Reservations are not required.
Hiking
Gunstock Mountain Resort sits above Lake Winnipesaukee in the middle of the Belknap Range. A complete trail map is available for download http://belknaprangetrails.org/belknap-range-trail-map/ or can be purchased at Gunstock Mountain Resort. Competitors cannot hike within 5 miles of the Gunstock Resort until they have completed both days of Older Dash. But the hiking map goes well beyond the immediate area around Gunstock.
Fishing
Gunstock has a 3-acre fishing pond known as Belknap Recreation Area Pond. It is stocked on a regular basis. A valid New Hampshire State Fishing License is required for ages 16 and older. The NH Fish and Game web site has information on when the pond is stocked and where to purchase fishing licenses. Gunstock’s Mountainside Outfitters Store and the Camping Center have bait available for purchase. Fishing in the pond does not breach the embargoed area.
Mountain Biking
Enjoy Gunstock’s 50km of single and double track trails (which we use for Ski-O in the winter). There are all levels of difficulty, starting with beginner terrain through our campground, to intermediate trails around Cobble Mountain, and advanced riding across the ridge line from the summit of Gunstock to Mount Rowe. Maps are available. Competitors may not use the mountain bike trails until they have completed both days of Older Dash.
Directions
The address is 719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford, NH 03249
GPS coordinates: N 43 32.480 W 71 21.900
(See map at bottom of this page.)
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.
On-Site Meals
We won’t be serving food at the Stockade Lodge, but food will be available for purchase at the Cobble Mountain Food Court in the main lodge. They are open from 11:00 until 16:00.
The Landing Zone adjacent to the food court serves adult beverages and will also be open both days.
The Campground Store (open at 7:30) and the Retail Store (open at 10:00) both have breakfast sandwiches and coffee for sale.
Saturday Night Dinner
UNO will host a pasta dinner on Saturday night at the nearby Gilford Community Church, 19 Potter Hill Road, Gilford, NH. The menu will be pasta with meat sauce and a vegetarian pasta option with plenty of vegetables, salad, garlic bread, coffee, tea, punch, water, hot chocolate, and cookies for dessert. It will be served buffet style and they promise generous portions. Cost is $19 over age 12, and $5 for 12 and under. Children under age 2 are free. Space should be adequate, but it is limited to 200.
Nearby Lodging
Gunstock Mountain Resort has camping available on site and that is addressed in a separate section below.
Since this is a four-season recreation area, so there is a variety of lodging options nearby. The closest towns to Gunstock Mountain Resort are Gilford, Laconia, Alton, and Weirs. Other towns within a reasonable distance are Sanbornton, Center Harbor, Tilton, and Meredith. This is a popular time of year with the fall foliage, so you may find some lodging is fully booked.
There is a lodging guide on the Gunstock Mountain Resort website that is fairly complete. You can access that at https://www.gunstock.com/lodging/overview/
On Site Camping
While Gunstock’s campground will officially close the week before our event, it will remain open with the password of “orienteering”. Barring an unusually early freeze, they expect all facilities to remain open, including the showers and laundry. The campground has 290 campsites on 140 acres, but they are likely to group us into a smaller area so they can begin their winter shut-down. You can expect tent sites and ones with water/electricity. There are bath houses with free hot showers, coin-operated laundry facilities, and a camp store with ice, fire wood, propane, RV supplies, and basic food items.
You MUST call Gunstock directly to make camping arrangements for this event. Be sure to tell them you are coming for the orienteering, or they will tell you the campground is closed. Call 603-293-4341 x508 to make your reservation.