Some Scenes
from the
BAOC event at Joaquin Miller Park
November 3, 1998
Featuring the JMP modified Motala and taping of the TV program Bay Area Backroads
Originally broadcast on KRON-TV on Sunday, November 29 at 6:00 pm and midnight.
(Backroads ruruns are shown on BayTV a few months later.)

To see a Real Audio version (the sound track with limited video):
http://www.bayareabackroads.com

The story in text

Host Doug McConnell, producer Michael Rosenthal and cameraman Jack Uhalde
"All you need is a map, a compass and a sense of adventure"

The event was organized to show some of the wide range of appeal orienteering offers. Central was the "Oakland" version of the Motala, a very short sprint of three loops with three seeded runners in each heat running head-to-head, fast running in close quarters with spectators and the cameras following the action. At the other end of the spectrum were the White and Yellow courses to show it is a sport for almost anyone.

James Scarborough and Bruce Wolfe have been orienteering at Joaquin Miller Park all their orienteeing lives. So they had a "match" of their own over the "Motala" course, James running very early to get back to a GIS conference at Cal and Bruce showing everyone how it is done just before the official starts. (Indicated time is PST.)

I estimated their running times would be 14:00 and 14:30 for this 1.91, three loop course. James turned in a very fast 13:36 but Bruce really burned the course in 13:01 to set the stage. How could I be so wrong? These guys usually do 7 min/k in this area but I thought the compact 13 controls and map exchange would add a minute or so. But Bruce always has a way of surprising you (I'll have to factor that in next time) and I thought James would be slower for his lack of training time in recent months.

The camera crew, start chief Evan Custer, Oakland SWAT Team
and Wyatt Riley ready for first starts.

Neal and Wyatt interviewed after the spectacular finish

Jill Custer kept the leader board up to date. Penny DeMoss talks to Doug.

Nancy Lindeman's first grade class will play a big part in the program judging from the attention they got from the TV people. At the common Yellow and White control 5, it was iinteresting to see how the Oakland Police SWAT teams dealt with their O decisions at about the same time as Linnea Ohlund and Tania and Kirstin Haag. Even more interesting was the TV crew's reaction.

BAOCers trying to concentrate, had Jack on their tail, keeping up with them while holding his 25 lb camera at unnerving angles.

He was good on the hills too, following Doug and I around a short course I put together from some of the controls that were out. We stopped for camera set up and retakes, etc. but Doug was actually orienteering, with a little coaching, and not badly for a beginner. After the editing, I don't know what it will look like but here is a scan of the map Doug used:

Original scale 1:5,000 (graphic scale = 100m), contour interval 20 ft.

1. Building, S corner
2. Spur
3. Clearing, NW side
4. Re-entrant, shallow
5. Depression, 2x4
6. Spur
7. Knoll, NW side

The farewell "BAOC three whistle salute"
(Press "REFRESH" to hear again)