Fishbones - Stage 1
The Pits of Despair
Monday, August 17
Hillsborough, New Brunswick
The first stage of the three-stage Fishbones competition. A second shot at the fabulous and infamous Hillsborough "Pits of Despair" terrain. A casual atmosphere allowing runners to start at their own time, and to enjoy this new map of this famously unique and challenging terrain.
SCHEDULE
Registration desk open: noon (or as soon as possible after Hopewell Rocks)
Start times: first start is 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Max time allowed: 2 hours
Course closes: 5:00 pm
No awards for Fishbones individual stages.
MAP SNIPPET & TERRAIN PHOTOS
Hillsborough, New Brunswick
The first stage of the three-stage Fishbones competition. A second shot at the fabulous and infamous Hillsborough "Pits of Despair" terrain. A casual atmosphere allowing runners to start at their own time, and to enjoy this new map of this famously unique and challenging terrain.
SCHEDULE
Registration desk open: noon (or as soon as possible after Hopewell Rocks)
Start times: first start is 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Max time allowed: 2 hours
Course closes: 5:00 pm
No awards for Fishbones individual stages.
MAP SNIPPET & TERRAIN PHOTOS
MAP INFO
Hillsborough
ISOM
Scale: 1:7500 scale
Contours: 5m
Size: 8.5 x 11
Updated: Marcello Pradel, 2014
Elevation: 100m
Last major events: 2000 Eastern Canadian Orienteering Championships
Previous version of the map available here.
COURSE LENGTHS & DETAILS
Click here to see all the course details
TERRAIN DESCRIPTION
The Hillsborough map is truly awesome! A very unique and complex terrain, the result of gypsum mining many years ago. There are areas where the mining was that are now dense with sink holes - so it is a fascinating forest with technical negative terrain. Time loss is inevitable! But time loss will also be limited as you are never far from a track. There is also a variety of less complex terrain, and areas littered with a complex maze of ponds. So there will be a lot of variety in the courses, and the area will support two wonderfully enjoyable days of orienteering - the COC Middle on Sunday and the Fishbones Day 1 on Monday.
OFFICIALS
Course planner: David Ross, ONB
Controller: Jim Blanchard, OANS
ARENA INFORMATION
Vendors: O-Store
Food: there will be limited snacks available at the finish
Water: there will be limited water available at the finish. Bring plenty with you.
Toilets: Porta potties in the arena area and at the start
Distance & Time from Arena to Start: Walk from parking to start of Fishbones 1 is 850 metres
Distance & Time to Arena from Parking: Parking will be along a public road, about 1.0 - 1.5km walk along a forest road to the arena (approx. 30m climb)
DIRECTIONS TO ARENA
Map to the Fishbones 1 event.
The driving distance from the Junction of Main St. (hwy 114) and Golf Club road in Village of Hillsborough to the parking for all events is 3.5km. The Golf Club House is at kilometer 2.2 km. GPS N 45o 53.852, W 64o 39.650
Parking will be along a public road, about 1.0 - 1.5km walk along a flat forest road to the arena.
Hillsborough
ISOM
Scale: 1:7500 scale
Contours: 5m
Size: 8.5 x 11
Updated: Marcello Pradel, 2014
Elevation: 100m
Last major events: 2000 Eastern Canadian Orienteering Championships
Previous version of the map available here.
COURSE LENGTHS & DETAILS
Click here to see all the course details
TERRAIN DESCRIPTION
The Hillsborough map is truly awesome! A very unique and complex terrain, the result of gypsum mining many years ago. There are areas where the mining was that are now dense with sink holes - so it is a fascinating forest with technical negative terrain. Time loss is inevitable! But time loss will also be limited as you are never far from a track. There is also a variety of less complex terrain, and areas littered with a complex maze of ponds. So there will be a lot of variety in the courses, and the area will support two wonderfully enjoyable days of orienteering - the COC Middle on Sunday and the Fishbones Day 1 on Monday.
OFFICIALS
Course planner: David Ross, ONB
Controller: Jim Blanchard, OANS
ARENA INFORMATION
Vendors: O-Store
Food: there will be limited snacks available at the finish
Water: there will be limited water available at the finish. Bring plenty with you.
Toilets: Porta potties in the arena area and at the start
Distance & Time from Arena to Start: Walk from parking to start of Fishbones 1 is 850 metres
Distance & Time to Arena from Parking: Parking will be along a public road, about 1.0 - 1.5km walk along a forest road to the arena (approx. 30m climb)
DIRECTIONS TO ARENA
Map to the Fishbones 1 event.
The driving distance from the Junction of Main St. (hwy 114) and Golf Club road in Village of Hillsborough to the parking for all events is 3.5km. The Golf Club House is at kilometer 2.2 km. GPS N 45o 53.852, W 64o 39.650
Parking will be along a public road, about 1.0 - 1.5km walk along a flat forest road to the arena.
RACE NOTES
Course 4 and 5 on FB are longer at a distance of 3.8 and 5.4 km sort of a extra long middle with water on the course. Even course 1 and 2 are over 3 km! Course 3 FB may seem very short however a further taste of the pits with the majority of the controls being located in the same area used for the Canadians will delight those who wish a technical challenge.
SAFETY NOTES
The Hillsborough venue will take place on a new map, White Rock, name after the distinct white gypsum that is found throughout the area. The gypsum was mined commercially up to 1978 and shortly afterwards in 1980 it was permanently closed.
The area is physically littered with sink holes from the collapsing underground mines. The sink holes make it unique from other maps. The following are known dangers:
Course 4 and 5 on FB are longer at a distance of 3.8 and 5.4 km sort of a extra long middle with water on the course. Even course 1 and 2 are over 3 km! Course 3 FB may seem very short however a further taste of the pits with the majority of the controls being located in the same area used for the Canadians will delight those who wish a technical challenge.
SAFETY NOTES
The Hillsborough venue will take place on a new map, White Rock, name after the distinct white gypsum that is found throughout the area. The gypsum was mined commercially up to 1978 and shortly afterwards in 1980 it was permanently closed.
The area is physically littered with sink holes from the collapsing underground mines. The sink holes make it unique from other maps. The following are known dangers:
- Caves: The caves are out of bounds. A) The roofs are unstable and B) the bats occupying the caves are endangered species and are protected. The population of bats in the area have almost vanished because of the White-Nose syndrome.
- Orange fencing: The orange fencing marks the location of openings in the ground that drop into the underground mine and holes that disappear underground. Example Vertical Mine shaft.
- Pits: There are many pits on the map. The pits are over 1 metre deep and many are over 1.4 metre deep and some over 3 metre deep.
- Depressions: There are numerous depressions in the area caused by the collapsing mine. Avoid going into them as some have unstable bottoms.
- Parking: Park only in designated parking areas. There are areas that do not support heavy loads.
Formerly gypsum mining was done. If you see orange stay out due to an open mine shaft.