ROC’s Rainy National Orienteering Week Event:

When she awoke at 6am on National Orienteering Day, course setter Stina Bridgeman was grateful to see that the predicted wet weather hadn’t arrived yet. She had 40 control flags to hang, and had to race to get them out as the storm clouds advanced. Stina had already put in many hours designing courses and scoping out the park for map accuracy, and today was the big day, rain or shine. By the time the flags were placed, registration was all set up at Tay House Lodge in Cobb’s Hill Park, thanks to meet director Laurie Hunt. Greeter Carol Moran was next on the scene to welcome each of the almost 90 members and guests who arrived. Everyone would enjoy one or more courses: White, Yellow, Sprint or Scatter-O, with the option of finding 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 control points.

As course opening time arrived, so did the rain. This was a rain that didn’t intend to let up. That didn’t discourage Scout Troop 19, or the World of Inquiry and Wilson Magnet Outdoor Clubs. ROC held it’s own unique version of a “Tough Mudder.” Many participants got to bypass filling out waivers by taking advantage of ROC’s online pre-registration. Tyler Borden worked behind the scenes setting up the online registration and installing ROC’s computer system on site prior to the start of the meet. The registration team of Rukhsana Cofer, Cheri Winslow, Cathy Henderson, and Patti Borden handled registration for 68 starts, with a number of participants electing to go out on more than one course. Scott Makai, Stina Bridgeman and Ravi Nareppa were manning the computers and managing the Start/Finish.

Outside in the rain, Tyler Borden and Greg Michels were giving instruction to many first-time orienteers. Many thanks to the World of Inquiry Outdoor Club for the use of their canopy. It made a great addition to Tay House’s generous porch, where people huddled for protection from the relentless downpour. The porch was a great vantage point to see runners coming in, many laughing, taking a muddy slide to the finish flag, and then going out for more. The String-O course, set by Stephanie and Faith Reh, gave even the youngest participants a chance to run around in the rain.

Refreshments were provided by Don and Cheri Winslow, and by some miracle there was even some morsels left for the very last finishers. But the flag pick up team of Jim and Zak Borden, Doug, Maggie, and Heidi Hall, Jim Pamper and Greg Michels still had to head out one more time, to pick up the soggy control flags.

The day wasn’t over. The flags couldn’t be put away wet, so Laurie and Greg “hung out the laundry” in ROC’s equipment garage. (See our Facebook page for photos!). With gratitude for the day, as they said goodbye they promised each other they were heading to their homes for some hot tea and a warm fireplace.

If you’ve come this far in the story you’ll know that the success of ROC events is thanks to the work of generous volunteers. Most jobs don’t require any special skills, and you work alongside others. You may form friendships that last a lifetime. Contact Sandra Lomker for more information at slomker @ frontiernet.net or see the volunteer page for more information. See you in the woods!

Thanks to our volunteers:

Meet Director: Laurie Hunt
Course Setter: Stina Bridgeman
Greeter: Carol Moran, Heidi Hall
Registration: Rukhsana Cofer, Cathy Henderson, Patty Borden, Cheri Winslow
Start/Finish/E-Punch: Scott Makai, Stina Bridgeman, Ravi Nareppa
Flag Pick-Up: Jim Pamper, Doug, Maggie and Heidi Hall, Greg Michels, Jim and Zak Borden
Food: Cheri and Don Winslow
String-O: Stephanie and Faith Reh
Instruction: Greg Michels, Tyler Borden

Results

White | Yellow | Sprint | Scatter-O | Winsplits | RouteGadget | Scatter-O RG

White    1.3k  50m

Yellow    2.9k  40m

Sprint    2.1k  55m

Scatter-O 10    

Scatter-O 15    

Scatter-O 20    

Scatter-O 25