Jug Bay

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June 2
Sunday

Jug Bay Welcome back to Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary for the 44th Annual Chase, one of the longest continually running annual orienteering races in the US!

The Chase returns along with our Annual Meeting & Potluck Picnic, celebrating QOC's successful 2018-2019 Sept - June season. Newcomers are welcome, and there will be courses suited for all levels from beginner to advanced.

As is the tradition for this event, there will be a common mass start at High Noon for all courses.

This event is free to all members who pre-register, and non-members who pre-register get discount member rates. Pre-registration is now open - click here to register. [Want to become a member? Info here.] Although somewhat discouraged just to save our volunteers time at this fine event, you can also register at the event between 10:30 - 11:30am, albeit at regular event prices.

Schedule of Events
10:30am - On site registration opens
11:30am - On site registration closes!
11:33am - Annual Meeting/Voting for Board Members
11:50am - Maps distributed and Pre-Race Brief
12:00pm - Mass Start for The Chase

So here's how the event will run, at least in theory:

  • Pets are not allowed at this venue. No exceptions.
  • Convenient parking is a bit limited so carpooling is encouraged (and in some cases, so are designated drivers!)
  • Please don't wait until the last moment to show up since everyone needs to be registered well in advance of the mass start.
  • The (brief) Annual Meeting and Election of Officers will take place at about 11:30 prior to the start of the Chase.
  • Beginner instruction (about orienteering, not, drinking) will take place from 11 - 11:30 (only).
  • All registrations for this event are individual (i.e. there are no group registrations).
  • We've been asked to repeat this: dogs are not allowed at Jug Bay, for their sake and for the sake of numerous traps and food caches used in ongoing studies by the Univ. of Maryland and the Smithsonian.

The Annual Meeting of the Quantico Orienteering Club General Membership will take place on Sunday, June 2, 2019 promptly at 11:25 AM in conjunction with the Jug Bay Event in the area of the Caretakers House, Bristol Maryland. The Election of Officers for 2019-2020 Season will take place at the meeting. The Nominating Committee, chaired by Heidi Onkst, has recommended the following slate of officers for the coming year.
President: Jody Landers
VP of Competition/MD: Tom Nolan
VP of Competition/Permits - MD: Mike Newman
VP of Competition/VA: Charles Carrick
VP of Competition/Permits - VA: Bill Wright
Treasurer: Karla Hulett
Secretary: Laura Linville
(ExOfficio): Jon Torrance

We would like to thank and acknowledge Vic Culp, who has dutifully and diligently served as the Club Treasurer for the past 11 years and has decided not to stand for re-election this year. We heartily thank Vic for his stalwart service and wish him much success in his future endeavors. The Annual Picnic and Awards Ceremony will take place immediately following the running of the courses. Special thanks and appreciation to Dave Linthicum and Peggy Brosnan for graciously arranging for QOC's use of the Jug Bay area.

Picnic
QOC will provide beverages, desserts and paper goods. Attendees should bring picnic foods to share at this potluck. A charcoal grill is available and BBQing is encouraged. We recommend keeping food in a cooler until after you finish your run.

Race Overview

  • The White and Very Short Advanced courses have only one loop and no map change
  • Yellow, Orange, Short Advanced, and Medium Advanced courses each have two loops and one map change.
  • The Long Advanced course will have three loops and one map change.
  • Everyone on a given course does their loops in the same order.
  • Maps will be handed out at the starting line; don't look at the squiggly brown lines until the start is announced.
  • You will need to have a cup filled with your "race beverage" of choice in hand; we'll have water, soda, and beer (adults only).
  • The mass start will take place at noon.
  • When the race starts, empty your cup (into you), throw it with style to the ground, turn over and look at your map (that means turn the map over, not, turn your body over), and figure out where to go. Or, just follow someone and hope for the best. Every orienteer does that now and then, so why not here and now?
  • In contrast to most orienteering races, following someone is OK in this race… if you dare.
  • After finding your controls in the correct order, you'll wind up back at the starting area.
  • Punch the Quaffing Zone Entry control as you enter the beverage area
  • After that, quaff another cup of your beverage of choice
  • And punch the Quaffing Zone exit control before heading out for your next loop.
  • The finish of each loop is near the start triangle of the next loop, but all loops start and finish in the same place. The start is just up the hill from the finish. Repeat this process until you’ve completed all your required loops.
  • Time stops after you've quaffed the last drop from your beverage of choice AND have punched the finish control.

Course Overview
This event will be a traditional Beverage Chase event. Courses are made up of loops. Participants will drink their beverages (water/soda/beer) before and after each loop.

  • White: One Loop
  • Yellow: Two Loops
  • Orange: Two Loops
  • Very Short Advanced: One Loop
  • Short Advanced: Two Loops
  • Medium Advanced: Two Loops
  • Long Advanced: Three Loops

There will be just one mass start at noon for all courses.

Beverage of Choice will be consumed at the start, finish and in between each loop. Beverages are water, soda, and beer (for adults of legal age only…). There is a map exchange between loops (or the maps may be back to back in the same map case).

Following is allowed at this event but be wary of following anyone who might get lost!

Location

Jug Bay, Caretaker's House Area, Bristol, MD (Mass Start & Party)

RegistrationPre-registration is now open - click here - and is *strongly encouraged* to guarantee you a map (and to speed up checking in)!
Start TimesMass start for all courses at noon; see details above.
ScheduleSunday, June 2
10:30 am - 11:30 amMass Start & Party: On site registration ($ .. but less or even free if you pre-register)
12:00 pmMass Start & Party: Mass Start for all courses
Volunteers
Event Director:Craig Shelden
Course Designer:Craig Shelden
Location Details

Mass Start & Party, Mass Start & Party
Jug Bay
Caretaker's House Area
Bristol, MD
Google Map

From the MD. Rt. 4 Capital Beltway exit, head south/east on Rt. 4 for 8 miles (where you cross over U.S. Rt. 301), then 3 more miles south (into Anne Arundel County) on Rt. 4 to the "Plummer Lane" exit. Ignore all "Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary" signs and continue on Plummer Lane (which becomes Pindell Rd.) for 2.0 miles, making a hard right turn at 5 mailboxes. Take the paved "River Farm" road for a mile though the O' map terrain; after the road become dirt, look for parking in the field a bit before the house by Jug Bay.
Google Maps Link
Apple/iPhone Link
Course DetailsMass Start & Party
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
Very Short Advanced 3.410012
Short Advanced 5.712021
Medium Advanced 7.918524
Long Advanced 10.618533
White 2.93516
Yellow 3.34514
Orange 4.16018
Course NotesMass Start & Party

  • Pindell Bluff trail is now open and therefore the White course has been changed to reflect this opportunity to visit an area which has been off limits for recent events here.
  • White course runners should expect to be on the lookout for features off the trails. They will be close by, but some controls won't be accessible without leaving the trail.
  • Some linear features are quite small – so where I've indicated the feature may be low or shallow, keep that in mind.
  • I streamered the courses the day after a significant thunderstorm and the area had drained very well, with only limited opportunity for wet feet. Despite that, watch the weather - and all courses should bring a change of shoes and socks.
  • There are now three new bridges: one on Beech Trail and two on Farm Connector Trail. Another bridge may be installed by game day.
  • Farm Connector Trail has had a lot of work done, and is very clear in many places. There are a few spots along it, however, that are marked by pink streamers. Therefore the ground features might be a bit more indeterminate than the map might indicate, but the streamers should ensure minimal opportunity to get lost if following that trail.
  • Leaving the Start, the trail to Two Run Point has some deadfall across its northern area.
  • In the south portion of the map, the open areas are planted with corn and consequently, I've bent a couple course legs to encourage running field edges, instead of cutting across the crop. Depending on conditions, running field edges may avoid a muddy, heavy slog. Your mileage will vary.
Map: Our Host, Dave Linthicum has provided an updated map for this year's event. These changes also reflect access changes and opened additional areas to the south that have historically been off limits for Orienteering. Thanks, Dave!
Because we have the opportunity to explore the park further than in prior years, I confess yielding to temptation and using the new areas. This - of course - led to some courses longer than those from previous years.

Map scale will be either 1:7,500 or 1:5,000 with 5m contours. The terrain is similar to the Patuxent River Park with no point above 100 feet above sea level. There are lots of flat bland areas with scattered marshes. The vegetation on the map is more a visual boundary then an actual speed indicator. The lighter green can be run through easily. The darker green tends to be mountain laurel or in some case close together saplings and will slow you down some. Although some briars are present, during field checking they were limited.

There are unmapped white PVC pipes (1 meter tall) in the woods.

There are sections of broken ground on the map. The broken ground tends to be small bumps less than foot high and you will run right through them.

Respect the out of bounds areas. With the Sanctuary's expansion to the south, these are mostly around residences and should be clearly shown on the maps.

Sun: Don’t forget to use sunscreen even if it is overcast.

Fields: All fields should be considered rough open even if mapped as open on the map. The big field around the farm has grown a lot in the last few weeks.

Marshes/Streams: All the upland marshes had water in them recently. By Meet time they may be dry. There is no distinct plant growth in the marshes. You can tell the marshes by the compressed leaves and the leaves have a more rotted look to them.

Bugs: Use Bug Spray. The marshes may/may not be dry but there are still plenty of mosquitoes. Keep moving and you will be fine. There are ticks so check yourself after finishing.

SI Punch Note: SI-9 cards will be available for those running the Long course and need one who with capacity for >30 controls.

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
  • If you wish to become a QOC member you should join online in advance 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) can be purchased from online vendors as described here.
  • Former QOC members who have let their membership lapse pay non-member fees.
  • 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.