CAOC Spring Orienteering Fiesta
April 12-14, 2013
Mississippi Palisades State Park

Meet Director: Kathy Bullard Schedule: Saturday morning 9:30am Sprint (short) event Saturday afternoon 1:00pm Middle distance event Sunday 10:00am Long distance event Cost: $10 per course with a 50% discount for season pass holders. Registration: REQUIRED for all (even season pass holders). Sign up here.

View Larger Map

UPDATE: Course descriptions and accommodations have been updated -- see below. Preliminary start times have been assigned.

Registration is now open. Note -- this event is not included in the season pass (although you get a 50% discount). EVERYONE ATTENDING THIS EVENT MUST REGISTER.

Details:
This is not an A meet but we're acting like it matters! Come on out and enjoy one of the most rugged and beautiful places in northern Illinois. The Mississippi Palisades State Park will certainly test your navigation skills as well as your hill climbing prowess (or your ability to avoid hill climbs!). Three events are planned for the weekend and we might even throw in a fourth if there are enough people interested. Snacks will be available between events but be sure to save room to go into town and enjoy Manny's pizza and tacos, or the fabulous Poopy's burger! Camping is available in the park or there is a hotel in Savanna. Showers will not be on in the park yet.

Saturday 9:30am - "Sprint"

There are three course options – long, medium, short. The long and medium are at orange or better level and the short is for white/yellow level runners. All three courses stay within the campground valleys and are intended to warm you up without significant climb.

Water features – Very potentially, all water features will have water and seasonal waterways will be flowing. Use caution when crossing and if there is any ice left do not expect it to hold your weight.

Controls are very close together and probably do not conform to IOF standards.

Saturday 1pm - Mid Distance - white, yellow, orange, green and red courses will be available.

All courses are on the short end of IOF regulations in order to meet standards of climb. Don't worry, you will still get your moneys worth!

Vegetation is lightly mapped. The woods are generally runnable by Illinois standards. This means “white” is probably more light green than you would expect. There are plenty of Hawthorn and other thorny things to keep you amused but in general the woods are pretty easy to move through. Areas of green that are marked on the map stand out as being especially unpleasant and I recommend giving them wide berth if possible.

Ice warning – Be prepared for north and west facing slopes to be slippery with small patches of ice. As of March 30 there was significant ice on those slopes, especially on the north side of the map. Hopefully the few warmer days we've had in the last 2 weeks have continued to melt what was out there.

Saturday Evening Fun

After controls are taken care of after the mid distance there are several options in town to get together. Poopy's Pub and Grill and Manny's Pizza (and tacos!) are the area favorites. Both are family friendly.

Sunday 10am - Long O - WYOGR courses available.

The start is about 1K up hill from the campground. All other notes about vegetation and water apply.

Want to volunteer? Have questions? Contact Kathy.

Course Descriptions

Accommodations:

*Camp Benson – This is a YMCA camp, located 15 min east in Mount Carroll, IL, that is letting us use the cabins. This will be communal arrangements in that there are 16 beds per cabin. While we won't be packing you in like sardines you will not have a cabin on your own. Showers are available and cabins are heated. Bring your own pillow and sleeping bags, toiletries and towels. Families with kids can be accommodated. $20 per adult for the weekend – Friday and Saturday nights. Please sign up with your registration.

YMCA: For $20/person, you can stay in one of the group cabins at the YMCA Camp Benson Friday and Saturday nights. You will be just a few minutes away from the park. Cabins will be shared with others participating in this event. More details will be coming shortly. Showers will be available at Camp Benson.

Camping: Camping is available in the park. Book ASAP -- reservations must be made 7 days in advance. Go to www.reserve.america.com. Note that the showers will NOT be available so plan accordingly.

*Super 8 Motel – this is the only recommended hotel in Savanna, IL. See www.super8.com for reservations.
*Executive Inn, Thompson, IL – 8.8 miles south of Savanna. See www.thomsonexecutiveinn.com for reservations.
*Comfort Inn, Fulton, IL – 16 miles south of Savanna. See www.comfortinn.com for reservations.

There are several other bed and breakfasts you can find within a half hour drive on both the Illinois and Iowa sides of the river.

Directions:

Some general directions follow. Better yet, look on a map and use your orienteering skills!!

From Chicago: Take I-90 to Hwy 20 in Rockford. Follow Hwy 20 west to Hwy 76 and turn south. Take Hwy 76 to Hwy 64 and go west to Savanna. Hwy 64 joins Hwy 84 and passes through Savanna. Approximately 2 miles past Savanna is the main entrance to the park. Enter and park at the Ranger house to the right.

From the Quad Cities: Take I-80 to IL Hwy 84 and take it north to Savanna. Approximately 2 miles past Savanna is the main entrance to the park. Enter and park at the Ranger house to the right.

From St. Louis: Get to the Quad cities and take I-80 to IL Hwy 84 and take it north to Savanna. Approximately 2 miles past Savanna is the main entrance to the park. Enter and park at the Ranger house to the right.

From the North: Get to Galena and take Hwy 20 South/east to Hwy 84. Take 84 south approximately 15.5miles (through Hanover) to the park entrance.