Join the Arctic Orienteering Club for two days and one night of fun, quality orienteering in Alaska. We will be premiering new maps in new venues as well as hosting a grill and potluck at a camping site near the race venues.
If you are visiting Alaska, consider also attending our regular Wednesday evening events and get 4 events in 8 days!
About
The Arctic Orienteering Club is the premier (well only) orienteering club in Alaska. Located in Anchorage Alaska, we host about 20 events per year, that often see upwards of 100 participants per event. Find out more about us on our website https://oalaska.org.
Our goals for the Alaska Orienteering Festival are
- Debut two new maps at venues which promise some excellent orienteering, but are further afield than our members are use to.
- Provide a social activity between races.
- Test the club’s ability and willingness to host an event that is more than just a regular weekly local event, with the eye on maybe hosting a national ranking event at some point in the future.
General Info
Cost
Each event will cost $30. There is a $20 discount if you attend both events ($40 total for both events). The festival is a special event that is not covered by the season pass purchased by most members of the Arctic Orienteering Club. However, season pass holders are entitled to an additional $10 discount ($20 for a single event, or $30 for both events).
As always, children under 18 will not be charged an entry fee.
Electronic punch finger stick rental will be $5/day.
Cost for lodging, food, and beverages during the weekend are your responsibility. See the event program for details on Saturday’s social schedule.
Start Times
We will not be assigning start times before the events. You can start as soon as there is an opening on your course (maintaining a minimum 2 minute interval).
Punching
All courses will use the standard SportIdent punching system. We will not be offering contactless punching. SportIdent cards (finger sticks) will be available for rent at the venue.
Weather
The weather in Alaska can be fantastic for orienteering. Even when sunny, it is rarely too hot for running in steep alpine terrain. However, the weather can also be fickle and sometimes downright nasty. Despite the conditions at the start of your race, you should be prepared for the weather to turn cold, wet, and windy while you are on the course. Hypothermia is always a concern in the alpine country of Alaska, and you need to be prepared for it.
Water
We will provide a limited amount of water at the start/finish area. There will be no treated water out on the course. Due to the generally cooler, wetter conditions in Alaska, most orienteers here do not need water during a race; however, you need to judge your own needs and bring water if you may need it on the course. We also encourage everyone to bring their own water in case we run out.
Wildlife
The good news is that there is a lot of cool wildlife in Alaska, and the chance of seeing something while here is high. More good news is that we do not have any snakes and other venomous terrors like scorpions. However, we do have an abundance of large furry mammals. Moose and bear encounters are possible on all of our courses; however, these animals prefer to be left alone and will typically leave you alone. The alpine country provides good visibility, so you are unlikely to surprise anyone, and you and the animal can give each other a wide berth. In the wooded areas, it is good to make noise and carry bear spray. We will have bear and moose awareness literature available at the start/finish area. There is also plenty of good information available online, and you are encouraged to do your homework and come prepared.
The other significant “wildlife” we contend with in Alaska is the mosquito (aka the state bird). The nuisance factor can range from 0 to unbearable (“I got eaten alive every time I slowed down to read my map”). Fortunately, the location and the time of year should make for a low mosquito factor, but this can’t be guaranteed. We will have a limited amount of insect repellent (we call it “bug dope”) at the start/finish area, but we recommend that you bring your own and carry some with you. If you sweat a lot you may need to re-apply.
Hazardous Vegetation
Alaska has no poison ivy or poison oak, but we do have cow parsnip (aka hog weed), which can cause a rash when the toxin is activated by the sun after exposure to the skin. It is easy to spot and easy to avoid. It is harmless if a broken stem doesn’t contact bare skin.
While not hazardous, devil’s club is the other noteworthy plant to avoid as the stems and undersides of the large leafs are very prickly.
Both cow parsnip and devil’s club will be found at the Willow venue, but not at Hatcher Pass.
Overview Map
The orienteering venues and camping will be near Willow Alaska. These Google map markers show the venue locations.
Schedule
Events will take place on Saturday August 3rd, 2024 and Sunday August 4th, 2024. See the event program for details
Logistics
Useful information for visitors coming from out of state:
Getting Here
We recommend flying into the Anchorage International Airport and renting a car. The distance from the airport and the venue is about 85 miles. It’s best to book early as rental car availability can be low in the summer months.
Where to Stay
Before and after the event, there are numerous lodging options in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley to choose from, but book early as the summer months can be very popular.
On Saturday night we hope you will join us a social event and group camping. Details are still being arranged, but we plan to secure some form of group camp site in the vicinity of the event venue. Stay tuned…
The state allows primitive camping on state land (most of eastern Willow Creek Road).
Willow Creek State Recreation Area – Camping
Gold Mint Trailhead and Parking – 10 campsites
Event Program
Saturday August 3rd
Race Details
Long Classics at Willow Creek
Mixed deciduous and spruce forests with clearings and areas of limited brush. Combined with intricate terrain and very few trails this new venue should make for some fabulous orienteering. The courses will be on the challenging side with very few catching features. Staying in contact with the map will be critical as “finding yourself” will be difficult in areas with many similar features.
Location: The start/finish will be at approximately mile 2.3 of N. Willer Kash Road (https://maps.app.goo.gl/bVaegoHcHcWH2dnZA). From Anchorage, take the Glenn Highway (1) north to the Parks Highway (3). Proceed north on the Parks Highway to mile marker 71. Turn right onto Willow Fishhook Road heading towards Hatcher Pass. After 5.5 miles, turn left onto N Shirley Towne Dr. After crossing Willow Creek (0.4m), turn rIght onto N. Jim Carter Road (gravel). After 0.4m, turn right onto N. Willer Kash Road (dirt) and proceed 2.3 miles to the start area. Willer Kash is in decent condition, but it can be rutted and muddy depending on the weather. Car pooling in a suitable vehicle is encouraged.
Schedule: Starts will be every two minutes from Noon until 2pm. Start times will not be pre-assigned, you should be able to start shortly after you check-in/register. You must be done by 5pm.
Cell Coverage: Anticipate limited or no cell coverage. However, when setting courses, there was one bar of Verizon at the start/finish area and over at least parts of the courses.
Parking: Park along the side of N. Willer Kash Road, before or after the start finish area. There is a large parking area at the intersection of N. Jim Carter Road and N. Willer Kash Road that can be used as a shuttle location if needed.
Courses:
| Course | Length (km) | Climb (m) | Controls | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 6.2 | 200 | 17 | 1;10,000 |
| Green | 5.2 | 185 | 16 | 1;10,000 |
| Orange | 4.0 | 140 | 15 | 1;10,000 |
| Score-O | N/A | N/A | 34 | 1;10,000 |
Course Setter Notes:
Mosquitoes: Yes
Wet Feet: Not unless the water is coming from the sky.
Vegetation: A typical Alaskan mix of the Good, Bad and Ugly. The canopy is well mapped, but the understory is generally not mapped. Some areas offer fairly clean forest floor, but other areas are a mix of tall grasses, weeds, and some deadfall. Since the understory varies by season and often varies in patches too small to map, it is easiest to just leave it unmapped and let the orienteer find the path of least resistance based on what is in front of them. In general, I think the site has largely favorable running conditions (for Alaska), and I hope you agree. If not, the alpine venue on Sunday should be more to your liking.
Terrain: Challenging! The location used for the courses, which has the best runnability, is also the trickiest terrain. There are very few long clear lines of navigation, and there are many similar features. This makes it easy to lose contact with the map, and hard to recover. See this interesting analysis by an elite European orienteer. I encourage you to start slowly and be very sure of your navigation. In setting the courses, I found mistakes easy to make and costly.
People:
- Meet Director: Regan Sarwas
- Course Setter: Regan Sarwas
- Vetters: Mike Robinson
- Volunteers: Jenny Redick, Anne Billman, Jen Jolliff, Diane VonDommolen
Water: There is no water at the venue, please bring your own.
Developed Toilet Facilities: None. There is a porta-potty at the Willow Creek bridge (2.8 miles away)
What to do after: Enjoy some refreshments and orienteering chitchat at the finish area, then head out to the group camping area for a BBQ cookout and potluck feast.
Social Events
The Arctic Orienteering Club will secure a location for a potluck and group camping somewhere along the Willow Fishhook Road between the two events. The exact location is subject to weather (higher, further east if the weather looks favorable or lower and closer to the creek if not) and site availability. We will update the website as soon as possible after a site is secured Thursday afternoon. Directions will also be available at the Saturday event.
There will be no water, latrines, or other services at the campsite, so plan to be self sufficient. The club will provide a grill as well as burgers, hot dogs, buns and condiments. We are asking everyone to bring some food or beverage to share.
Feel free to bring firewood, games, wild stories, or anything else to make the evening more festive.
Sunday August 4th
Race Details
Mountain-O at Hatcher Pass
An extra-long classic event in an open alpine venue with lots of contour lines. This event will provide an extra physical challenge that will be rewarded by spectacular views of the Talkeetna Mountains and the Susitna River and Willow Creek drainage.
Location: The start/finish will be at the small parking area at the intersection of Willow-Fishhook Road and Craigie Creek Road (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Gte1B1zf8Cdzb1XC7). It is about 25 miles east of the Parks highway on the Willow Fishhook Road (see directions for Saturday’s event). If you are coming from the group camp site, just follow the crowd. If you are coming from Anchorage for just this event, it will be faster to come over the pass from the east (see Google link above for directions).
Schedule: Starts from 10am to 11am.
Cell Coverage: None.
Parking: There is parking at the start/finish area. Look for the orienteering flags/signs.
Courses: The following details are subject to change, as the courses are developed.
| Course | Length (km) | Climb (m) | Controls | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long | 11.4km | Lots and Lots | 20 | 1;10,000 |
| Short | 7.6km | Lots | 11 | 1;10,000 |
People:
- Meet Director: Ian Moore, Jen Jolliff, Springer Moore
- Course Setter: Ian Moore, Jen Jolliff, Springer Moore
- Vetters: Ian Moore, Jen Jolliff, Springer Moore
- Volunteers: Always Welcome!
Water: There is no water at the venue, please bring your own.
Developed Toilet Facilities: None
What to do after: Enjoy some refreshments and orienteering chit chat at the finish area before offering to help collect controls.
Registration
Preregistration with EventReg is encouraged, but on site registration will also be available. When registering with EventReg, the E-Punch Number is the number on your ePunch finger stick. If you do not have an finger stick, you will need to select the rental option during registration.
Attention Arctic Orienteering Club:
- EventReg, considers your club affiliation to be “ARCTIC” not “AOC”.
- This is a special event that is not covered by the season pass, however season pass holders are entitled to a $10 discount. Enter the coupon code “Arctic” to get the discount.
- If you use EventReg you will need to complete another online waiver in the registration process.
See who is coming.
Merchandise
T-shirts may be available for pre-order during registration or at the event.
Results
Cell service at the venues is spotty and live results will likely not be available. We will upload results to the following sites as soon as possible: