Patuxent

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Special Notes:
There is a 200 meter flagged walk to the start from the check-in area. Allow about 10 minutes.
All controls will be on posts with the control bag hanging on it. These controls are configured for SAIC AIR+.
LIVELOX will be used at this event. The Livelox event name is: “2025 PRP QOC”
Click on this link to find out more about LIVELOX, how to use it and how to link your Garmin, Polar, Suunto or Coros watch to the event so that you don’t need to carry a cell phone on the course.
The map was last significantly updated in 2023 after major revisions to the park’s trail network. Minor updates were made this year.
There will NOT be drinking water available on any course. Bring your own water to drink while on your course (a hydration pack is recommended).
The compass and pace counting will be your best friends on the advanced courses. Watch those parallel errors.

Course setter notes:
You may see some (maybe hundreds) of streamers in a cornucopia of colors in the woods. Usually, they mark invasive vegetation to be removed, and illegal bike and horse trails. Rest assured they have nothing to do with orienteering and should be ignored.
You are allowed to run across any field drawn as a dark yellow area WHICH IS NOT CURRENTLY PLANTED WITH CROPS. If it is planted, go around the field. You are NOT allowed to cross into private property, which is clearly shown on the map by a DASHED PURPLE LINE and CROSS-HATCHED PURPLE LINES. These areas are OUT-OF-BOUNDS and shall not be entered.
There are many large rootstocks in the woods, but none are marked on the map and none are used for controls. Do not rely on rootstocks for navigation.
The black “X” on the map and control clue indicates a man-made feature. Often these are remnants of the days 50-100 years ago when this area was an airfield and farms. Items such as airplane frames, a junked car, rusted appliances, stacks of tires, etc. would be marked with a Black “X”.
In general, the woods are fairly open. The light green tends to be areas with saplings and closely spaced trees, some deadfall, and some minor areas of thorns. The darker green tends to be areas of denser fallen trees, briars, or mountain laurel. The visibility, even in the dark green, is fairly good for the most part though it would be difficult to plow your way through mapped dark green areas.
The terrain is classic ridge and valley, with broad, flat ridges and deeply incised watercourses. Along the streams are many side reentrants. The hills here are not large but slopes and trails may be slippery if it is or has been raining or snowing. Marshy areas and reentrants may be bone dry or boot sucking mud depending on the amount of rain we get during the weeks prior to the meet.
All trails are clear and good condition, though all trails are covered with fallen leaves and can be more difficult to see this time of year, especially the indistinct trails. Many of the indistinct trails are no longer in use and are barely visible. Don’t waste a lot of time looking for an indistinct trail that you can’t readily see! You may also come across an unauthorized Mountain Bike Trail that isn’t mapped. Don’t trust that an unmapped trail goes where you think it goes. Several just end and go nowhere, leaving you stranded.
All advanced courses except beige cross several small streams. Many are narrow enough to step across or at most jump across, most are shallow but some may be better crossed by a trail or bridge.
This area was an Airfield in the 1930’s, a Nike anti-ballistic missile site in the 1950’s-60’s and was farmed many years ago. You will likely see remnants of human activity, and may actually see an old airplane—Riverside Field was an airfield for years and a few planes didn’t make it to the landing strip. The British Army also marched through this area during the War of 1812 on their way to burn the White House. Enjoy, and may the forest be with you.