Gunston Hall
Printer-friendly version
PDF versionShareThisOctober 6
Sunday
Pre-registration is required and will open on Monday, Sept. 30 at 6pm and will close at noon on Saturday Oct. 5, the day before the event. There will be no day-of registration.
Welcome back to Gunston Hall, the historic home of George Mason, father of the Bill of Rights, for the next QOC event of the 2024-25 orienteering season!
Gunston Hall has an extremely varied terrain package for its size, with flat, occasionally dense terrain in the south, typically steep re-entrant/spur complexes running down to the shoreline in the eastern part of the park, more gently rolling terrain with patches of mountain laurel west of Gunston Rd, and open fields surrounding the Hall itself and its outbuildings. We have a full set of seven classic courses designed by Gary Smith, with (only) the blue course crossing Gunston Road; full details and course setter comments are below.
This mix of terrain types and its compact overall size make Gunston Hall a great place for groups and those who are new to orienteering. Beginner instruction is once again available for all those who would like a brief introduction or a refresher to the basics of the sport.
The entrance to Gunston Hall (see directions below; overview map here) is about 600 meters beyond the Pohick Bay Regional Park entrance on Gunston Road. Please drive with particular caution as you enter Gunston Hall. The first 300 meters of the entrance road has several 90 degree curves and is hemmed in by vegetation reducing the visibility of oncoming vehicles. Parking will be in the lot adjacent to the visitor’s center. The parking lot and the registration site right across the entrance road from it will be easily discernible as you drive in. Port-a-johns will be on site adjacent to check-in.
Volunteer: Sign up for a volunteer slot via this form, or email the Event Director directly for other options.
Post-Event Social: After your run, join fellow orienteers at Hometown Grill and Bar for a bite to eat. Hometown Bar and Grill is located here, less than six miles north of Gunston Hall.
| Location | Gunston Hall, Main parking area, Lorton, VA (Classic) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Registration | Advance registration is required. There is no day-of registration.
Registration opens at 6pm on Monday Sept. 30 and closes at 12 noon on Saturday Oct. 5 (the day before the event). Pre-registration is mandatory. Who's Registered? Check by clicking here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start Times | Start times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Schedule | Sunday, October 6
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volunteers |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location Details |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Details | Classic
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Notes | Classic Gunston Hall is a relatively small area, but it provides a taste of many of the terrain types that we find in Northern Virginia. There are large open areas, fast open wods, thick woods with lots of downed trees, steep relief like Pohick Bay, and subtle features like Mason Neck. There are fewer features, trails, and relocation opportunities than are found on most of our maps, so this is probably not an event to move up in difficulty. The woods are generally dry, with a few muddy spots. The areas mapped as marshy are mostly easily crossable, as are the creeks. Leaves are still on, so visibility can be poor. There is a lot of long grass in the woods and open areas. Beware of CHIGGERS, that are active in the park. Be sure to use bug juice and long pants are advised. The map has not been updated since 2017. In that time, some trails have become overgrown, some rootstocks have eroded and others have been added. The white woods seem somewhat thicker than mapped in general. Note that the contour interval is 2.5m instead of the usual 5 so things are less steep than they look (but there are still areas with plenty of climb). Only the blue course crosses Gunston Road. The road crossing between controls 4-5 and 9-10 will not be timed; there will be a crossing guard to help watch for traffic, but take care crossing nonetheless. The mapping on the west side of Gunston Road is less detailed, but should not cause any difficulties. Please be sure to respect the marked out of bounds areas and the many historic structures and features found in the park. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entry Fees | Individual Entries
Note: juniors = under 21
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
|
