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As usual, we are closing out our O season at Little Big Econ State Forest, after which we'll be on summer break. After a few years staging this event at the Snow Hill Rd trailhead, this year we will be returning to the Barr St trailhead, with its newly-expanded parking area. Use the What3Words address above for turn-by-turn directions.

As usual, this will be a small civilian-only event, so we don't expect a huge crowd. The usual FLO registration fees will be in effect: $7 per Map for FLO members, $9 per Map for non-members and, still, a reduced rate of $6 per Map for Groups such as Scouts whose leaders register all their groups and individuals 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, we will also collect the $2 per person day use fee for the park to remit to the rangers.

Venue Notes

Little Big Econ consists of the Econ River, surrounding wetlands and drainages, and drier territory including current or past pine plantation areas. Rain runoff from the entire area drains to the Econ River on the south edge of the map through a series of permanent and seasonal drainages, which often spread out into swampy lowland areas. Networks of multi-use trails crisscross the park and intersect with the feeder streams in numerous places. Some of these crossings have small wooden bridges, but most don't. In the wet season, much of the area can be quite wet, but in the winter less so. Areas surrounding the river and drainages will still be damp/muddy and will often be thick with vegetation, and the drier areas will be a more grassy mix of whitewoods and rough open terrain. Note however that the grasses can still be quite tall & thick - including up to waist high in some areas off-trail. Occasional briars are present as well, so protect your legs.

While out in the park, watch for deer, hogs, wild turkey, and the occasional gopher tortoise. Keep your eyes open for tortoise burrows, as you don't want to turn an ankle in one. Speaking of animal life, please note that there is horseback riding in LBE, and you will sometimes 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.

Bug spray on your shoes, gaiters, and pants is also essential for going off-trail. Swampy territory means mosquitoes, so long sleeves and/or chemical protectant is a good idea all over.

DO NOT FORGET TO BRING WATER - LOTS OF 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 hydration thing - it's important, particularly at this time of year! Orienteering is thirsty work, and dehydration can sneak up on you even under pleasant weather conditions. Moreover, this event will be more hot and humid than any other we run, which will exacerbate the hydration problem. Carry LOTS of water - more than you think you will need. Always plan as though you may be spending more time out there than you expected. It's also handy to have extra water to have some to give away if you run into someone who didn't plan as well as you did.

Also note that although the terrain has been pretty dry during the month of May, we're starting to get those characteristic summer afternoon storms now, and water can accumulate in this low-lying territory quickly. Dress for wet feet, and bring a dry pair of shoes and socks to change into after your course - your feet will thank you.

NOTE #1: OB Areas
We will be printing on your map several Out-Of-Bounds areas in purple cross-hatch – they are private property, campsites, horse corrals, park maintenance areas, etc. Please be very careful about not infringing on these areas.

NOTE #2: Snakes
Our FL venues make good habitat for snakes of various species. Most of these are harmless and you will rarely see them - they're typically shy, retreat/hide when they sense you coming, and are expertly camouflaged. However, the swampy low ground common in this particular venue is the preferred habitat of one species that's a noteworthy exception - the water moccasin AKA cottonmouth. This thick-bodied pit viper has variable coloration but is typically dark brown, grey, or black, and many (especially younger) specimens will have a banded pattern of darker and lighter brown. The telltale signature is a dark brown stripe with lighter-colored borders running down the side of the head and through the eye (see photos below).

These snakes can be dangerous to humans because they are highly venomous, typically will stay still when approached and will not retreat, and will strike repeatedly if molested. They're not as mean as rumors sometimes say, but you don't want to accidentally step on one, so keep your eyes and ears open as you move through the woods off trail, in what is after all their home. You will rarely see snakes of any kind on trails, but runners on the longer more advanced courses will be spending significant time off-trail, and that's where you may encounter these lovelies.

SUMMARY OF COURSES

Yellow - for beginners. Course is mostly on trails 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 2.2 km.
Orange - intermediate difficulty. Mix of on- trail and off-trail, generally relying on the more obvious mapped features. Length 4.0 km.
Green - advanced course off trail and reliant on the subtler features of the terrain. Length 4.5 km.
Blue - the longest advanced course. Length 5.5 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). For this event especially, it is advisable to try to limit your time in the woods to the recommended 3 hour limit due to the heat.

Safety Bearing for all courses: NW to paved CR 426. Walking SW along the paved road will bring you back to the Barr St trailhead. The course area is also bounded in the south by the Econ River, and a trail runs along the north side of it which also will lead you back to Barr St. Depending on where you are on the map, this may be the easier out.

The Map

We will be using a brand new all-digital map for this event drawn from the latest hi-res Lidar. Due to lack of time, this map has not been fully digitally field checked, but the areas of our current courses and controls have been, so it's complete enough for us to use. We welcome your feedback on it.

We hope you all enjoy the day and this lovely venue. Thanks for coming out, and Bring A Friend!