Great Falls

Results are posted below as well as on Attackpoint. The RouteGadget map for this event will be posted later this week.

Those with a memory for brutish weather may remember our Great Falls meet of Dec. 5, 2010, when we had a near freezing and quite windy day. The volunteers that day sure do! Well, we’ve topped that now (or should we say, ‘bottomed that’?) For today’s event (Nov. 24, 2013), the thermometer held steady at 28 degrees F all day, the wind exceeded 20mph at times, and even so, everyone came out of the woods raving about Sam’s fine courses. Plus orienteers said it felt warmer in the woods, and certainly the bright sun and open woods added to the experience.

This event was monitored by an NPS biologist/ranger as well as by a scientist (Dr. Jeff Marion) starting a project for the NPS measuring the environmental impact of various recreational activities (including orienteering). We are very pleased to report that our 200+ participants showed how orienteering is basically almost the definition of an activity that can “leave no trace”. Dr. Marion told us that at several of the control sites he visited (both before and after our event), without his GPS to confirm the control locations he wouldn’t have even been able to tell where they had been – there was no trace of where all the orienteers had run. The fact that most QOC orienteers aren’t going to be surprised at all by that statement is a testament to how we strive to practice what we preach in terms of respecting the environment at all QOC events – keep up the great work everyone.

Hopefully our volunteer crew has warmed back up by now: at the registration table, Susanne Izzo (she helps us every year at GF!), Maggie Pruden (a first time volunteer), Shirley Tan, and Mary Snieckus; teaching those beginners a thing or two, John Baker and Peggy Dickison; cajoling the epunch printer to not freeze, Amy Louden, Jon Torrance and Heidi Onkst; and bringing back controls, Francis Hogle, Charles Carrick, Paul & son Patrick Hession, Don & son Sean Fish, Dan Quinn, and the apparently indefatigable course-setter himself, Sam Listwak.

Thanks everyone!

Greg & Kathleen Lennon