Wheaton

The preceding weekend the JROTC event on Saturday enjoyed cool but tolerable weather and the uncertainty over what combination of wintry precipitation we'd get prompted us to cancel Sunday's orienteering. This weekend we got the mirror image so while about half the controls were hung in snow and sleet on Saturday afternoon, Sunday turned out to be a lovely not yet quite officially winter day, a bit cool but no bother at all while running and also pretty easy to tolerate from inside the heated train station party room where we again had registration, download and refreshments. In the near total absence of JROTC cadets, resting from their exertions the previous weekend, the youth contingent was dominated by two sizable groups of girl scouts, plus a not insignificant troop of boy scouts, along with the usual mix of newcomers and QOC members, all of whom got to enjoy a frolic in the slightly wintry wonderland of Wheaton under up to roughly an inch of snow - enough to make the footing a bit more challenging and dampen any number of socks but not the spirits of orienteers enjoying their last outing of the year.

All this was made possible by a typically excellent showing of volunteers: in addition to maestro Dan Tam Do directing the event and course designer Jon Torrance, we had Benjamin Roberts, Josh Blaustein, Iva Zicha, Chris Hemus and Eric Lyness working registration, Valerie Meyer and Amy Louden on e-punch results, assisted by Shirley Tan and Mary Snieckus, David Levine, Diana Todd, Kathleen Lennon and Gary Smith offering beginner instruction, and the whole Merka family (Jan, Dagmar and Alexis), Don Ames, Kim and Anne Jepsen, Joseph White, and Tom and Addie Nolan on control pickup and/or helping pack up the meet equipment.

Results are posted below as well as on Attackpoint, WinSplits, and on QOC's very own RouteGadget Happy holidays to all and we'll hope to see you again at QOC events in the new year.

REMINDER! If you're even considering attending our January 26, 2014 orienteering event on the Quantico Marine Base, you must sign up by January 7 to get your name on the Base entrance list. Make sure everyone who might be in your group signs up too - all names (except for under 18s) need to be provided. Signing up is free - you only need to pay the regular registration fee for your course that day at the event once you're inside the Base - so why not sign up now? Head to the event webpage and when ready scroll down to the Registration "click here" button.

White

Course Length: 2.8 km

Course Climb: 80 m

Number of Controls: 10

Yellow

Course Length: 3.3 km

Course Climb: 90 m

Number of Controls: 12

Orange

Course Length: 4.5 km

Course Climb: 115 m

Number of Controls: 14

Brown

Course Length: 4.1 km

Course Climb: 110 m

Number of Controls: 14

Green

Course Length: 5.9 km

Course Climb: 160 m

Number of Controls: 15

Red

Course Length: 7.3 km

Course Climb: 180 m

Number of Controls: 17

Blue

Course Length: 9.5 km

Course Climb: 235 m

Number of Controls: 22

Abbreviations: DNF = did not finish, MP = mispunch, NC = non-competitive (usually 2nd course or course setter/vetter), OT = overtime (more than 3 hours or returned after course closing time).