2004 Boise METROGAIN

The Greenbelt Challenge

What

Boise METROGAIN is an orienteering event spanning multiple mapped regions in and around Boise on the same date. It is designed to give an opportunity for the orienteering fans to experience long courses. On foot or on bike, with GPS or without you will try to find multiple controls along the lengthy course.

Registration

Pre-register by sending email to savelichko@yahoo.com (or call 377-4213) before November 17. State the course you selected (Long or Short).

Courses

This year courses offer Long and Short options. Beginner course for first comers and families with small kids will be also available. You have an option to explore on foot or use your road or mountain bike. Using bike will require doing last meters to the controls on foot as not all controls are accessible right from the paths.

Long course (suited for experienced athletes) starts in the Willow Lane Sports Park, continues to the Veterans State Park, continues along the river greenbelt path (North side) to the Ann Morrison Park, goes around the Ann Morrison Park, along the river greenbelt path (South side) to Julia Davis/BSU Campus area, and finishes in the Julia Davis Park. See the map for the course layout. First leg will be on easy side as it shares with the short course. Course statistics (length and number of controls are tentative to give a sense of what to expect):

Leg #	Park Name	Length km	## Controls	Map Scale
1	Willow Lane Sports Park	1.7	10	1:5000
2	Veterans State Park	2.3	10	1:5000
3	Path to AM Park	2
4	Ann Morrison Park	3.7	10	1:5000
5	Path to Julia Davis Park	0.5
6	Julia Davis Park	3.6	10	1:7500
	Total:	13.8	40

Climb is negligible. Expected winning time on the long course is 1.5 hours.

Short course (suited for experienced juniors, women, and elderly athletes) starts in the Willow Lane Sports Park, continues to the Veterans State Park, and returns back to the Willow Lane Park for the finish. It shares first leg and somewhat shares second leg with the Long course. See the map for the course layout. Course statistics (length and number of controls are tentative to give a sense of what to expect):

Leg #	Park Name	Length km	## Controls	Map Scale
1	Willow Lane Sports Park	1.7	10	1:5000
2	Veterans State Park	2.6	10	1:5000
3	Willow Lane Sports Park	1	5	1:5000
	Total:	5.3	25

Climb is negligible. Expected winning time on the short course is 1 hour.

Maps

Here are samples of the maps that will be used for the METROGAIN. Click on icons to get bigger images.

Willow Lane Park	Veterans Park	Ann Morrison Park	Julia Davis Park/BSU Campus

Awards

First three places in each Long and Short courses (combined for Foot, Bike, GPS, or gender subdivisions) will be awarded with special prizes. Honorable awards to female athletes on Long course, and, of course, our kids. Awards will be presented at the finish of the corresponding courses.

Start and Finish

Start will be Saturday November 20 at noon sharp from the Southern parking lot (closest to the river) in the Willow Lane Park. PLEASE ARRIVE EARLIER TO GIVE TIME FOR FILLING OUT SOME PAPERWORK (5 MINUTES MAX) AND WARMUP! It is advisable that you arrive to the start at least at 11:30 am. Finish of the Long course is close to the Zoo in the Julia Davis Park. Finish of the Short course is right at the start in the Willow Lane Park. Maximum allowed time on a course is 3 hours so all finishes will close promptly at 3 pm.

What to Expect at the Start

10 minutes before the start (10 minutes before noon) all are called to the start line for the instructions.

2 minutes before the start all receive competition packets that include course layout map, clearly marked maps for each leg with pre-printed controls, GPS coordinates for each control, punch card(s), and control clue sheet.

1 minute before start all allowed opening their competition packets.

At noon mass start is given.

Punching

You will receive one (for short course) or two (for long course) punch cards. Please punch at each control in corresponding boxes. You will surrender punch cards at the finish so we can verify that you found all controls on your course.

Fees

You will be charged our standard fees of $2/map for members of the club ($3/map for non-members) to cover costs. That amounts to $8/member ($12/non-member) for Long course, and $4/member ($6/non-member) for Short course. Beginner course fee is our standard.

Transportation and Babysitting

No babysitting is offered. Please consider parking and carpooling from the finish area near the Zoo at the Julia Davis Park to the start in Willow Lane Sports Park. It is your responsibility to arrange for the transportation.

Water

Drinking water will be available at the start and finish, as well as at the end of each leg. Water stops will be at the last control of each leg. They will be marked on the maps with drinking glass symbol.

Hazards

It may be cold – dress according to the weather. Have a change of the clothes at your designated finish (Willow Park for short course and Julia Davis Park for long course). Stay hydrated – water is provided on the course. Plan to take some food with you on the course – you will need those extra calories. While crossing canals and streams on the bridges be careful as they may be slippery. All courses are designed to avoid traffic. You will cross major transportation arteries using under-bridge passages. However, there might be some traffic in the parks so be careful while crossing any roads in the parks.

If you chose to use bike on the course you are required to wear proper protection attire including approved helmet.

Directions

More information and maps available at our web site:

http://www.ctoc-boise.org/ctoc/maps.htm

Willow Sport Complex, Boise, Idaho (Start and Short Course Finish)

Park and Sport Complex is located Between Boise river and State Road West of Veterans Memorial Pkwy. Park entrance is off of Willow Lane.
Meet center is usually at the parking lot closest to the Boise river.
For out of Boise commuters:
I-84 onto Orchard St Exit in Boise (Exit #52). Go North on Orchard St. Pass Franklin Rd, Fairview Rd intersections, go down to Chinden Blvd (it takes about 10 minutes from I-84). Take left onto Chinden Blvd. Drive West 2-3 minutes along Chinden Blvd to Veterans Memorial Pkwy. Take right onto Veterans Memorial Pkwy. Drive to State Rd. Take left at the lights. Drive approximately 1/2 mile until the lights at Willow Lane. Take left onto Willow Lane at the lights. Drive forward to the park entrance.

Julia Davis Park / BSU Campus, Boise, Idaho (Long Course Finish)

Park and BSU are located at the beautiful Boise Greenbelt along the Boise River. The park entrances are at the Capitol Blvd and Myrtle St (train engine entrance). Finish will be in close proximity to the Zoo.
For out of Boise commuters:
I-84 to I-184 connection (Exit #??). Take I-184 toward city center. Drive along of I-184 (about 3-4 miles). I-184 will merge into Myrtle St. Keep in the right lane and go straight East passing about 5 lights (13th, 11th, 10th, 9th, Capitol Blvd). Park entrance is on the right after you have passed Capitol Blvd and a light. After you enter the park take right and drive to parking lots surrounding the Boise Zoo. It takes approximately 10 minutes from I-84.

GPS Coordinates of All Controls

CLICK HERE TO GET GPS COORDINATES OF ALL CONTROLS BY COURSE.