Race Instructions

Fall Challenge 6-HourAdventure Race

Bloomer Park, Sept 23, 2017

  • The object of the race is to get to as many of the control points(CPs) as you can, and cross the finish line before others with the same number of control points, and before time expires.
  • Each team will have a “passport” and will be required to punch the passport in the appropriate location with the punch for each control point. Each punch is unique to the control point.
  • No GPS enabled devices are allowed. Phones must be turned off during the race.
  • Your finish time will be when both teammatesreach the finish table and youturn in your “passport”.
  • Teams must take the route specified below. Use trail marker signs to navigate the mountain bike trails.
  • You must collect control points for a given leg of the race during that leg. You cannot, for instance, collect paddle points during the initial run, or final nav.

ControlPoints: Thereare 38control points. The fastest teams will likely collect all of them. There is no minimum number of points required in order to be a ranked team. All points are optional, unless stated.

Maps: There are seven maps. Maps will be used in the order below

  • First RunCPs 1-4
  • Paddle & bike (Bloomer Primary)CPs 5-12, 30
  • RochesterCPs 13-17
  • Stoney Creek WestCPs 18-25
  • Big North MapCPs 26-29
  • Bloomer Final NavCPs 31-38Note: final nav CPs are not shown on any other map.
  • Big South MapNo additional CPs. For reference, getting from one map area to another.

The Race, Step-by-Step:

Initial Run:

CP1 – Required. In spruce tree East of playground. From there, run to the top of the mountain bike switchbacks, also known as “Spin Cycle”.Run down the switchback mountain bike trail. No shortcuts on the switchback trail.

CP2 – On the East side of the Clinton River, less than 100 meters from the bridge. Go back to the bridge to get to…

CP3 – On the West side of the Clinton River, less than 100 meters from the bridge.

CP4 – Required. At canoe put-in off of the Clinton River Trail, just East of the Main Street Bridge.

Paddle: CP5 – CP6

CP5 – At the downstream side of a mostly non-flowing oxbow of the river. You must enter the oxbow, and will need to get out of the canoe to collect this point.Before you get to CP6, portage where signs tell you to do so.

CP6 – Required. At canoe take-out at Yates Park, where you staged your bike. There is a required portage, for safety, to keep you from going over the dam. Heed the signs, and portage around the dam.

Bike at Bloomer:

After pulling your canoe out of the water, get your bike and helmet. You may leave nothing behind at Yates. Wade across the river where directed, with your bike, then navigate by bike, to bike control points CP7-12. CPs 8, 9, and 11 are not shown on the map, but are obvious from the trail. You must follow the directional arrows, found on both yellow trail marker posts and wood posts with white tops, to stay on the mountain bike trail.

CP7 – On start of single track bike trail, just West of rail-trail.

CP8, CP9 – Trail side, not shown on map. Note: Do not follow wooden “Trail” sign before CP9.

After collecting CP9, continue on trail to parking lot, thennavigate to CP10.

CP10 – Next to trail, near park road.

CP11 – Not shown on map. Note: Parts of the trail between CP10 and CP11 are very challenging, and include steep downhills(orange tape marks the start of it). Inexperienced bikers may want to walk their bike in some sections.

After collecting CP11, take the most direct route to the West, and navigate back to CP12.

CP12 – Required. Start/Finish. Punch the CP and check in before continuing on bike toward Rochester. The most direct route is North from the start/finish, and down the stairs. You must carry your bike, not ride, down the stairs!

Navigate, by bike, on the Clinton River Trail to the Paint Creek trail/River Walk, behind the Rochester Library.

CP13 – Required. On the pedestrian bridge just West of Main Street. You must cross under Main Street, on the River Walk, next to the Paint Creek. Note: you must cross under the same bridge after the Municipal Park nav.

CP14 – Required. Bike drop in the Rochester Municipal Park next to the parking lot at the West end of the park.

Nav at Municipal Park: Drop your bike, and show your passport to the volunteer. Points may be obtained in any order.

CP15 – Near the trail at Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve

CP16 – Near the trail at Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve

CP17 – On the North side of the Paint Creek, East of pedestrian bridge.

Navigate back to the bike drop, turn in your passport, get your bike, and check in back at CP13 before going under Main Street and navigating North to Stony Creek. The recommended route is to take the sidewalk on the East side of Main to one of the East-West residential streets. Go one block Eastto Mahaffy, North to the end at the Elementary School, through the parking lot North and East, then North to Tienken, East on the pathway to Sheldon, then North on Sheldon. You may also cut through the small subdivision North of Tienken. Do not ride on Tienken Rd.

Stony Creek Mountain Bike: Points CP18 – CP20

Half-size CP flags, with no punches, are located where shown on the map, as CP18a&b, CP19a&b, CP20a&b. These six markers are posted to help those not familiar with the trails. Each “A” marker indicates that you are on the right trail. Each “B” marker means that you should have collected the point, and you must determine where to go next.

CP18 – Next to the trail, between half-size markers CP18a and CP18b, in “The Pines” section of trail.

CP19 – Next to the trail, between half-size markers CP19a and CP19b, in“The Snake” section of trail.

CP20 – Required. Bike drop at the top of Mt Sheldon.

Stony Creek Nav: Drop your bike, and show your passport to the volunteer. Nav points may be obtained in any order.

CP21 –Hilltop CP22 – Bottom of stairs, in an old foundation.

CP23 – In the middle of a low-lying areaCP24–In thicket on hilltop (tough CP)

CP25 – Next to the trail, between half-size markers CP25a and CP25b, in “The Rollercoaster” section of trail.

After collecting CP25, proceed by bike the most direct route to the Stony Paddle bike drop, at the boat rental area in “Mt. Vernon” picnic area. Drop your bike, check in, and punch your passport.

CP26 – Required. At boat rental area in Mt. Vernon picnic area.

Stony Creek Lake Paddle: Points accessible from canoe.

CP27– Along shore of lakeCP28 – Along shore of lake

After collecting paddle CPs, return to CP26, check back in with the volunteer, get back on your bike, and proceed.

Bike back to Bloomer:

CP29 – In a dense thicket of three Hawthorn trees, next to park road.

Exit Stony Creek Park South, which puts you on Shelby Rd. Cross 25 Mile Rd, and take Macomb Orchard Trail, 100 m South of 25 Mile Rd on West side of Shelby Rd. Note: Some portions of Shelby Rd and Macomb Orchard Trail are on no map. Macomb Orchard Trail turns into Clinton River Trail at Dequindre.

CP30 – Hanging from Clinton River Trail bridgeover Stony Creek

Bike Drop and Final Nav: CP31 – CP38 May be obtained in any order.

Drop your bike in the bike corral, thencheck in at CP31, required,and show your passport to the volunteer.

CP32 –On steep hill near stairsCP33–Adjacent to oxbow

CP34 – In deep reentrant with streamCP35– Low, flat area in loop of trail

CP36 – Edge of low, flat area near trailCP37 – Wooded flat area

CP38 – Near bottom of stairs, in thicket next to body of water.

Check in at the Start / Finish Table and turn in your passport to the finish line volunteer. Your time will be marked when both members of your team arrive at the finisher’s table and your passport is turned in. Congratulations! You have finished the Fall Challenge Adventure Race!