Hemlock Havoc
April 19th 2025 11:00am - 1:00pm
Organizer: Paul Bottomley (Event Director)
This will be Barebones style event, meaning the approach will be casual in order to minimize the amount of volunteer capacity required, while still providing an enjoyable event for orienteers.
Note to E2C and B'O'Water competitors: A map for use with declination corrected compasses and UTM coordinates can be made available. Please complete the registration as an advanced competitor and then email the organizer
Registration:
Prior to participating in an event, all participants must have completed the one time Orienteering NS registration form and the Orienteering Canada waiver as part of registration process.
Once membership and waiver are completed, register for courses by completing the process at the registration site.
Please ensure you register via the link on this page by midnight THURSDAY, Apr 17, 2025 to ensure a map is printed for you. On-site check-in will take place on site from 10:00 to 10:45 am.
Last minute registration: This can be done on site, but we typically only have a few extra maps; because we didn’t know you were coming. Also, pre-registration allows the on-site details to move more quickly.
The Schedule:
10:00 Registration Opens
10:15 Beginner Clinic (if required)
10:45 Safety Brief
11:00 (Mass Start)
13:00 Course Time Limit
Start will be nearby the registration table.
The Venue:
Hemlock Ravine Park is 200-acre habitat with opportunities for walking, nature observation, and relaxation; short off-leash area for dogs. The 4-km stacked loop trails offer many routes for jogging and observation of nature in all seasons.
Hemlock Ravine Park | Tourism Nova Scotia, Canada
The Courses:
This will be a Score-O event with a Mass Start and Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner classes.
- Participants will be given their maps at registration. Any time between when you register and the start is available to review the map and plan strategy.
- Competitors enter the course with a Mass Start at 11:00am.
- For a Score O event a series of control points are scattered across a map. Each control point on the map will have a value ranging from 10 to 30 points. Point value varies with difficulty. Most points in the fastest time wins.
- All controls will be open to Advanced competitors. The Beginner and Intermediate maps will be limited only in that a smaller series of the same controls will be presented.
- There will be a time limit to complete the course.
- Distances given below are an estimate only and will vary due to the nature of the event.
- Beginner participants will typically follow marked and easy to follow trails to controls on or near trail for the easiest navigation and shortest distance to cover. Basic map following required. The beginner map will be limited in that controls further from trail or in more difficult terrain will be omitted. 2km.
- Intermediate participants, will exercise route choice along trails while also using map features and basic compass skills to, typically, find controls located on or just off trails with typically clear features nearby that ease navigation. 3km.
- Advanced participants will tackle the entire map on trail and off, following longer route choices through more difficult terrain, streams forests and all; good navigation skills required. 6km.
Note to E2C and B'O'Water competitors: An Advanced map for use with declination corrected compasses and UTM coordinates can be available. Email the organizer.
- A beginner’s clinic may be offered. Let us know via a message to the email address below if you are interested, and we can provide some form of instruction, if not a formal clinic. Please check-in at 10am if you require instruction.
Volunteers:
Help would be appreciated for a few tasks associated with the event (e.g. Beginner clinic, registration, control pickup). Please see here to sign up.
Parking:
Parking will be at Grosvenor Wentworth School, or on the adjacent streets.
Snacks:
A small post race treat will be available, but participants should bring their own water if needed.
Washrooms:
There are no washroom facilities on site. Gas stations and coffee shops are nearby on Kearney Lake Road.
Weather:
We run rain, snow or shine. Local thunder will typically be accommodated by a short delay. That said any weather involving a Hurricane or Tropical Storm coming straight over will result in a reschedule.
Entry Fees:
The following are the fees for this event* (pre-registered), add $5 for day-of registrations:
$10 per adult (21+) participating as an individual
$5 per youth (7-20) participating as an individual
$7 per group/team member if participating as part of a team
Children under 7 participate free
*If you are registering four or more family/household members at the same time (including at least one adult), please use the discount code FAMILY_2025 at checkout to receive a discount.
How to Pay:
In advance (preferred):
- By credit card as part of the registration process
- Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to the following email: nsorienteering@gmail.com
- If you choose this method, complete the online registration process. At checkout, please enter the following coupon code: PAY_EFT_2025 so that you appear on our registration list.
In person:
- In cash; a payment container will be available. Please bring correct change.
- If you choose this method, complete the online registration process. At checkout, please enter the following coupon code: PAY_CASH_2025 so that you appear on our registration list.
Note: all of the above is restated in the registration process.
Need Orienteering Kit before the event? Visit the O-Store!
Questions:
To Paul at bottomley_paul@hotmail.com
Directions:
Event is in Hemlock Ravine in Birch Cove NS just off the Halifax peninsula. Registration and Start Finish will be at the pinned location shown in the map below.
