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Original Announcement:
Galumph through gorgeous and gritty Golden Gate Park on a "goat" course slightly tweaked from a training session last summer. It was such a hit, we're going to replay it again with a few small modifications. A fork, a butterfly loop, a window (mini-score O) and a skip... that's the format of the goat. The mass start just makes it even funner.
Course Information:
Truly interesting terrain, traversed by a wild 'n crazy course featuring a fork (choose between two checkpoints on the way to the third,) a butterfly loop (splits participants into two groups running the same two loops in different orders,) a window (a section of checkpoints you may visit in any order, like a small score course,) and the skip (you may skip one, and only one, checkpoint throughout the entire course.) Whether you choose the mass start or go solo, I think you'll enjoy it.
Goat statistics: 21 controls, 5.9 km distance, 100 m climb
5.9 km too long? Start the course, and do as much as you like before coming back.
Map Notes
The map has a lot on there. It's decent, but not perfect. The bad areas, I avoid. But I can't make the whole map perfect. Vegetation is generally accurate, but far from razor sharp. Think of everything as a guide - if there's a patch of thick vegetation mapped as dark green, it will be there, but maybe not the exact shape or dimensions it has on the map. Not everything mapped as dark green is truly dark green - some is impenetrable (or you'd be a fool to try) and some you can pick your way through without too much trouble. With the course legs I set, you shouldn't be able to gain too much time by exploiting the vagueness of the map. Trails are generally accurate, but there are numerous unmapped smaller footpaths.
And the scale is 1:7500, with 10 foot contours.
Hazards
I didn't see any poison oak, and I usually notice it. It's definitely in the park, though. But it's never high or super bushy. Usually I take a "poison oak bath" when I get home, but I didn't this time, because I was pretty sure I avoided any. And I'm a paranoid hypochondriac.
Cars. Fortunately, the course does not have you cross roads too much. But when you do, be careful, and put down that map!
People. Give 'em space!
Disc golf players... just keep a heads up if you choose to go through the course area, marked clearly on the map as "Disc Golf Course" in purple ink.
Gear Up
Pants are good to shield yourself from the vegetation. Running shoes are okay most of the way, on one steep slope I wished I had something a little grippier.
Details:
Meetup spot: Tables 10, 11, and 12 in Speedway Meadow.
Registration open: 8:30. Mass start: 9:00 A.M. (don't miss the boat!) You can start later, but no later than 9:30. The organizers need to be out by 10:30 to get down to Stanford, and earlier is better.
Cost $5, or included if you're registered for the whole week.
Directions:
Look for an orange and white control bag hanging from a car on JFK Drive!
From Highway 101 North or Interstate 80 West: Take the 101 North - Golden Gate Bridge exit. Stay on the freeway until it ends on Octavia Blvd in San Francisco. Cross Market and follow Octavia Street a couple blocks to Fell St., and turn left onto Fell. Follow Fell Street west for 1.5 miles, which will bring you to the east end of Golden Gate Park. The third lane from the left continues into the park along John F. Kennedy Drive. Stay on JFK Drive for about 1.5 miles. Shortly after crossing under 19th Avenue, you will see Speedway Meadow on your left (on the south side of JFK Drive.)
From Interstate 280 North: Take the Route 1 North/19th Avenue exit. Continue north on 19th Avenue, then continue straight through the park on Crossover Drive staying in the left lane. Bear left onto Crossover Drive. Turn left onto Transverse Drive, and then a right onto JFK Drive. Speedway Meadow will be on your left (on the south side of JFK Drive.)
From Route 1 South: From the Golden Gate Bridge, follow Route 1 South (Park Presidio Boulevard). Take a right mid-way through Golden Gate Park on Crossover Drive. Turn left onto Transverse Drive, and then a right onto JFK Drive. Speedway Meadow will be on your left (on the sorth side of JFK Drive.)
Public Transit:
The SF Muni 5 Fulton line runs along the north edge of the park, and Speedway Meadow lies between the stops at 25th and 30th Avenues. The N Judah light rail train thingie also runs from downtown along the south edge of the park, and would involve more hiking / jogging / navigating to get to Speedway Meadow. See the map in the next link! SF Muni
Event Contact: Rex, 5 1 0 - 6 8 1 - 6 1 8 1, rex@terraloco.com
Map:
Scale 1:5000, 3m contours
See the map on BAOC's Routegadget page.
Golden Gate Park, City of San Francisco