Primary tabs
Sunday
Add to Calendar
(not available for past events)
Pre-registration is required and will open Monday, April 20 at 6pm. It will close on Saturday, April 25 at 12 noon.There will be no day-of registration.
Orienteering at Pohick Bay
Located on the Northern part of Mason Neck, Pohick Bay Regional Park has quite a mix of relatively flat areas interspersed with steeply-sloped re-entrants. This year, we return to the main part of park; registration will be at Shelter 2, next to the main parking lot. And in terms of courses, former Orienteering USA Team Member Will Hubsch has designed a seven classic courses (white through blue; course stats and comments are below).There is a park entrance fee of $5/pp for non-residents of Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudon Counties or the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church. If you are a ‘non-resident’ of those jurisdictions, be sure to mention that you are participating in the Quantico Orienteering Club meet and you are entitled to the $5 ‘shelter discount.’ We will be occupying both Shelters 1 and 2.
What to Expect: Participants will navigate through diverse terrains, including wooded areas, open fields, and waterways, using a map and compass. This event is designed to test your navigation skills, endurance, and for groups, teamwork. Various courses will be available to accommodate all skill levels:
- Beginner Courses (white and yellow): Perfect for newcomers, offering a gentle introduction to orienteering with straightforward checkpoints and kid-friendly terrain. Beginner Instruction will be available.
- Intermediate Course (orange): A bit more challenging, great for those with some orienteering experience looking to improve their skills and navigate off-trail.
- Advanced Courses: For experienced orienteers seeking a rigorous and demanding course with complex navigation.
- Comfortable outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear
- Water bottle and snacks
- Compass and whistle if you have them. Loaners are available if needed.
Able to help? Sign up for a volunteer slot via this form or email the Event Director directly for other options.
Post-Event Social: After your course, grab a bite to eat at the Casa Tequila Bar and Grill, located here, just four miles north of Pohick.
QOC Jerseys & Jackets
Last chance this year for ordering QOC gear! Come check out the custom QOC jerseys and confirm your preferred size and style! We'll have them on display at this event from ~10:30am - 12pm. Orders must be placed by April 30; details are here.
| Volunteers |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Details |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Notes |
Forest visibility and undergrowth density in the green areas were surprisingly pleasant when running the map in mid-April, but this may have changed significantly in the intervening weeks as spring has really kicked off. It's also been very dry, so if that continues in the week before the event, expect any water features on the map to be quite a bit drier than you might normally expect.
Some controls are situated close to the edges of the mapped area, which in some cases borders private residential property. Please do not enter any backyards or private land at any point. In the interest of creating a varied course that makes the most of a compact map, I've leaned toward interesting route choice over consistent attack angles and flow, especially on the longer courses. As a result, legs from different courses will cross frequently, and runners may approach shared controls from different directions. Make sure you are checking your control codes consistently! Red and Blue courses will include a loop south of the shelter in the direction of the campground. All other courses remain largely north and west of the registration area. Good luck and enjoy the terrain! |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Registration | Advance registration will be required. The date and time that registration will open will be posted here; usually, registration will open at 6pm on the Monday before the event. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Schedule |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Pohick Bay Regional Park, Shelter 2, Lorton, Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Driving Directions |
From southbound I-95, take exit 163 (Lorton). Go left onto Lorton Rd at the end of exit ramp. Go under the 2nd overpass and turn right onto Lorton Market St (Z-pizza is in the shopping center on the left), then go about 1.5 miles to the traffic light at Route 1. Go straight through light (the road name changes to Gunston Rd) and go about 4 miles to the park entrance on left.
After passing through the gate, straight on the main park road until just past the disc golf course and into the large parking lot on your right. Shelter 2 is east of the parking lot and is the northern most of the two shelters. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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
|
Course Details
| Course Name | Length (km) | Climb (m) | No. Controls | Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 1.9 | 75 | 7 | |
| Yellow | 2.2 | 70 | 9 | |
| Orange | 3.8 | 130 | 11 | |
| Brown | 3.9 | 135 | 12 | |
| Green | 5.6 | 210 | 15 | |
| Red | 7.4 | 265 | 19 | |
| Blue | 8.9 | 365 | 21 |
Course Notes
Some controls are situated close to the edges of the mapped area, which in some cases borders private residential property. Please do not enter any backyards or private land at any point.
In the interest of creating a varied course that makes the most of a compact map, I've leaned toward interesting route choice over consistent attack angles and flow, especially on the longer courses. As a result, legs from different courses will cross frequently, and runners may approach shared controls from different directions. Make sure you are checking your control codes consistently!
Red and Blue courses will include a loop south of the shelter in the direction of the campground. All other courses remain largely north and west of the registration area. Good luck and enjoy the terrain!
Registration
Advance registration will be required. The date and time that registration will open will be posted here; usually, registration will open at 6pm on the Monday before the event.
Schedule
-
Sunday, April 26
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location
Driving Directions
After passing through the gate, straight on the main park road until just past the disc golf course and into the large parking lot on your right. Shelter 2 is east of the parking lot and is the northern most of the two shelters.
Entry Fees
Individual 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
