FLO LIVE ORIENTEERING EVENT AT ROCK SPRINGS RUN STATE RESERVE
SATURDAY OCT 16! 

A VENUE SO NICE, WE USED IT

TWICE!
Rock Springs Run State Reserve
Saturday Oct 16, 2021 

Staging area across from the Horse Barn
what3words address:


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What's this?
Driving Directions from w3w?
 
Driving Directions: Use this w3w address and follow the new paved road (details below)

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FLO Civilians:
Registration opens about 9:30 am, first starts at 10:00 am.
All courses close at 3:00 PM

JROTC:
Training courses open 0900 - 1300
All-event Score-O competition 1400 - 1500
We expect all JROTC units to have pre-registered.
 

WELCOME BACK!

Welcome back to live orienteering - the original socially-distanced sport!  We are returning to Rock Springs Run State Reserve Saturday Oct 16 for a second bite at this delicious apple.  All new courses, updated map, cooler weather, same great venue, same great orienteering fun!

This event will have both civilian orienteering and also the central FL annual JROTC O-training camp hosted by Titusville High School.  A variety of courses will be offered from beginner to advanced, and a special Score-O point-based course will also be available (see course list below).




Directions:
The construction on SR 46 continues, and the entrance has been reconfigured once again.  The bad news is that the changes are recent enough that Waze and Google Maps routing do not seem to be fully aware of the current conditions, so be wary about using past directions, GPS targets, or addresses and blindly following your GPS.

The good news is that a brand new paved road has been made into the park coming in from the east from Wekiva River Rd (the same road that Wekiva Falls RV resort is on).  As of this writing, GPS's don't know about this road yet and so will not route you through it, but it is there and it is currently the best & safest way into the park.  Note that on the satellite aerials this new road shows as dirt, but it has in fact been newly paved.  It intersects Wekiva Falls Rd at what3words address


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Plug that address into the w3w app, tap "Navigate", and pick your favorite navigation app to get turn-by turn directions to that intersection, then turn right onto the new paved road and follow it to the end.  It will dump you out at the Horse Barn. Turn right there to get to our staging/parking area.

Note that the turn for Wekiva River Rd is pretty easy to see coming if you're approaching from the east (I-4 side), because it's right after you drive over Wekiva River.  If you're approaching from the west, there is an alternate UNPAVED  "Construction Entrance" at w3w address 


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This is just a temporary dirt road connector from the new 46 to the old 46 just west of the RSRSR main entrance, which is our old way into the park.  On a Saturday, it should be empty, but still the preferred route would be to come in via the new PAVED road off of Wekiva River Rd noted above.


Venue Notes

RSRSR -  We're still in the aftermath of the summer growing season, so while the grass might be mowed around the staging area, expect grass and other undergrowth to be high over most of the map.  In some areas, the grass is thigh-high and briars are abundant, so leg protection is recommended for going off-trail.  Prickly Pear cactus are also plentiful here, and they sport spines that can puncture the toe or upper of a shoe if accidentally kicked, so wear tough shoes and watch where you step.  Another recommendation is to treat your shoes, socks, and pants with insect repellent containing DEET or Permethrin, as the ticks and chiggers are still open for business.  Treating your clothing up to the waist with repellent is good protection against such nuisances.

Animal life is also plentiful in the park. We encountered deer, turkeys, gopher tortoises, and various birds while doing the prep work leading up to this and the prior 9/11 event.  Also please note that in September we encountered this charming fellow on one of the trails out west of paved road CR 433.



(That's a small adult water moccasin in case you don't recognize the species.) Most snakes will skedaddle the instant they see or hear you, but this one held his ground as we approached.  Keep your eyes open, and watch where you step, particularly around water.

Speaking of animal life, please note that there is horseback riding in RSRSR, and you may encounter riders while out in the park.  Running toward or past a horse can spook it, leading to highly unfortunate events (or at the very least, angry riders who will complain to park officials).  If you encounter horses, STOP RUNNING, yield right-of-way, and be courteous.  Play nice in the sandbox.

Also, please remember that while the weather will have softened by mid-October, this time of year can still be hot and humid, so dehydration will be a hazard to contend with.  You will want to hydro-load before going out and carry hydration on your course.  Bottles of water or sports drinks work, but hydration packs worn on the back are best because they carry more volume and leave your hands free.  Carry more liquid than you think you will need because you may be out on your course longer than you expect.  Also plan to have more to drink when you return from your course.

  

 SUMMARY OF COURSES
  • Yellow - for beginners. Course is mostly on trails and fields with control points a short distance into the woods. There may be opportunities for those who feel able to take short cuts through the woods. Length 2.8 km.
  • Orange - intermediate difficulty. Mix of on- trail and off-trail, generally relying on the more obvious mapped features. Length 2.9 km.
  • Green - an advanced course off trail and reliant on the subtler features of the terrain. Length 4.2 km.
  • Blue - the longest advanced course. Length 6.5 km.
  • Score-O! - This event will contain a special Score-O course, different from our typical point-to-point courses.  Typical p-t-p courses require you to visit all the controls on the course, and in a mandatory order.  In score-O, there is a larger array of controls, each worth a certain number of points, and you can visit any or all of them, in any order you see fit. The object is to rack up the largest point total you can within a specified time limit (typically 60 minutes). Length ??? km.
Note that the course lengths mentioned above are measured straight-line from point to point to point.  Your actual route on the ground will often be on more winding trails or diverted around obstacles like ponds or dense tickets, so your actual distance traveled will often be 25-50% longer than the stated course length.

If you are new and/or unsure of which course is right for you, ask us at registration and we will be happy to advise you.  Precise course lengths will be on display at registration to give you an idea of how far you'll be travelling to complete a course.  When in doubt, choose an easier course.  If you complete that one too fast and haven't had enough fun yet, you can trade up to the next harder map and go out again!

As usual, there is a 3 hour time limit on all FLO courses, and all courses close at 3:00 pm (1500 hours).

 
Safety Bearing: 
NORTHEAST to Ethel Rd.

Typical FLO registration fees are in effect: $7 per Map for FLO members, $9 per Map for non-members and $6 per Map for Groups such as JROTC and Scouts whose leaders register, and pay for, all their groups at once (this group rate minimizes the crowd and the confusion at the registration table and is well worth the discount to FLO registration volunteers!).  In addition, registration will collect the park's $2/person day use fee.


The Map


The map has been updated in various ways, mostly east of CR 433 and in the vicinity of controls.  The elevation contours have been recently redrawn from LIDAR data at 1m intervals, providing a bit more topographical detail than we had previously.  Additional field and satellite imagery work have been done even since our Sep event, so the map is even newer than it was last month.


Misc Notes:
In the event you choose to spend your post-orienteering time horseback riding, It’s only a short walk, but of course there is an extra charge for the rides because they are a commercial enterprise.

 
We hope you all enjoy the day and this lovely venue. Thanks for coming out, and Bring A Friend!
 
Course Design: Bob Putnam (bob@floridaorienteering.org), Ray Bruneau (ray@floridaorienteering.org)
Vetting & Map Update: Blaik Mathews 
(blaik@floridaorienteering.org), Joanie Haas (joanie@floridaorienteering.org)
SAFETY BEST PRACTICES:
  • Check the weather before coming and bring appropriate clothing.  This includes layers during colder weather, cool moisture-wicking clothing in hotter months, and a waterproof jacket or poncho if rain is a possibility (FLO events run rain or shine!).
  • We recommend wearing supportive shoes with a upper tougher than fabric, particularly if you plan to do a course beyond novice level.  If you plan to do an advanced course, you will likely spend significant time off trail.  Covering your lower legs with outdoor pants or even gaiters will protect you from scratches.
  • It's Florida. Bring sun screen and bug spray as appropriate.
  • DO NOT FORGET TO BRING WATER.  Each competitor is expected to carry their own water or to be sufficiently hydrated before competing.  And let’s not kid ourselves about this hydrating thing: Plan on carrying your own water even though it’s an option, because if you become lost or disoriented, you may be spending more time out there than you planned. Stay hydrated. It may be warm and there will be no water on the courses. Carrying a little extra can also let you be a hero to someone else who didn't plan ahead as well as you did.
  • When registering a group, make sure you tell us the exact number of people who will be in that group.  FLO absolutely needs to know how many people are in each group and what the individual names are. Do not treat this as a choice; this is a safety issue. We hope never to use this information as part of a Search & Rescue effort, but if it is neglected and a search becomes necessary, you can appreciate how vital it may be.
  • The Safety Bearing for all courses will always be PRINTED ON YOUR MAP, and will generally lead to a road or fence that will guide you back to the finish.
  • If you become severely lost or injured, or lose your map and/or compass: If you are at a control, stay there until help arrives. Bail out to the Safety Bearing ONLY if you are CERTAIN you now know which way is the way back.
  • Carry a whistle and know how to use it: If in trouble, give 3 short blasts on the whistle, and repeat every few minutes until found. If you hear another wistle answer back (single blast), respond with your 3 blasts every time they signal so they can home in on you.
  • If you have a smartphone, carry it with you and use the Livelox app to record your hike (see info below).  With Livelox and cell signal, event staff can monitor your position and movements in real time, which is VERY handy if you should become lost.
  • An emergency contact number will also be printed on your map.  If you get in trouble or see someone else who is, call in for help.
  • At some of our venues, there may be horse trails with riders on horseback.  Running toward or past a horse can spook it, leading to highly unfortunate events (or at the very least, angry riders who will complain to park officials).  If you encounter horses, STOP RUNNING, yield right-of-way, and be courteous.  Play nice in the sandbox.
PLEASE VOLUNTEER WITH US!
 
Florida Orienteering is a non-profit entity and our entire operation runs on the efforts of volunteers - people who love the sport, love the outdoors, and love sharing the experience of enjoying Florida's unique and beautiful natural spaces.  We are always on the lookout for new friends who share these interests and are willing to help - so if you have some time to share, please volunteer!

We always need people to help out at every event - even an hour or two really helps.  We will train any skills needed.  Possible duties include setup or take-down, registration, start table, finish table, Livelox monitoring, and control retrieval (starting at 3pm).

Contact the event coordinator listed above or email Blaik at 
blaik@floridaorienteering.org.   Let them know you can volunteer for a few hours either early (9:00 to noon) or late (noon-3:00), and whether there is anything in particular you’d like to do. 

SPECIAL NOTE - Volunteering for Control Retrieval at the end of the event is one of the best ways to learn the skill of navigation!  Adventure Racers and JROTC Cadets, especially the AR’s who like to run two or three courses, should consider Retrieval as an alternative training exercise.
Livelox GPS logging is also now available at all FLO events.  This technology allows you to use any smartphone to record a GPS track of your course and have it automatically overlaid on your course map after you finish.  This is a lot of fun and is an extremely popular way to enhance your enjoyment of your orienteering experience.

Using Livelox also offers an additional layer of safety, as it allows event staff to locate you if you should ever become lost.  Livelox is free to use and very easy to set up on your smartphone - see the video below for details:


Livelox Setup Instructions:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urpc6pzE0f8
SportIdent “e-punch” timing is now the required method of timing at all FLO events.  In addition to providing more information about your course, it also lightens the workload of accurate record-keeping, scoring, tracking, and results posting for FLO event staff and volunteers.  If you don’t own an e-punch finger stick, one can be easily rented for $3 at registration.  E-punch sticks can also be purchased for $30 (or $27 after rental) and used at orienteering events worldwide. For more information on e-punch timing see the intro video linked below:

 Training Video on “E-Punch” Timing & Finger Sticks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fry-o58VR_I
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