The Pinnacle of Orienteering

2006 U.S. Short (Middle) & Long Championships

April 29-30, 2006

Welcome to Empire Orienteering Club’s first two-day A Meet in over twelve years.  We trust we learned enough from the meet we held jointly with CNYO in 2004 to get things right on our own.  If it works, we don’t plan to wait another twelve years, and hope you have a good time this weekend.

General Notes:

The Day 1 (US Short Course Championships) courses are entirely within John Boyd Thacher State Park. Thacher Park is fully open to the public every day, and depending upon the weather, can attract a fairly large crowd.

Please be careful not to lessen anyone else’s enjoyment.  Most people will probably just be mildly curious about what you’re up to, so leave them with a good impression of our sport by being courteous, and maybe they’ll be interested enough to try it themselves sometime.

Thacher is a “carry in – carry out” Park.  We will have a few trash receptacles near the Results and Refreshment area, but we will have to carry that trash out with us, and we would greatly appreciate it if you make sure to take any trash you generate in any other area out with you.

There are spectacular views to the North and East looking over the escarpment.  Be sure to take the time to enjoy them while you are here but remember that these are serious cliffs.  You will not get too near them on any of the courses, but please be very careful even when sight-seeing.  After your run, you can check out the Indian Ladder Trail which starts near the Results area, and goes down the cliff face.

The Day 2 (US Long Course Championships) courses begin and finish at Camp Pinnacle, but all of the courses except White and Yellow enter into Thacher Park as well.  Camp Pinnacle is private property, which we have been granted permission to use.  In addition, we have obtained permission to use other sections of private land adjacent to Camp Pinnacle and/or Thacher Park, so you need not worry if you cross outside of the Park boundary signs and onto “Posted” lands.  However, please do not wander into what is obviously some neighbor’s yard.  Many of us live around here, and we would like to maintain amicable relations!

Refer to the map included in your packet for location of parking, starts, finishes, and Camp Pinnacle buildings.

Day 1 Procedures

Parking – We will use the lot adjacent to the Pear Orchard pavilion, which is near the Park Office and the pool, at the western entrance to the park on NY Rt. 157.  Look for signs.  Be sure to observe the posted speed limit on Thacher Park Road. 

Packet Pickup – Available Friday night at Camp Pinnacle in the McKeel dorm building, and Saturday at Pear Orchard pavilion between 9:00am and 12:30pm.

Bus to Start (all courses) – Beginning at ~10:15am there will be a (school) bus continuously looping from next to the Parking/Registration/Results area to the Start areas.  There are two separate Start locations: one for White, Yellow, and Brown course runners (which the bus reaches first), and another for everyone else.  The bus will leave at least every 15 minutes. Walk to the Start from bus drop-off:  about 300m for White-Yellow-Brown (W-Y-Br), and 100m or less for Orange-Green-Red-Blue (O-G-R-Bl).  Make every effort to be on time for your start because the start window for several courses is very tightly packed.

There are Restroom buildings within an easy walk from Parking/Registration/Results, near the bus drop-off point for W-Y-Br, and near the Start pavilion for O-G-R-BL.  There will be bags for leaving clothing at both Starts, which will be returned to the Results area.

One final note to anyone who may be dropping off a child at the W-Y-Br Start and then proceeding to their own Start at the O-G-R-Bl Start location:  it is about a 700m walk from the one to the other, so you should be able to see your child or spouse or whoever off at W-Y-Br, and then walk to your own Start pretty comfortably in 10-15 minutes (see map included in your packet).

Start Procedure – There is a two line start procedure. You will be called two minutes before your Start.  Runners on O-G-R-Bl will follow a marked route to Control #1, which you must punch.

Road Crossing and Safety – W-Y-Br courses do not cross the road.  The Safety Bearing is north, to NY 157, the main road through the Park.

O-G-R-Bl courses do cross the main park road.  We will post signs warning motorists of the presence of runners, and there will be a crossing guard stationed at a manned control at the crossing point.  The crossing guard will try to assist you in getting across the road safely but cannot stop cars, so be prepared to stop and wait to cross safely.  The Safety Bearing is southwest until you cross the road, then the Safety Bearing becomes north.

Finish Procedure – You must report to the Finish station and turn in your punch card when you return from your course, even if you do not complete it.

Results – There is about a 800m walk back from the Finish to the Results/Parking area near the Pear Orchard pavilion.  There will be a crossing guard stationed to assist you in getting back to the north side of the park road.   Clothing left at the start should be reclaimed here.

Awards – Awards will be presented towards the end of the Dinner on Saturday night at Camp Pinnacle, at approximately 7:30pm.  Those who are not attending the Dinner may pick up their awards at the Day 2 packet pickup location, or later at Day 2 Awards.  There will be awards for the top three in each class/category.  U.S. Championship medals will be awarded to eligible runners in age-group categories.

To Camp Pinnacle from Thacher Park – Turn right out of the main park entrance, heading west on NY 157.  Shortly after leaving the park, turn left onto Suto Rd.  At the stop sign, turn left again onto Beaver Dam Road (Co. 303).  The second junction from this intersection is Pinnacle Rd. (still Co. 303); bear right and go up the hill.  Watch for signs.

Day 2 Procedures

Packet Pickup – Available from 8:00 to 10:00am at McKeel dorm, Camp Pinnacle.

Child Care – Child Care will be in the activity room on the second floor of McKeel, opening at 8:30am. There is a charge of $5 per hour per child.  The prepaid deposit of $10 covers the first child for two hours; additional hours/children are charged when you pick up your child(ren).  Please be prepared to pay the Girl Scouts who will be watching your children.

Walk to Start – It is about 250m from the main parking area at Camp Pinnacle to the Start area for all courses.  There will be Port-a-Johns located between the parking area and the Start.  Those not staying at Camp Pinnacle should use these facilities, rather than using those in the buildings.  Under no circumstances should spikes be worn into any building at Camp Pinnacle.

There will again be bags for clothing to be returned to the Results area.

Warm-up Area – You may warm up in the open area and along the track East of the Start and back towards Parking.  All of the woods are off limits.

Start Procedure – There is a two line Start.  You will be called two minutes before your Start.  The start triangle will be along a streamered route, about 90m from where you pick up your map and timing begins.

Road Crossings and Safety – White and Yellow course runners do not cross any roads except the small ones within Camp Pinnacle.  The Safety Bearing for White and Yellow is East to Pinnacle Road.

All other runners will have road crossings.  All crossings, except for two on the Blue course, cross roads which are more lightly traveled, but the speed limit is 55mph (90kph).  We will have signs posted warning motorists of the presence of runners, and there will be crossing guards stationed near four likely crossing points and two at manned controls, to assist you in making safe crossings, but they will not stop cars so you must be extremely careful.

For all except White and Yellow, the Safety Bearing is North.  However, because of the length of the courses, and the numerous road crossings, there could very well be a different direction which would get you to one of the roads sooner.

Finish Procedure – You must report to the Finish station and turn in your punch card when you return from your course, even if you do not complete it.

Results – These will be posted in the picnic area located outside the northeast corner of the Dining Hall, which is east of the main parking lot.

Awards – Awards will be presented in the picnic area at approximately 2:30pm.  In the event of bad weather, this could be moved into the Dining Hall.  As noted before, do not wear spikes into this or any other building.  There will be awards for the top three in each class/category.  U.S. Championship medals will be awarded to eligible runners in the age-group categories.

Thanks – To all of the folks from other orienteering clubs for helping us out in this endeavor.  In particular, thanks to:  J-J Cote and his team for handling the Finish and producing the Results, and Ann and Charlie Leonard for handling the Start.  Thanks to John Rogers, course consultant; Chris Fallon and his staff at Thacher Park for their assistance and tolerance; Sue LaTour and the staff at Camp Pinnacle, as well as the Board of Pinnacle Ministries, for their support of the map and their help in arranging accommodations.  And thanks to those who made financial contributions towards the map (your names appear on the 8.5x11 maps this time).

Thanks also to all of the EMPO members who have pitched in and spent so much time helping to make this event happen.  Those who have had major responsibilities include:  Janet & Glen Tryson (registrar & course setter), Bill Jameson (vetter), Bob Lange (T-shirt design and awards), and Rita & Robert Reed (W-Y-Br Day 1 start & Day 2 Recreational start).  Other EMPO members who have contributed include (in no particular order):  Greg Tryson, Rob Tryson, Shelly Nugent, Jack Norray, Karen Norray, Jason Norray, Ellie George, Eric Hamilton, Grant Staats, Bruce Beesley, Nancy Allen, Andy Chillrud, Kathy Staats, Gabor Bobok, Melissa Behr, Anna Kusler, Kayleigh Chalkowski, Dick Curtis, Reid Smalley, and Bob Goodwin.  Other non-EMPO helpers include:  Nancy Koehler, Valerie Meyer, Tom Strat, Rick Worner, and Nadezhda Popova.  And to whoever I forgot to list, you really do have my thanks anyway.  I’m just too brain dead to realize it right now.

And finally, to Sue H-T, who has again proven to be the one keeping me honest, and who is for me totally indispensable.

-Phil Hawkes-Teeter
Meet Director


Camp Pinnacle Accommodation and Dinner Information

For those who are staying at Camp Pinnacle, McKeel Dorm is adjacent to the main parking lot, and the RV hook-up sites are just to the north.  If you ordered a linen package, it will be available in the registration area or in the rooms themselves.  Bathrooms have been designated as men’s and women’s, and dorm rooms have been assigned (posted lists are in the building; please check your name off as you arrive).

The Tent/RV (non-hookup) camping area is on the east side of Pinnacle Road, and there is a separate bath-house building.  Please keep out of the woods around the camping area; use the road to reach the dining hall for meals.
Dinner on Friday and Saturday night starts at 6:30pm.  Breakfast Saturday morning will be 7:30–8:30am, and on Sunday morning, 7:00–8:00am.  Bag lunches can be picked up when you finish breakfast.

Please remember that alcohol is prohibited and any smoking must be done outside Camp Pinnacle buildings.

Any problems/concerns, please see Sue Hawkes-Teeter.

Other Dining Options

For those not staying at Camp Pinnacle, or staying there but not joining us for meals, here are a few recommendations:

-In East Berne (Southwest on NY 157, then a slight right-left jog at the intersection with NY 443) you will find The Maple Inn.  This was a legendary family restaurant in Albany-area history, which was closed for many years, but has recently re-opened to good reviews.

-On NY 443 near Schoharie, about 100m from the junction with NY 30, is The George Mann Tory Tavern.  If you are staying at the Holiday Inn Express just off I-88, or if you have a yen for truly fine but expensive (for our area) food, this should be your dinner choice.  It’s a 1770’s restored Colonial Tavern.  Reservations on the weekend are a good idea:  (518) 295-7128.

-In Voorheesville, the best selection would be pizza at Smith’s Tavern (Smitty’s).  This would be appropriate if you are coming to Pinnacle (late Friday) from the East or North, or leaving the park to return to Albany.  It’s on NY 85A, very near the junction with NY 156.  They get backed up on Saturday night, so you might consider phoning in your pizza order ahead of time:  (518) 765-4163.

-In downtown Berne (The Hamlet), at the junction of NY443 and NY156, is the recently re-named and re-opened “Helderberg Country Café,” open from 6am for breakfast and lunch, and located directly across the street from ‘chez’ Hawkes-Teeter.  We’ll be gone long before we hear your engines rumble.

-In Altamont, the “Home Front Café” on Main Street is an interesting breakfast/lunch spot with lots of memorabilia from WWII.

-On Route 20 in Guilderland, about 1½ miles west of the junction of NY 146 and US 20, is “The Chariot” which has very good Greek food as well as standard fare, and is open for dinner after 4pm.

For those staying in the more metropolitan areas of Albany or Schenectady, your choices are too numerous to deal with here.  If you really need recommendations, find me (Sue H-T) on Saturday.

 

A Brief History of Thacher Park

The following is stolen directly from the Meet Notes produced for the “A” Meet held here twelve-plus years ago.  The original author is unknown (to me).

John Boyd Thacher State Park was named for a former mayor of Albany.  The original land for the park was donated to the state in 1912 by Mr. Thacher’s widow.  The Park is located along the Helderberg Escarpment, which is considered one of the richest fossil-bearing areas in the world.

In the 17th century, the area was farmland.  Hops and pears were some of the crops that were grown here.  This is reflected in the names of two of the picnic areas, Hop Field and Pear Orchard.  Other area’s are named for early explorers or settlers.  The Mine Lot picnic area was named for an area where there was once thought to be gold.  It was in fact “Fool’s Gold.”  This ore was used in the Revolutionary War to make paint, hence the picnic area named Paint Mine.

During colonial times, a pass over the Helderberg mountains was used by Mohawk Indians as they traveled from the Albany trading post to their homes in the Schoharie River Valley.  Part of their path, known as the Indian Ladder Trail, is still accessible to Park visitors.  The original “Indian Ladder” was a strong, notched tree trunk that was laid up against the cliff.  The Indians scrambled up and down this ladder to negotiate the cliff.  The caves that are found in the cliffs here were supposedly used as hiding places for Loyalists during the Revolutionary War.

 

The Geology of Thacher Park

At one point during the course of many wanderings about Thacher Park I bumped into a gentleman who was identified as the Park Geologist. He described the geology of the park to me (a complete ignoramus on things geological) this way:  Thacher Park is like a ten-layer wedding cake, which gets knocked off the table onto its side.  It gets picked up and straightened out, and then gets knocked off on its side again; this recurs several more times, so that in the end it is a mix of layers which run horizontally, along with others which run vertically.  This description fit well with my own observations, and I’ve remembered it ever since.

For details on how and when the various layers of this cake were made, there is a nice article, complete with photos, at the Union College web site. The article can be found here:
 
http://www.union.edu/PUBLIC/GEODEPT/hollocher/pedagogy/K-12_labs/Labs/helderberg/helderberg.htm