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Mineral Wells Point-to-Point Orienteering
January 13, 2013
Sunday
Come orienteer in LA's biggest urban park!
Happily and enthusiastically, now LAOC is back! Admittedly, I didn't personally reconnoiter the venue before this deadline but, in anticipation of luxuriant new growth, I've planned five standard point-to-point courses. Yes, as is my diabolical tradition, the advanced courses will require some bushwhacking and as always in GP, elevation change will smite more than distance.
The 2.2K White course will have eight controls; also eight controls on the 3.1K Yellow course. Orange has nine controls over 3.8K but Green's nine controls are over a more daunting 5.3K. And the eleven controls of Red punctuate at least 5.9K. Yeah, I even eliminated a few original controls because some of you would've died out there.
Anybody not familiar with Mineral Wells will be pleasantly surprised. The picnic meadow in which we meet---also the Start/Finish, natch---has the usual facilities under a partial canopy of trees. Bridle and hiking trails filigree the area and terraced, amphitheater-like landfill dominates part of a mountain flank. We're adjacent to the rear of the Zoo and a golf course, as well as the old railroad stock of Travel Town. There is Amir's Garden to be discovered on the Orange and Red courses. As I've relentlessly proclaimed from the pulpit of my Shadetree Seminars (Beginners Clinics) for thirty years: You will have FUN. GUARANTEED. If not, Kimo eats you.
The NEW FEE structure and benefits of prereg/prepay are explained here!
Griffith Park, Mineral Wells (Travel Town), Los Angeles, CA
| Sunday, January 13 | |
| 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Griffith Park: Orienteering |
| Meet Director: | Don Sieveke |
| Course Setter: | Gary Dolgin |
Griffith Park | From the 134 freeway on the north side of the park, exit Forest Lawn Dr South, one mile west of the 5 freeway. Turn left at traffic lights into park area towards Travel Town. While at STOP facing entrance to Travel Town turn right (south) onto Griffith Park Zoo drive and follow it straight past Mt. Hollywood drive (gated) on right and then a quarry on the left. You will soon see the picnic grounds on your right, if you see the golf driving range, you have gone too far. From the south, exit I.5 at Griffith Park. Turn Right (N) on Crystal Springs Drive and continue past the ranger station on your right(E) and the large picnic areas on your left (W). At the stop, turn left on Griffith Park Drive and head past the golf clubhouse and driving range. You should now be at Mineral Wells Picnic area. From Los Feliz, turn north into park by the Pony Rides on Crystal Springs Drive. Go north _past_ the ranger station on your right(E) and the large picnic areas on your left (W). At the stop, turn left on Griffith Park Drive and head past the golf clubhouse and driving range. You should now be at Mineral Wells Picnic area. |
| Course Name | Length (km) | Climb (m) | No. Controls |
| White (Basic) Point-to-Point | 2.2 | 8 | |
| Yellow (Intermediate) Point-to-Point | 3.1 | 8 | |
| Orange (Advanced) Point-to-Point | 3.8 | 9 | |
| Green (Expert) Point-to-Point | 5.3 | 9 | |
| Red (Expert) Point-to-Point | 5.9 | 11 |