Meet Description by CS Bruce Corning


The Firestone meet on Sunday we will offer advanced Orienteers a THOMASS event = point-to-point but you can drop one or 2 controls THEN GO IMMEDIATELY INTO A SPRINT LOOP! It has a MASS start at 10am to encourage head-to-head competition.

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COURSES: from Bruce's _preliminary_ email

We will offer standard white, yellow, and orange courses.  These are 
slightly longer and more difficult than last year.

The three advanced classes will be "long advanced", "short advanced", and 
"long orange".  For these, we're trying something different called the 
"Thomass" format.  The "Thomass" format is popular in Canada.  Basically it 
combines a score-O with a sprint into one single race, lowest combined time 
wins.  It's a mass start so runners are racing directly against their 
competitors.  The "score-O" is not a true score-O; instead a runner is 
required to punch a certain number of controls based on his/her class and 
there is no time cut-off.  The controls are all of equal value "1 point".

For Firestone, 13 "Thomass" controls (along with others from other courses) 
are in the field.  The "long advanced" participants must punch all 13 of 
these controls in any order they choose, before arriving at the map 
exchange point.  "Short advanced" runners will be required to punch 10 
controls, being allowed to skip any three.  For "long orange" we are adding 
2 additional "required" controls not among the other 13.  Thus "long 
orange" runners must punch those two, along with any 7 of the other 13 for 
a total of 9.  Runners will be given about 15 minutes to study the 
"score-O" map before the mass start so that they may plan their route.

Note that there is no "extra credit" for short advanced or long orange 
runners to punch more than their requirement.  If a short advanced runner 
punches 11 controls then he/she simply wasted time going after the 11th 
control.

The "map exchange point" is mapped with a double circle as the "finish" on 
the "score-O" map.  At the map exchange point, runners must punch a control 
which will be placed there (not counted among the other 13), then drop 
their "score-O" map, pick up a sprint map, and go on the sprint course as 
quickly as they can.  The "map exchange point" is mapped with the start 
triangle on the sprint map.

The sprint course is the same for all three classes; about 2.2k with an 
expected fastest time of about 20 minutes.  The sprint course remains in 
the main lower canyon and does not have significant climb.  Control 
placement on the sprint course is yellow/orange level, but there are a 
couple of tricky route choices. 

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Map and terrain
As usual, we are continuing our map improvement, so Bruce and Kent will do some more exploring. We hope that you get to enjoy this aspect as well.

Firestone is a physically demanding locale. The map has a maximum difference in elevation of about 1000 feet, over a region of 6 square kilometers. The basic layout is a plateau with rolling hills, with a lower canyon and stream.

Vegetation is varied between chaparral, grasslands, and oak forest. There is poison oak throughout the camp, so know what it looks like before you start your course. We will help in this regard. Since it is late fall, the leaves may not be even present, but you can still be affected. Long pants and sleeves are advised with an extra set of clothes to change into when you are finished. Also, I'd suggest a trash bag to hold your hazardous waste to take home.

Since this meet will be occurring in November, the weather is indeterminate. Anything can happen. There will be water on the courses, but you should be prepared as well. In the past few years, we had a record heat wave, as well as a winter storm. So be prepared.

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FACILITIES: water-yes, picnic-yes, flush toilets-yes

Parking: -
Parking will not be an issue, but we are guests in a campground. Pedestrians are throughout the facility. Please drive with consideration, and follow the O-signs. We will have registration in the area called Camp-Masters, which is near the pool.

Directions: -
The camp is located off of the Orange Freeway 57.
Directions: The camp is located off of the Orange Freeway 57.

From the North and Freeways 210, 10, or 60
    Go south on the 57 and exit Brea Canyon Road.
    Go south to Tonner Canyon Road.  
    Turn left under the freeway (the 57) and proceed 2 miles to the camp entrance.  
    Drive slowly through the camp and look for O-signs.

From points South, Fwy 91 or the I-5, 
    Go north on the 57 and exit on Tonner Canyon Road.  
    Turn left from the off ramp and proceed 2 miles to the camp entrance.  
    Drive slowly through the camp and look for O-signs.
more info  and  Driving Directions