Drunken Tree-O

The Arctic Orienteering club is hosting a traditional orienteering meet at Earthquake Park on Wednesday, May 13. The intricate terrain presents an excellent opportunity to build and test navigation skills in a compact area. Early season timing means sight lines and off-trail travel are excellent. Water levels in the ponds and streams are very high as the park emerges from winter; be prepared for wet and muddy conditions.

Free parking for Earthquake Park is found on the western end of Northern Lights. Better yet, utilize the extensive Anchorage trail network to walk, run, amble or ride a bike to the event. From the parking lot follow signs to the remote start located at Earthquake Park Monuments.

• Starts from 5pm to 7pm.
• Long pants are recommended. Please be mindful of orienteers, others, and wildlife.
• Remember your typical orienteering gear to speed up the process. You can complete your season waiver and pay online for a season pass or single event, and don’t forget to bring your punch stick, compass, whistle, and lots of enthusiasm.

White, Yellow and Orange courses are on the shorter side, creating the opportunity to focus on beginner to intermediate navigation skills. The Green course delivers extensive off trail navigation over a moderate distance.The Red course is no joke. Feedback on the Red course from an experienced club member – “Wow!, that is definitely the longest course I have seen at EQ, I can’t believe you got ~5km into that venue. I think it will be great!, especially those who like to get a workout.” You are warned.

Courses (subject to final revisions):

• White – 10 controls, 1.5 km
• Yellow – 14 controls, 2.2 km
• Orange – 15 controls, 2.8 km
• Green – 16 controls, 3.8 km
• Red – 20 controls, 4.9 km