For this fourth and final day of the Tahoe 4-Day event, we will visit Donner Memorial State Park. There will be three courses: Beginner, Short Sprint, and Long Sprint.

Everyone is welcome to participate in this event, including beginners and non-members. Free beginner instruction will be available during the time shown below.

Schedule ↑

The following non-standard event schedule will be followed:

   9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Registration is open
   9:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Beginner instruction is available (free)
 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Starts are open for all the courses
                 12:30 PM: Everyone must have returned to the Finish

Note: Beginners are given their course maps at registration. You should get your map before joining a beginner clinic. Everyone must return to the Finish by 12:30 PM, and then promptly go to the download tent, even if they have not completed their course. Please do not leave without checking in! If there are unaccounted people after 12:30, we must initiate a search for them.

Costs & Registration ↑

Since this is a "special" event, the standard BAOC registration fees do not apply.

The prices for the Tahoe 4-Day Package and for individual events are shown on the main Tahoe 4-Day event webpage. (Be sure to read the notes below the prices table.)

Note: In addition to the BAOC fees, you will need to pay a $10 vehicle day-use fee if you park in the Visitor Center parking lot next to the Assembly Area. (See the parking information below.)

Location of the Event ↑

The event will be in Donner Memorial State Park, near Truckee. The driving directions and parking information are below.

The Assembly Area (Registration, E-punch, etc.) for the event will be next to the Visitor Center parking lot — look for signs and orienteers.

Both the Start and the Finish are short walks from the Assembly Area.

You will need to pay a $10 vehicle day-use fee if you park in the Visitor Center parking lot. (See the parking information below.)

Venue Facilities ↑

There are nice indoor restroom facilities in the Visitor Center, but it does not open until 10 AM. If you arrive at the park before that, you will need to use the porta-potties outside. Or there are some nearby gas stations that can probably accommodate you.

Water will be available near the Assembly Area.

What to Bring ↑

Due to the dry air and altitude, consider taking water on your course even if you normally wouldn't. Don't forget sunscreen and possibly a hat!

For the Beginner course, comfortable outdoors attire and shoes are fine.

For the Short and Long courses, a steeper hillside might be a bit slippery due to dry leaves and loose dirt, so shoes with good grip are recommended. Long pants and/or gaiters should not be necessary.

A compass is not required, but can be very helpful — and can improve safety — so is recommended. We have compasses available for a $1 rental fee.

We time the courses with the SPORTident system, so each entry/team needs to have a SPORTident E-punch fingerstick. If you don't have your own, you can rent one at Registration for $5. (Use of the "E-punch" system is easy. You can learn how at the event, or read about it here.)

Hazards ↑

The biggest hazard will be cars and bicycles on the park roads. Keep your eyes open!

Fortunately, there is no poison oak in the Sierras! 😊

However, deer ticks are found in this area, and they might carry Lyme disease. So, please be sure to check yourself carefully after the event.

You should be mindful of dehydration because the high-altitude air will be dry. That concern will be even greater if the weather is hot. So, you should consider carrying water while on your course.

Also because of the altitude, there will be increased risk of sunburn, so be sure to use plenty of quality sunscreen.

Courses ↑

    Course      Length    Climb  Controls  Navigation
    Beginner    1.7 km     35 m     10     Beginner  
    Short       2.4 km     35 m     14     Advanced  
    Long        3.5 km     55 m     18     Advanced

Beginners should be aware that the distances shown are the cumulative straight-line distances between controls. The climb numbers represent the amount of ascending that would be done on the "optimum route" (in the Course Setters' opinion), without regard for any descending. Because you won't travel in straight lines, and might not follow the optimum routes, your actual distance and climb will be somewhat more than what is shown above, and will depend on your route choices (and any errors you make).

Everyone should be aware that "straight-line" course lengths are given above. (Sprint events often use "best-route" course lengths.)

The maps are 1:5000 scale with 5-meter contours.