GPS-O Anyone?
Webster Park
The "O" stands for Orienteering ----- and I hope you know what GPS stands for!
Together, the GPS and the "O" mean that you use your GPS to negotiate an orienteering course as you search for specific permanent controls (markers) based on Latitude and Longitude coordinates.
Various orienteering organizations maintain permanent orienteering courses in many cities. For example, the Rochester, NY Orienteering Club has permanent courses set up at Durand Eastman Park, Letchworth State Park, Mendon Ponds Park, and Webster Park. The courses are set up so that a person can take a topographical map, with the location of several controls indicated on the map, then go out and physically locate the controls. They then mark their course punch card (provided with the map) with the letters that are on each control. The orienteer then sends his completed course card to the club and the club issues him an award.
To complete the course, the orienteer has to be able to read a topographical map and use a compass to orient his map properly. Between the compass and the identification of landmarks on the map, he can find the location of each control. Some of the controls are easy to find (on or very near to a trail); some are of a medium difficulty (off trail but on a distinct land feature), and some are still more difficult to locate (off trail with no specific features).
This is a unique opportunity for GPS'ers to become familiar with traditional orienteering while still using their GPS! Through the cooperation of the Rochester Orienteering Club, you will be able to obtain a topographical orienteering map of the course in Webster Park, Durand Eastman Park, Letchworth State Park, and Mendon Ponds Park. These courses have had the Latitude and Longitude recorded for each of the controls. You could use any other maps you have available, but the club maps are very detailed and therefore probably more helpful. The club also has a clue sheet, for each of the points to be found, and a course punch card to document your progress.
The orienteering maps, and other course materials, are available on-line under the course link below or you can purchase the materials at The Map Shop, Northfield Common, 50 State Street, Pittsford, New York 14534, (585) 385-5850.
GPS Location of The Map Shop
N 43 05.404 -- W 077 30.614
As mentioned above, those who complete the course without a GPS are recognized by the club with an award. If you use a GPS, you are not currently eligible for an award.
So … get your GPS, a topo map, a list of clues, your course punch card, and let's do a GPS-O!
WEBSTER PARK - WAYPOINT INFORMATION
(Recorded with a GPSMAP 76S using an external antenna) |
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Waypoint
|
Map Datum - WGS 84
|
Accuracy
of Reading
|
Latitude
(ddd mm.mmm)
|
Longitude
(ddd mm.mmm)
|
| Control #1 |
N 43 15.472 |
W 077 27.512 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #2 |
N 43 15.250 |
W 077 26.815 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #3 |
N 43 15.183 |
W 077 27.743 |
22 Feet
|
| Control #4 |
N 43 14.747 |
W 077 27.620 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #5 |
N 43 15.231 |
W 077 27.573 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #6 |
N 43 15.507 |
W 077 27.078 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #7 |
N 43 15.266 |
W 077 27.070 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #8 |
N 43 15.382 |
W 077 27.477 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #9 |
N 43 15.549 |
W 077 26.896 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #10 |
N 43 15.177 |
W 077 27.202 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #11 |
N 43 15.078 |
W 077 27.708 |
22 Feet
|
| Control #12 |
N 43 14.852 |
W 077 27.774 |
10 Feet
|
| Control #13 |
N 43 14.882 |
W 077 27.582 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #14 |
N 43 14.963 |
W 077 27.449 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #15 |
N 43 14.923 |
W 077 27.736 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #16 |
N 43 14.767 |
W 077 27.267 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #17 |
N 43 14.852 |
W 077 27.674 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #18 |
N 43 15.103 |
W 077 27.332 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #19 |
N 43 14.778 |
W 077 27.455 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #20 |
N 43 15.052 |
W 077 27.603 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #21 |
N 43 15.059 |
W 077 27.181 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #22 |
N 43 14.874 |
W 077 27.314 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #23 |
N 43 15.341 |
W 077 26.889 |
9 Feet
|
| Control #24 |
N 43 15.421 |
W 077 27.677 |
18 Feet
|
| HOW TO LOG YOUR VISIT:
Due to the length of this cache, you may log an entry when you have found 12 or all 24 controls. Your log entry must include the control numbers (not the letters) that you found. In order for the log to stay on the cache page, you will have to verify that you have found the controls by e-mailing or messaging me the control numbers and the corresponding letter for each control. Posts to the cache page which are not followed up with an e-mail or message verifying the results will have to be deleted.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT POST THE LETTERS OF THE CONTROL NUMBERS WHEN YOU LOG YOUR VISIT. ONLY POST THE CONTROL NUMBERS THEMSELVES. THE LETTERS GO IN THE E-MAIL TO ME AND ON THE PUNCH CARD THAT YOU SUBMIT TO THE ROCHESTER ORIENTEERING CLUB, IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO.
I would also suggest that you take a compass with you in case you loose satellite signal.
I hope you enjoy this cache!
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Waypoints:
Right click on the link to download the coordinates in EasyGPS/ExpertGPS format.
You can find out about and download  here.
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Instructions:
Right click here to view the instructions, the hints, and the course punch card in PDF format.
If you don't have a PDF viewer, you can download  here.
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Map Detail
This is a USGS topo map that was generated using Topo! software. The controls are identified by a marker, but they are not numbered. This should help you to navigate around hills, lakes and other obstacles.
Right click on the link to save the Webster Park Map to your computer.
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