Pohick Bay

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April 5
Saturday

Pohick Bay Welcome to Pohick Bay Regional Park for this Saturday event! This year, we'll be in the same registration and start/finish area as last year (see the locator map below.) A full set of courses from beginner (white) to advanced (blue) will be available thanks to course setter Sidney Sachs who returns to Pohick Bay after having set the courses here in 2011.

Course details are now posted below; and as for timing, plan on showing up anytime between 10:45am - 1:15pm, start between 11 - 1:30, and be out of the woods by 3pm.

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.



Pohick Locator Map Additional information:

  • Tell the attendant at the park entrance booth that you are here for the orienteering event and you won't have to pay the park entry fee.
  • If the parking lot near Shelter 1 (see map at left) is full, proceed down the hill to the Boat Ramp parking lot and walk back up to the registration site.
  • Dogs are welcome, so long as they are on a leash at all times.
  • Have a questions? Just click on our Contact Us form.

zpizza It's Back: Free Pizza Special! ZPIZZA is offering all orienteers a free slice of pizza with the purchase of any beverage this Saturday afternoon; use code "QOC" or just wave your Pohick map. Known for their menu featuring healthy sandwiches, salads and gluten-free pizza, and rated highly by plenty of QOC orienteers. Located (here) just east of the I-95/Lorton exit 163; you can get there easily after the event by taking a right turn out of the park onto Gunston Road. There's also a Quizno's and a Starbucks next door if that's more your style.





Nearby Attraction: Want to combine some history with your orienteering? Nearby Gunston Hall was the home of George Mason, the "father of the Bill of Rights" and has an impressive mansion and over 500 acres of grounds and hiking trails (and maybe we'll orienteer someday soon there too!). And on our event day (April 5) Gunston Hall will be hosting a "Celebration of Spring" featuring a kite festival and other activities from Noon to 5 pm (details on their website). The entry road for Gunston Hall is just 500 meters beyond Pohick Bay Park entrance off Gunston Road. Check their website for hours and admission prices.

Location

Pohick Bay Regional Park, Pavilion 3, Lorton, VA (Classic Orienteering)
RegistrationNo advance registration required. Just show up and have fun!
Start TimesStart your course at any time between 11 - 1:30 (and be done no later than 3pm).
ScheduleSaturday, April 5
11:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic Orienteering:
Volunteers
Event Director:Charles Carrick
Course Designer:Sidney Sachs
Location Details

Classic Orienteering
Pohick Bay Regional Park
Pavilion 3
Lorton, VA
Google Map

From southbound I-95, take exit 163 (Lorton). Go left onto Lorton Rd at the end of exit ramp. Go under the 2nd overpass and turn right onto Lorton Market St (Z-pizza is in the shopping center on the left), then go about 1.5 miles to the traffic light at Route 1. Go straight through light (the road name changes to Gunston Rd) and go about 4 miles to the park entrance on left.
After passing through the gate, continue down the main park road to the end and park in the LARGE lots to the west (by the boat launches). Walk about ~125 meters to Shelter 3, which is on the east side of the main entrance road (look for the QOC banner).
Please note that a park entry fee must be paid to the attendant at the park gate. Those who live in the NOVA Parks jurisdiction (residents of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun Counties; Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax & Falls Church) are admitted free; please be prepared to show ID at gate. Those who live outside the jurisdiction will pay $4 per vehicle at the gate (the shelter-rental rate). PLEASE inform the attendant that they are there for the orienteering event at SHELTER 3.
Course DetailsClassic Orienteering
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 1.7658
Yellow 2.71159
Orange 4.317011
Brown 4.21257
Green 5.217510
Red 6.420012
Blue 9.427016
Course NotesClassic Orienteering

Update re map scales: White, 1:5000. Yellow, 1:7500. Orange through Blue: 1:10000.

As of March 21, with all the snow melting, the trails and ground are very damp. The trails are also covered with leaves and in places hard to follow. On the White and Yellow courses, which includes some recently built trails, you may be best able to follow the trails using the markers on trees. In other places, the park is in the process of making new trails that are not (yet) on the map. Only the advanced courses might come across these. The course setter does not think anyone should do an advance course for the first time at this particular event, and in fact, the Orange course may be more difficult than average.

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 desiring to compete on a second course 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.