Rosaryville

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April 13
Sunday

Traffic Alert! See details below for the section of Hwy 301 northeast of Rosaryville that will be closed for repairs this weekend.

Come and do mountain bike orienteering or classic orienteering or both! US Standing Team member, Ken Walker Jr. has prepared a full slate of white through blue classic orienteering courses plus short and long MTBO courses.

To spice things up, an orienteering duathlon competion will be offered, with results computed by combining the times for MTBO courses and foot-orienteering courses as follows:

  • Men and Open Teams - Long MTBO/Blue Foot O
  • Women and Female/Mixed Teams - Long MTBO/Red Foot O
  • Men, Women and Teams - Short MTBO/Green Foot O
  • Men, Women and Teams - Short MTBO/Orange Foot O

Any youth or large groups attending, please contact the Event Director so that we can coordinate pre-registration for your group; the group registration and waiver form is part of the information on our Group Leaders page.

Wondering what Mountain Bike Orienteering is about? Check out these videos (there are 3) from the Australian Orienteering Association:

The other two videos are here ('How To Navigate") and here ('Things You Need To Know').

If you don't want to click through to any of those at the moment, suffice it to say that MTBO is navigational racing on mountain bikes, in which each participant is given a map showing a series of checkpoints to be found in a designated order in the shortest possible time, with the choice of route between checkpoints left up to the racer. Success therefore depends on raw speed, of course, but also on the ability to read the map, make good route choices and execute them efficiently.

Rules for the MTBO event:

  • Helmet use is mandatory.
  • Participants are required to stay within 10 feet of their bikes at all times while racing.
  • Participants are required to stay on trails, tracks, roads and fields. No short cuts through the forest.
  • Participants must yield to horses and pedestrians, in accordance with park rules.
  • Note: it looks at though we're in the clear but rain and therefore poor trail conditions could require the MTBO to be cancelled. The foot-O in the afternoon will take place rain or shine. After racing, our co-meet directors will, weather permitting, get some charcoal going on one of the grills and provide some hot dogs and rolls. Feel free also to bring your own food to throw on the grill.

    Map Boards Are Available! Buy your own map board, or borrow one from QOC. The AutoPilot map board (either style) can be purchased as described here, and we'll get your shipping refunded if you pick it up at our Rosaryville event. We'll also have some map boards to try out for free too - first come, first served, and if you break it, you bought it! These map boards are the preferred choice of Team USA riders, and a portion of each purchase helps support the MTBO Team as well.

    Special Entry Fees:

  • Member using their own epunch: $5 foot, $10 MTBO, $15 for both
  • Member renting an epunch: add $5 to above amounts (and use for one or both events)
  • Non-member using their own epunch: $10 foot, $15 MTBO, $25 for both
  • Non-member renting an epunch: add $5 to above non-member entry fee (and use for one or both events)
  • Juniors: $5/event plus $5 if non-member plus $5 if epunch needed
  • Donations to MTBO Team USA: Definitely accepted and encouraged! And yes, they are tax-deductible.
  • After The Event use our updated RouteGadget software to enter your routes to all controls, and then compare your way to the way others went. The user interface is now tablet- and smartphone-friendly as well as Java-free. Event maps and split times for all participants are usually online within a day of the event.

    Hwy 301 ClosureWarning! A section of Hwy 301 northeast of Rosaryville will be completely closed this weekend due to repair work. The map to the right shows this section; full details are online here. A more detailed map is available here.

    Have questions? Feel free to use our Contact form anytime!

    Location

    Rosaryville State Park, Pavilion parking area, Rosaryville, MD (MTBO + Classic Orienteering)

    RegistrationNo advance registration required. Just show up and have fun!
    Start TimesStart window times for both MTB and foot courses will be posted above closer to the event date.
    ScheduleSunday, April 13
    8:45 am - 9:45 amMTBO + Classic Orienteering: MTBO registration window
    9:00 am - 10:00 amMTBO + Classic Orienteering: MTBO start window
    10:45 am - 1:15 pmMTBO + Classic Orienteering: Classic orienteering registration window
    11:00 am - 1:30 pmMTBO + Classic Orienteering: Classic orienteering start window
    11:30 amMTBO + Classic Orienteering: MTBO courses close
    3:00 pmMTBO + Classic Orienteering: Classic orienteering courses close
    Volunteers
    Event Director:John Landers
    Event Director:Jody Landers
    Course Designer:Ken Walker, Jr
    Location Details

    MTBO + Classic Orienteering, MTBO + Classic Orienteering, MTBO + Classic Orienteering, MTBO + Classic Orienteering, MTBO + Classic Orienteering, MTBO + Classic Orienteering
    Rosaryville State Park
    Pavilion parking area
    Rosaryville, MD
    Google Map

    From I-495 exit 11A, head east on Rt 4 (Penn. Ave) for 3 miles. Turn right on Woodyard Rd/MD-223, then quickly move left to turn left on Marlboro Pike. After 2.8 miles, turn right on Crain Hwy/Rt-301 S, then take the first right on W. Marlton Ave into the Park. Follow O'signs within the park.

    Park Entrance Fees: $3/pp in-state, $5/pp out-of-state
    Google Maps Link
    Apple/iPhone Link

    Course DetailsMTBO + Classic Orienteering
    Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
    White 1.6357
    Yellow 3.4559
    Orange 5.11308
    Brown 4909
    Short Mountain Bike 1010
    Green 5.214011
    Long Mountain Bike 1514
    Red 822013
    Blue 1027017
    Course NotesMTBO + Classic Orienteering

    Mountain Bike Orienteering

    MTBO competitors should carry their own water.

    The mechanical condition of your bicycle is entirely your responsibility - we won't be conducting assessments to make sure it's safe to ride - but helmet use is required for safety reasons.

    The short MTBO is 7.4km long as the crow flies, the long is 11.1km. The 10km and 15km above are the course setter's estimate of distance along the shortest possible route for each course. Remember, short cuts through the forest are forbidden - stick to the trails and open areas.

    Note: the MTBO is scheduled in the morning with only a little overlap with the classic orienteering to minimize conflict between different trail users. If you aren't confident of your speed and/or navigational ability we strongly advise you to show up before 9am and start early on the MTBO so you'll have plenty of time to get around the course without worrying about whether you'll finish by 11:30am or not.

    Classic Orienteering

    There are a number of new rootstocks (exposed roots of fallen trees) that aren't mapped yet, and some are as tall as 3-4 meters. Some of the already-mapped rootstocks have disintegrated and are now less distinct. With one exception, rootstocks are not used as control locations, nor will they be critical for your navigation.

    The forest is in relatively good shape. White areas are generally fast. The leaves are not out yet, though there is thick dead-fall or thorny undergrowth in many places, which are accurately mapped. You are advised to avoid the thickest green stuff. The park is densely packed with trails, so there are a lot of "around" options when you need them.

    Entry FeesIndividual Entries

    Note: juniors = under 21

    Club Member, adult Club Member, junior Non-Member, adult Non-Member, junior
    Epunch Owner $5 $5 $10 $5
    Epunch Borrower $10 $5 $15 $10

    Team or Group Entries

    Participants are welcome to compete together as a single team entry. Teams containing one or more nonmembers are charged the nonmember individual rate. Teams containing one or more adults are charged the adult individual rate. For teams to receive member or junior rates, all members of the team must be members or juniors, respectively. Each extra team map beyond the first is an additional $2. Individuals or teams who complete one MTBO or classic course before the end of the start window and wish to do a second course in that discipline can do so for a reduced fee of $2/map.

    Important Notes
    • At the event, we can only accept payment in cash or check; online, you may use a credit card or PayPal account.
    • You may become a member at the event or by joining online via this webpage (which also explains the member benefits). Membership is completely optional.
    • Most of our events use an 'epunch' timing chip for electronic timing. Individuals or groups without their own epunch pay a higher entry fee (see above), which includes the loan of an epunch for that event. Loaned epunches that are lost incur a $40 replacement fee. Epunches (also known as SI-cards or finger sticks) are usually available for sale at each event as described here.
    • Compasses are available at no charge, but if lost incur a $15 replacement fee.
    • Please provide collateral (driver's license or car keys) when borrowing a compass or epunch.
    • For additional safety, whistles are available for sale at $1/each.
    • Free beginner instruction is always available - just ask at the registration table.