![[Empire Orienteering Club]](images/page/empoheader.gif)
The 2006 - 2007 Nordic ski season has been most bizarre! Except for some strange anomalies, we had no snow over large areas of the mid-Atlantic region right up until the second week of February.
Due to the weather, the adaptive nature of ski-orienteering enthusiasts, and the venues/maps, we were lucky enough to hold all but three qualifiers for Empire State Games. Participation at these qualifiers was less than I would have hoped, but the event organizers did the best they could with limited snow conditions.
The week before the Empire State Games the northeast had a major winter storm, which together with earlier lake effect accumulations made for ideal skiing at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, outside Lake Placid. We had 41 competitors start, which I think was down from the numbers we have seen at previous ESGs. Normally I am one of those who looks for his results starting from the bottom up, so I was among those who are "seeded" early on the start list. In fact my start was second in a group of six "grand masters" on a course with a total of 12 competitors.
I have always admired those who have been so well organized and had such confidence in their event crew that they could compete in an event where they were chief of the race. With the help of Phil Hawkes-Teeter, course setter; Sue Hawkes-Teeter and Betsy Hawes, registration; Lynn and David Grandjean and Tim Russell, start and finish line; Elizabeth Hane and Ellie George, results, I had every confidence. There were no hitches except for a delayed start for three competitors while maps were prepared toward the end of the start list. Phil and Sue Hawkes-Teeter also picked up the controls on Sunday morning. Many thanks to all, including the Empire State Games staff, who made the perfect day possible.
- Eric Hamilton
My thoughts before the race are going fast and furious. This is my best chance for a gold. I am the youngest one in the class, being only orienteering-age 55, not actually there yet. Terry will age into this category next year and Ellie a year or to after. And I am probably in the best shape that I have been in in recent winters, thanks to running most of the season and the CA races. So it's now or never. But what about the formidable Dayle, who beat me most races in CA? And can I skate the whole thing? As bad as my skating technique is, I am far faster at skating than at classic, though it is physically more demanding. And why didn't I take the time to really test out my skis, rather than chitchatting with everyone? As it turned out, for the first time ever at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, I actually had a clean race this year. I practically came to a crawl at several intersections, even though my instincts were right, just to make sure I wasn't doing something stupid that I would regret later.
Ah, the dreaded bridge, where once, years ago, I got confused and ended up in a virtual endless loop trying to avoid getting disqualified for going the wrong way. Nonetheless, I have improved, and this time I carefully watched for the first right. I see the control, and am sliding in awkwardly to punch when I hear Pete Dady's voice behind me, teasing me to hurry up and get out of the way. Between being nervous and laughing, I can't get the punch to open enough. I scoot ahead, let him punch ahead of me, and note that if this is the difference in the race, he's in big trouble!
I look at my map a thousand times between one and two to make sure that there is no little arrow to prohibit me from taking the logical choice of a right jag back to the tunnel.
The open-field trails confuse me for a moment, but I quickly find the rightmost trail. I'm skiing along, paying not a lot of attention as I have told myself to keep as much to the right as I can, when I see what looks to be a biathlon official standing where there's a tape over the trail to the right. The way Phil had drawn the biathlon route made it seem as though I should still be with them at this point. But I reminded myself that I did not need to adhere to caution tape on that side of the road, and also that Phil wasn't sure if he had gotten the biathlon route right, so I made my right. When the next right came up around where I expected it, I was relieved.
Straight line to Control Four, the only trick being that it was further in the woods than I was expecting.
I saw the closed off trail, which was marked on the map as out of bounds. I tried to take the one directly to the left of that, but wasn't sure if I was on that or the one that was due west. No matter, I'll be sure when I hit the trail. Either way I'll make a right. As I go along, people coming toward me asked what I was doing. I said ski-orienteering, and one woman, trying to be helpful, said don't forget to punch as they had just passed a control. In the past, I would have had to look, but confident now, I cheerfully said, "Not mine". Control 5 was a little further down the small path than I had been anticipating. Saw Dayle heading for 6 on my way to 5. Have I gained on her?
Dog leg back to the main intersection and continue straight. Six is easy, but will have to come back uphill.
For the first time I am wondering if skating was a bad idea. It was a long slog up the side trail to the main trail. Figure I have probably lost whatever lead I might have had. Ah well. Just keep focused. More people asked what race I was doing as they kindly got over for me. Had a short discussion as I skied on. Hard to do too much recruiting while in the middle of a race, but I didn't want to seem unfriendly.
I debated for a minute whether to backtrack, or go ahead and do the little jog back late. The second choice seems better.
Almost done. I am tired, but not as much as usual, thanks to the CA training. Go under the road, and decide to take the main trail to the next opening so I can skate for a little longer. I thought about cutting in further along the main trail, but wasn't sure how easy it would be to see the control. I take the small trail uphill, where my skating skis are totally useless.
One more time, I scan the map for signs of the wretched arrows, but seeing none, I ski full steam ahead. Terry is up ahead, and I am (proudly) able to keep the same distance between us (gaining on her would be too much to ask) for about 20 ft. Then the cumulative effect takes place, and knowing that I will not be able to skate at any decent pace all the way to the finish, I opt for a short rest, so that I can look good for the finish.
Feeling really good. I think I did about as well as I could have. When it comes down to it, that is really the definition of a good race. (But the gold was a nice added bonus.)
The weather was around 20 degrees F, on the warm side of the VF40 waxed classic skis.
I recognized that the first control was on my side of a rather dense and confusing set of trails and trail junctions. A deliberate approach was necessary. I promised myself not to "over ski" a critical trail junction in a climb. This added to my confidence. However, in my cockiness with early navigational success I turned left after the bridge (coming off the hill) rather than right. I realized my mistake when I spotted the trail maintenance garage looming ahead. This is on one of the widest groomed trails at the venue, so I had no problem turning around and finding my second control.
From the second control I chose to stay consistently to the right for the third and fourth controls, because this avoided any major change in elevation and a labyrinth of trails around the biathlon venue. At the fourth control I back-tracked a hundred meters to a trail I knew was immaculately groomed and to avoid a confusing cluster of trail intersections just west of the number "8" on my course map. The grooming was so perfect in this area that I could continue skiing and at the same time consult the map to reinforce my route decisions.
As my route turned north into the Cascade Touring Center I made a conscious note that I was headed north rather than east as I descended. One thing I have learned the hard way is that recognizing I have made a mistake during a descent on skis is most time consuming! For that reason my descent to control 5 was deliberate, but as quick as possible without upsetting a half dozen curious tourists.
My route choice after the sixth control was to back-track on a not-so- well groomed trail that I knew, rather than to chance another not-so- well groomed trail. The routes to controls 7 and 8 were straight forward as long as you are confident with the right trail choice at 7. I went around the south side of Beech Hill choosing the confusing set of trail intersections on the south end of the "dog bone cut off" over some dramatic elevations changes on the north side of the hill.
Recognizing the climb on a narrow trail, I took the second left as I approached the final control. The most exiting part of the whole run came as I approached the tunnel under the road 400 meters from the finish. As the mouth of the tunnel came into view, I saw a tourist pass into the tunnel. I continued on at "full" speed thinking that it is always icy inside the tunnel and the tourist would be propelled through before I caught up to her. Well, the ice worked for me too, propelling me into the tourist. All I could do was utter a muffled "wooo", grab her center of gravity (hips) and ride out of the tunnel with her as her husband yelled at her to get out of the way of the "racer". Thank God neither she or I fell! I hope she got as big a thrill out of the experience as I did! I didn't stick around for profuse apologies, just continued on to the finish.
The combination of the right skis, the right wax, and the right snow conditions, the weather, and a focused, positive attitude all came together for a perfect day.
| To Control | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hey, we're not going out to the Porter loops nor up Russian Hill. Cool, this'll be fun. Man, I've started up this hill so many times before. Didn't it use to have a snow fence up the middle with an up and a down side? Glad that's gone. Can I save a little elevation by taking the first left? Oh no, it's the one Phil said before the race isn't groomed. Too bad, here I go. Hey, this is uphill- too bad- keep double poling. Looks like I didn't save any climb but turn left and there it is. |
| 2 | This one looks easy. All downhill. Just make the first left and look for it at the next junction. But what's going to be the best route to 3? That bridge could be a problem. |
| 3 | Gee, there's a quick route left to go over the bridge, I'll take that. (in retrospect going under the bridge, then right would have been slightly shorter with less climb) |
| 4 | This should be simple, just stay on the east most trail. Oh wait, what's this trail that was hidden by the circle. No, avoid that, keep going, now turn left. Now another fork, turn right. Is there snow in the tunnel? Yes, good, tuck now and through. Up the rise, staying right and there it is. |
| 5 | Now, all right forks should lead me to it. More trail junctions than on the map? Map is probably right. Doesn't matter! Keep right. Gosh, it's further, down the narrow trail toward Cascade. Now a 180 and back to the main trails. |
| 6 | Whoops, I was heading for 7 by mistake. Hardly matters, I might have gone this way anyway. Lots of little junctions to navigate in the Dog Bone area. What's this multi trail junction? Not groomed as mapped, but ok, I know where I am. What, the control's at a trail junction? The other fork is mapped as a foot trail but it looks like it's been groomed recently. Doesn't matter, just 180 and head for 7. |
| 7 | Back through the junction and go straight. 7 is going to be at the corner of the trail and then downhill to Cascade. What's this, I read the contours backwards? It's not on a hill but in a dip? That rots, lose all momentum to punch then have to climb out of the dip. But, on to Cascade. |
| 8 | Two routes to 8, I chose the northern. More junctions, but a straight level shot once I'm on the right trail. Tough skating with the soft snow and the tracks in the middle- I'll double pole. Now, where is it, ah, up high on the left. |
| 9 | Now, back the other way on the same trail, this should be easy. But no, get all tangled up in the little trails approaching #9. Where am I? What are all these trails? Ok, find the main trail and follow it. That worked. The family standing by the control tried to get out of my way and instead blocked it even more. (In retrospect I should have paid more attention to my compass.) |
| 10 | Out of the control go left, then left again. Then a right and a quick left again and here I am. After #9 it was good to find this one right away. |
| 11 | Keep going around the loop, then two lefts and I'm on my way back up the hill to Mt Van. Wait! I was about to skip 11. That'll be fastest with an out and back, double poling all the way. |
| 12 | Which way around the box to #12? Counterclockwise has fewer junctions and the climb seems about the same. OK, go that way. Back through that darn dip with #7. Should I bushwhack afterwards to the shorter trail to #13? I'll wait until I get there to see if anyone has broken a path. |
| 13 | Nope, bushwhacking doesn't make sense. It would be uphill in deep snow. Might as well follow this trail down and the long way around. How shall I attack #13? Up the narrow trail or up the wide trail and back in? Looks pretty soft in there, I'll go up the outside and cut in. It worked. |
| Finish | Gotta make sure I hit the left one way tunnel. Is there a connector right in front? Map doesn't show one- oh yes it does. Hop over at the last minute. Now back to the western trail because it's shorter. Then take the cut-through back to the eastern trail. Why are those people reading the trail map blocking my way? I'll have to go around 'em. It's not far now, keep pushing, and I'm done. Where is everybody? |
last updated: --Fri Mar 02 2007 08:57:46 PM EST--