Welcome to the First Ever* Tierra Trails Geocaching Competition! Inspired by the MOGA competitions held annually in the Midwest, this event is a Geocaching Race with prizes for all who compete.
*I have no idea if this claim is accurate, but seems like it might be.
Rules and Info
This event revolves around a geocaching race. The race is open to all ages, personalities, and geocacher types. Contestants will be given a map of the trails with a list of geocaches hidden specifically for the event. All contestants will have 1-1/2 hours to find as many of the event geocaches as they can and then get back to the Race Headquarters. Points will be awarded based on the number of geocaches found, although not all geocaches will be worth the same amount of points. 1 point is deducted from your score for every 5 minutes past the finish deadline. Prizes will be awarded in order of the competition finishers. Additional details will be explained after event registration on the day of the event. Only travel by foot is allowed (jogging, hiking), no mountain bikes, unicycles, horses, ATVs or use of vehicles of any sort will be permitted. Dogs are welcome though, provided they are kept on a leash.
Event Start and Registration: 8-8:45 AM
The event officially will start at 8am at the posted coordinates. All contestants will be required to register with the Event host. For those who wish to attend the event but not compete, you are more than welcome to come and cheer on the racers. Coffee and donuts will be provided, a "Champions Race Fuel".
Orientation for Contestants and Explanation of Rules: 8:45-9:00
At 8:45 the Official Race Map and list of Event Geocaches will be given to Contestants. This will be the first time that coordinates for the event geocaches will be revealed. Alas, there will be no high-tech way of downloading the coordinates to your GPSr or Phone. Contestants will be required to enter coordinates on their own. Rules and scoring will briefly be explained to all contestants. Contestants are welcome to compete in groups, but each card will be scored individually.
The race will be conducted from 9-10:30. The La Tierrra Trails consist of around 25 miles of trails nestled in the foothills around Santa Fe. The trails run through Pinon and Juniper forest along ridges and arroyos.
Event Scoring: 10:30-11:00
The Event Host will score each contestants score card and determine overall rankings. Contestants and Spectators alike can hang out and socialize while the scoring occurs.
Prizes and Award Ceremony: 11:00-11:30
Prizes will consist of Medals and unregistered Geocoins and Tags. They will be presented to Contestants by some as-yet-determined scheme (there may be categories for sex or age groups, depending on number of contestants).
General Notes from the Event Host
Please post your "Will Attend" log to this page and mention if you will be competing and if so how many people will be in your group.
This event is envisioned as a fun and somewhat competitive geocaching race open to everyone. I have participated in a number of events like this one in the past few years and enjoy them immensely. The challenge of picking a good route, finding sometimes devious hides, and racing against the clock offer a chance t use our geocaching skills in a competitive environment. That said, it is not all about the competition. The La Tierra Trails are a great network of easy trails in a beautiful setting, and even if you are not competing to win, I am confident that geocachers will enjoy the experience. All even geocaches will be published after the event for geocachers to find at their own whim.
The race itself should be treated like you would treat any geoaching outing in the desert. All participants are expected to be prepared to spend the morning outdoors, and bring plenty of sun protection and water. Suitable footwear, and having a cellphone are also strongly encouraged. There is not Race Committee or Geocaching Organization to provide help. Participants are expected to be self-reliant (although of course, Geocachers will always try to help each other out).