Recap
Wow!!
Where to start? First, thanks everyone for coming out and enjoying a bright, crisp, beautiful winter day. We had over 30 participants, including some who came out to their first in-person event. Thanks for joining us, Kingsleys, you picked a memorable event to start running with us.
Obviously the snow conditions dominated the event. Most trails had various conditions of packed snow. Other trails were blazed and plowed out by orienteers running the course. I heard from many of you that making the correct choice of snow trails became a challenge. Not all footprints were good choices. Why were trails important? Snow depth. The park had knee to quad deep snow. Someone, I think it was Trevor W., said he followed a set of footprints and went into an area that turned out to be a sunken farm lane that had drifted level. When he sank in up to his waist, he made a wise decision and back tracked. I did see some participants with snow shoes. Sandra A. used them on parts of the course, hope they helped her. Bob Turanchik (Bob T) wore snowshoes to set the eastern part of the course. He said at times the snowshoes would sink so deep that snow would collapse on top of them.
Sydney F. and Kevin F. came over from Pittsburgh to join us. Always great to welcome our friends from WPOC. Thank you! Sydney is a nationally ranked orienteer and said this was the deepest snow she has seen at an event. I tried to ask everyone as they finished what was the deepest snow they went through, most said “over the knee”.
Every green course runner completed (or should I say survived?) Bob T’s course. Green was the only course that didn’t require a snow change (well, it did have one minor change, control 4 (40) was moved 15 yards south so you didn’t have to cross the flooded/frozen creek). We did modify and shorten the other three courses.
Special thanks to our community partners, Shelley T and Medina County Parks for their help, cooperation, and beautiful Allardale Park. We enjoy running (well, in this event, walking, trudging, and snow shoeing) in your park.
Glad you all came out and enjoyed the snow. After all, how many times will you have a great winter challenge like that? Big snowfalls and orienteering events rarely coincide. You survived, had fun, and have good stories that no one will believe.
Please see links below.
Jay Smink, Event Director
ps. Don’t forget to upload your routes to Livelox!