The

PERMANENT ORIENTEERING COURSE

in

JOAQUIN MILLER PARK

Oakland, California

"Orienteering is a sport in which the competitors visit a number of points marked on the ground (controls) in the shortest possible time aided by map and compass."   In addition to competition and recreation at public events provided by your local club, the sport offers a fun way to learn map and compass skills; an exciting format for team building and a means of exploring new areas.  In the San Francisco Bay Area, instruction and private events are available through Scarborough Orienteering, www.orienteer.com.  Public events are held regularly by the Bay Area Orienteering Club, www.baoc.org

A permanent orienteering course provides the opportunity to try out the sport on your own or for training for organized events.  Modeled after the concept very popular in Britain and northern Europe, the JMP POC was the first permanent orienteering course in northern California if  not the Western US. The Joaquin Miller Park course was installed in October, 1983 by Joe Scarborough with the assistance of Boy Scout Troop 916 of Pleasanton and in cooperation with the City of Oakland and the Bay Area Orienteering Club.  Materials were donated by Truitt and White Lumber of Berkeley.

The course consists of about 24 controls,  features which are marked by 6x6 redwood posts with the red and white o-symbol painted on the top.  Please note that the course may be modified and changes occur in the terrain over time.  By the same token, the map is continuously being updated and improved.  Check here for the latest version of the map. 

Do a little research to familiarize yourself with basic procedures and techniques.  An introduction as to how orienteering works can be found at http://www.orienteer.com/nutshell.htm.

INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1:          Click here -->  to send an e-mail to Joe S. for the permanent course orienteering map in PDF format.

STEP 2:           Print the map

STEP 3:           Design yourself a course.  Start with the suggested White course or similar.  Connect the appropriate circles with straight lines.

STEP 4:           Go to the start location at Joaquin Miller Park in the Oakland hills.  All courses begin at the “START/FINISH” marker (triangle on the map) located near Sequoia Arena off Skyline Boulevard.  Yahoo map.

STEP 5:           Study the map legend.  Green areas should be avoided.  The map scale is 1;7,500 which means that 1mm on the map is equivalent to 7.5 meters on the ground.  Note that the map is drawn to magnetic north so that no adjustment for declination is needed.

STEP 6:           Orient or “set” the map to agree with the ground.  If you have a compass, the needle will then line up with the north/south meridians on the map.  Relate the features you see on the ground with those on the map and vice versa. 

STEP 7:           Select your route from the start to the first control.  Where there is a choice, try the route you consider best for your ability and degree of experience.  Beginners should follow trails and other line features. 

STEP 8:           Proceed to control #1.  Check the letter code on the top of the marker should agree with the description.

STEP 9:           Continue around the course keeping the map oriented and taking each control in order until reaching the finish marker.

Congratulations.  I hope you enjoyed orienteering at Joaquin Miller Park.  Please send any suggestions or reports of missing markers to joe at orienteer dot com

RECOMMENDED COURSES

CONTROL DESCRIPTIONS

YELLOW COURSE  (Advanced beginner)

1  (SH)  Knoll

2. (AT)   Clearing, SW edge

3. (ER)   Spur

4. (CW) Re-entrant           

5. (DA)  Clearing, S edge

6. (JS)    Hilltop

7. (RS)   Boulder, SE edge

8. (MK) Re-entrant
9. (DM) Re-entrant

Finish      (same as start)