Backwoods Orienteering Klub

BHC 12/13/25	Start	Cache 1	Cache 2	Cache 3	Cache 4	Cache 5	Cache 6	Cache 7	Cache 8	Finish
Carl Laniak	0:00	1:10	2:18	3:44	5:02	5:36	7:45	9:25	DNF	11:40
		no GPS	no GPS	no GPS	no GPS	no GPS	no GPS	no GPS	—	—
		2	2	2	2	2	2	2	0	14
Matt Kirk	0:00	1:10	2:18	3:44	5:02	5:36	7:45	9:25	DNF	12:12
		no GPS	no GPS	no GPS	no GPS	no GPS	no GPS	no GPS	—	—
		2	2	2	2	2	2	2	0	14

What: navigate over 40 miles throughout Birkhead Mountains Wilderness to complete the Birkhead Hiking Challenge (BHC) unplugged i.e. without GPS, essentially a reveal cache-o. Each of the 15 hidden caches provides coordinates to the next.

When: Check-in and map handout begins at 6:30 am Saturday, December 13th. Start window from 7 am to 12 pm noon. Those trying to complete the challenge should start as early as possible to maximize daylight.  Take caution with hunters, wear blaze orange. Carry lighting plus adequate supplies to remain safe and comfortable for the duration you might be out there. This event is finished 24 hours after its start at 7 am Sunday, December 14th. BE BACK BY THEN, otherwise you lose all your points (see scoring).

Where: 1725 Gray Owl Road, Asheboro, NC. Part of BOK gathering. Consider camping and/or participating in the other weekend orienteering events.

S/F: N 35° 37.91 W 079° 52.93 |

Cache 1: N 35° 37.033 W 079° 54.250

Who: open to self-sufficient navigators. 

REGISTER BY 8 PM THURSDAY, 12/11 TO ENSURE YOU GET A MAP SET.

Why: navigation, endurance, etc.

How: read this geocache page created and maintained by Ranger Fox. Use print maps to plot coordinates (degree, decimal minutes) in the field. You can and should carry GPS devices (i.e. phone plus external battery) for safety and verification. Livelox will be used for this purpose. However, you are challenged to NOT interact with these devices for navigational assistance while out there (see scoring).

Instructions for participants:

1. Download Livelox Recorder (ios, android) app. Bring a power bank to charge device.
2. When you arrive, sign in with either Matt K. (6:30-7 am) or Joseph (7 am-12 pm).
3. Collect maps and plot the coordinates for S/F and cache 1 (above).
4. Activate Livelox Recorder. Enter six-character code MH3387, begin recording your track.
5. Start the challenge. BE BACK BEFORE 7 AM SUNDAY, or lose all your points.
6. Avoid hypothermia. Carry layers and use them when needed, such as at ground zeroes.
7. Sign in upon return to S/F. Participants arriving back between 9 pm Saturday and 7 am Sunday will see special instructions on how to sign in at the finish. Please self-report your score by filling out the following form: https://forms.gle/NYGSfPaWy3of68Qz9

Rules:

1. Be self-sufficient.
2. Don’t use GPS to navigate
3. Zero impact (Leave No Trace).

Scoring: to date, no one has yet to complete the BHC in one continuous hike. It’s not meant to be a competition, but because this unplugged version discourages GPS assist and imposes a 24-hour time limit, the following rubric will be implemented based on the honor system. Each cache found without GPS assist is 2 points. Each cache found with GPS assist is 1 point. No one wants to worry about you, please use Livelox and BE BACK BY 7 AM SUNDAY, or lose all points. Because our paths may not cross, please self-report your score by filling out the following form: https://forms.gle/NYGSfPaWy3of68Qz9

Maps: registrants will get four (4) orienteering map sheets covering the entire Birkhead Mountains Wilderness. Sheets will be printed in color, three 8.5×14 and one 8.5×11, all in landscape at 1:15000 and oriented to TN with prominent 0.1 minute grid and faint MN meridians. Sheets are titled by latitude minute. They are not printed on waterproof paper, protect them with bag/case. Bring a writing utensil. A ruler and magnifying glass might be useful. Other paper maps and barometric altimeters are permitted. Here is a FS topo set (below) free to print and use. This set may be handy if using an altimeter:

1. BHC Latitude 37-38+ minutes (8.5×14) 
2. BHC Latitude 36-37 minutes (8.5×14) 
3. BHC Latitude 35-36 minutes (8.5×14) 
4. BHC Latitude 34-35 minutes (8.5×11)

The magenta border line in the west of your orienteering map set indicates the Thornburg Farm area. For this portion of the maps, only contour lines are georeferenced. All other mapped objects in Thornburg (e.g., trails, boulders, stream bends, etc.) are not georeferenced. They may be mapped with 0-30 meters of inaccuracy.

Example:

In this image, note how the mapped gully does not lie within the mapped reentrant. In this case, the reentrant (i.e., contour line) is what’s georeferenced. The mapped gully can still inform you about its shape. You can also assume that the nearby rock features are also displaced south by about the same amount as the gully.

On all portions of the map other than Thornburg Farm, every mapped feature is georeferenced.

Expectations: locating all fifteen caches and plotting coordinates will consume several hours. Add to that the travel time on foot (much of it cross country) and you can understand how this challenge could take 24 hours. Expect to spend a significant time outside of your physical and mental comfort zone.

If there is a mass start, expect a bottleneck, or slinky effect at ground zeroes. Consider writing down coordinates, replacing the cache and leaving before plotting on your map to minimize time showing off the location to others.

Expect caches to be time consuming to find. Per BHC: “If there are many rocks around the area, look around for the piles. Some will be obvious while it might take a little searching for others. You might have to remove six rocks to get at the container. Just be sure to secure the cache when you’re done. None of the stages are hidden to be difficult or malicious, but you will have to look around for some.”

You can expect it to take at least twice as long to find caches in the dark.

Below is a photo of a BHC cache (most are small camouflaged “LocknLock” containers) and a photo of a laminated coordinate sheet. You may find it beneficial to team up on searches. This is permitted. Note that any interaction with a participant using GPS assist means that you are using it as well. You can quit anytime, but you must first report back to Gray Owl S/F.

Practice: If you want to practice plotting coordinates, you can print off a practice map (8.5×11). Note that it’s using an older 0.25 minute grid overlay, but it’s still good practice. With just a ruler and the map, try plotting the 7 coordinates below and see how close you get with the answer key. Ideally, you want to plot and attack with an accuracy of about 0.01 minute, or 15 square meters.

1. N 35° 37.735 W 079° 54.496
2. N 35° 37.511 W 079° 54.670
3. N 35° 37.311 W 079° 54.696
4. N 35° 36.990 W 079° 55.225
5. N 35° 36.793 W 079° 55.044
6. N 35° 36.790 W 079° 54.915
7. N 35° 36.721 W 079° 54.713

Filed under: Event Results by Joseph