Turkey Run

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February 7
Saturday

Bumble 2025Pre-registration is required and will open on Monday, Feb. 2 at 6pm and close at 6 PM on *Friday* Feb. 6.
There will be no day-of registration.

BUMBLE stay at home TIME!

UPDATE, WED. @ 6pm: THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED. Thick icy surfaces, especially on steep slopes, are among the reasons that we are unable to offer a safe or enjoyable orienteering experience.

The Super Bowl Saturday Bumble, now in its 14th year, will be held at Turkey Run Ridge in Prince William Forest Park. Once again, this beloved event will include courses for all skill levels. Come out and enjoy the woods and have fun snapping pics with the Abominable “Bumble” snow monster (Bumble outfits, shirts, accessories encouraged!)

What to Expect: The main event of the Bumble is the Mass Start race, which comprises five advanced courses equivalent to beige – blue. The controls are spread over five “windows” and each course level requires a different “handicap” of windows that must be run. For instance, Beige must do one window; blue must do five. Click here to read the full description. It is a super fun style of orienteering with options for bonus time reductions! If you have never tried it but have been successfully completing orange level courses for a while, give this a try. Click here to see the 2024 course map, and here to view 2025 Bumble photos. There will also be great white, yellow, and orange courses winding through classic ridge and valley terrain.

The mass start will be at 12:00pm for those advanced course runners who want to participate. If you want to run a Bumble advanced course, but are not comfortable with a mass start, please sign up for one of the other start time windows. Mass starters, please be sure to arrive early to avoid a last-minute rush. As usual, there will be prizes for the top Bumble winners participating in the Mass Start!

Volunteer Sign Ups: If you can help at this event please contact the Event Director.

Super (Bowl) Poll: For several years running now, the team that more registrants thought would win - did win ... Will our streak continue? You'll have a chance to vote during registration (and to see the counts as they come in).

PLEASE read ALL meet notes below for important details:

  • CLICK HERE TO READ HOW THE BUMBLE WORKS!
  • Registration will be in the Ayres Training Building
  • The Start is ~180m walk from the Training Building and is the same for all courses.
  • White, Yellow, and Orange courses will have regular check in/start windows from 9:45am to 1:15pm. (Yes, you are welcome to register for the 11:45am-12:15pm window).
  • Advanced (Bumble) courses will have a MASS START at NOON. Please be ready for PRE-RACE briefing at 11:45am at the Start location.
  • Clothing drop available for mass start; clothes will be returned for pick up outside the Training Building.
  • Everyone must be out of the woods and back at the registration area by 3:00pm, which is when control pickup will begin.
  • Bumble prizes awarded (mass start only):
    • First male and first female competitors to cross the finish, regardless of course.
    • Fastest male competitor on Blue and fastest female competitor on Red.
Beginners: Make sure to check out our Your First Event and For Beginners webpages, and if they don’t answer all your questions, just use our Contact Form. Beginner instruction will be available on-site.

Groups: QOC allows groups of up to 4 people to orienteer together. Please see our For Group Leaders webpage and then contact the Event Director so they are aware of your plans.

Other notes and reminders:

  • Park entrance fee is $20 per car or free with National Park or Prince William Forest Annual Pass
  • Parking will be in the Camp Ground areas A-E (space may be very limited due to snow conditions. Please consider carpooling!)
  • No water or food will be provided. Participants are responsible for meeting all their own food and hydration needs.
  • Indoor restrooms on site behind the Education Center
  • Pet Policy: leashed pets are permitted in the park but are not recommended to accompany Bumblers doing the mass start.

Location

Prince William Forest Park, Turkey Run Ridge (CANCELLED)
RegistrationThis event has been CANCELLED.
Start TimesStart times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens).
ScheduleSaturday, February 7
9:45 am - 1:15 pmCANCELLED: Registration check-in
10:00 am - 1:30 pmCANCELLED: White, Yellow and Orange courses: start any time during this period
11:45 amCANCELLED: Pre-race briefing for Mass Start (at start line) / clothing drop available
12:00 pmCANCELLED: Mass Start
3:00 pmCANCELLED: All courses close - everyone must have finished and downloaded
Volunteers
Event Director:Heidi Onkst
Course Designer:David Onkst
Location Details

CANCELLED, CANCELLED, CANCELLED, CANCELLED, CANCELLED
Prince William Forest Park
Turkey Run Ridge

Take I-95 to exit 150 (150B from points north). Head west on Joplin Road (VA-619) and take the second right for the park entrance. Turn left 0.5 miles from the park entrance, onto Scenic Drive. Bear left at the split in the drive following signs for the Turkey Run Education Center, then turn right at the sign shortly after the split for the Turkey Run Education Center & Campground. Driving time inside the park is ~15 minutes.
Google Maps Link
Apple/iPhone Link
Course DetailsCANCELLED
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 2.27010
Yellow 2.77010
Orange 4.612511
Beige 2.81107
Brown 4.614512
Green 6.919517
Red 8.923522
Blue 11.633027
Course NotesCANCELLED

  • White Course competitors might see a couple of controls that are not yours. Please check your control codes!
  • Yellow Course has some challenging legs including a streamered leg through the woods.
  • There are several new unmapped rootstocks that have appeared since the last map update. Mapped Rootstocks are at least 1.5 meters tall.
  • Dry Ditches/Small Erosion Gullies are often very shallow (sometimes only a few inches deep). They are mapped well but may be difficult to see in the snow.
  • If you cross roads or use them for route choices, PLEASE be aware of cars and bikes and run/walk defensively using the large shoulders when possible.
  • Controls are placed so that white woods corridors can be easily used. Read your map carefully!
  • There are multiple 2.5-meter form line contours, so beware.
  • There is downfall in the W/SW and very N parts of the map that has not been updated with slash lines, however you can navigate around/through the areas fairly easily.
  • Distance/climb for Bumble courses vary depending on route choice.
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.
  • Beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst