Fountainhead East

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January 8
Sunday

Fountainhead Pre-registration is required for this event, opening Monday, Jan. 2 at 6pm and closing Saturday Jan. 7 at 12 noon.
There will be no day-of registration.

Welcome to the first QOC event of 2023!

For this Fountainhead event, we'll be orienteering in the eastern section of the park, i.e., the part running south and east from the park main entrance road all the way to Sandy Run. See a graphic overview of FHE here.

Just like last January, we will have access to all of Fountainhead East (minus the archery range area) including the mountain bike course area. Check-in will be at shelter 1 and e-punch registration at the small shack at the south end of the parking lot adjacent to shelter 1 that our e-punch team customarily uses. Start and finish will be in the general vicinity of the parking lot and the bike course entrance. Patrick Farley has designed a full set of seven classic courses to take advantage of this great terrain.

Volunteer SignUps: If you'd like to help out at this event click here. You can also contact the event director (listed below).

The mountain bike course will again be completely closed to biking for our event day, and MORE (the local mountain bike club who has oversight of the bike course) will not be conducting any scheduled maintenance, so the area will be free of all activity except orienteering (and perhaps a few hikers.).

We are looking forward with hope to great weather for this event (unlike last season)! Check back at this site as we get closer to the event to receive any weather-related updates we might need to disseminate.

Note that the Northern Virginia Archers' archery area is clearly marked as off-limits on all maps. The boundaries of the archery course are delineated on the ground with Do Not Enter signs.

Also keep in mind:

  • QOC will continue to use pre-registration as the ONLY method of sign-up for our events. There will be NO day-of, on-site registration. Refunds are paid only in the case of event cancellation. We are unable to handle cash transactions at the event.
  • Masks are optional at all locations connected with the event. Please continue to minimize clustering at and around the check-in, e-punch, start and finish areas.
  • Beginner instruction is available to provide an overview of the orienteering basics for newcomers to the sport or those who just want a refresher.
  • We will continue our policy of not providing WATER or food to participants at our events aside from an emergency water for first aid purposes only. So don't forget your canteens/Camelbacks/other hydration arrangements.
  • As with last season, there will be eight 15-minute check-in windows followed by two 45-minute windows.

Additional Information:

  • Any youth or large groups attending, although you will be pre-registering online, please contact the Event Director (below) to let her know of your plans and numbers for their awareness.
  • The size of start teams (groups of individuals orienteering together with one e-punch) on a course must be no more than four (4) individuals (juniors and adults combined).
  • Dogs are welcome in this park but must be kept on leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.
  • Port-a-johns will be stationed near check-in and e-punch.

Location

Fountainhead Regional Park, Main parking area, Fairfax Station, VA (Classic)

RegistrationRegistration for this event opens at 6pm on Monday Jan. 2 via this link. Registration will close at noon on Saturday January 7. Pre-registration is mandatory.

Who's registered? Check by clicking here. Sorting by column is possible too - just click on the column name.

Start TimesStart times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens).
ScheduleSunday, January 8
10:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic:
Volunteers
Event Director:Jana Seidlova
Course Designer:Patrick Farley
Location Details

Classic
Fountainhead Regional Park
Main parking area
Fairfax Station, VA
Google Map

One route among several: Take I-95 south of the Beltway, exit at Lorton Road (exit 163), go west 2.1 miles (4th stop light) and at the end of the road take a right onto Route 123. Drive 1.3 miles to Hampton Road, then turn left just past the fire station and drive 3 miles to the park entrance on the left.
Google Maps Link
Apple/iPhone Link
Course DetailsClassic
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 1.67510
Yellow 214510
Orange 3.721512
Brown 3.92409
Green 5.840012
Red 7.142013
Blue 960518
Course NotesClassic

Welcome to Fountainhead East, home to one of the region's best mountain biking trails. Park management has closed the course during the event, so you should not see any mountain bikers.

Barring another snowstorm, you will encounter very fast, open terrain with great visibility. Hopefully your navigation will be challenged with significant elevation changes and a myriad of trails that wind their way through the region.

For those running the advanced courses, the trails on the far east of the map may be heavily obscured by leaves. Use caution when navigating.

Cell coverage is excellent, so please keep your cell phone with you in case of emergencies.

Entry FeesIndividual Entries

Note: juniors = under 21

Club Member, adult Club Member, junior Non-Member, adult Non-Member, junior
$10 $5 $20 $5

Group Entries

Participants are welcome to orienteer together as a group (up to the maximum for that event; usually 4). Each member of a group is charged their individual rate as shown above, up to a group total of $30 (maximum), and each receives a map. A group receives one epunch. Individuals or groups desiring to compete on a second course after completing their first can do so for a reduced fee of $2/map subject to approval at the event by the Event Director.

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 will be loaned one 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 (such as car keys) when borrowing a compass or epunch.
  • In addition to free on-site beginner instruction if needed, beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst