40 mile (64k) Birkhead Hiking Challenge
What: navigate over 40 miles throughout Birkhead Mountains Wilderness to complete the Birkhead Hiking Challenge (BHC) without GPS assist (essentially a sequential reveal cache-o). Each of the 15 hidden caches provides coordinates to the next.
When: briefing at 6:30 am Saturday, December 13, start at 7 am. Carry lighting and supplies for over 12 hours (time limit 24 hours). Take caution with hunters, wear blaze orange.
Where: S/F at 1725 Gray Owl Road, Asheboro, NC. Part of larger BOK gathering. Consider camping and/or participating in the other weekend orienteering events.
Who: open to self-sufficient navigators. Register below, contact me if you have questions.
[INSERT REGISTER LINK HERE]
Why: navigation, endurance, etc.
How: read this geocache page created and maintained by Ranger Fox. For this event, each cache is worth 2 points. Use a print map and ruler to plot coordinates (degree, decimal minutes) in the field. I have made a set of maps (2 x 1:15000, 11×17). Here’s the 2016 FS Topo version: NE BHC and SW BHC. An O-map version is available for BOK registrants.
Participants can carry GPS devices (i.e. phone plus external battery) for emergency and tracking/verification. Participants must for the duration of this challenge keep all such devices silenced in an “unplugged pouch” (sealed bag, provided). If you open it prior to finishing the challenge, you lose half your points. Livelox will be used for verification.
Rules:
- Be self-sufficient.
- Don’t use GPS to navigate
- Zero impact (Leave No Trace).
- N 35° 37.735 W 079° 54.496
- N 35° 37.511 W 079° 54.670
- N 35° 37.311 W 079° 54.696
- N 35° 36.990 W 079° 55.225
- N 35° 36.793 W 079° 55.044
- N 35° 36.790 W 079° 54.915
- N 35° 36.721 W 079° 54.713
Registrants get two 11 x 17″ print orienteering maps of the BHC area at 200+ dpi and 1:15000; 5m (glitchy lidar) contours; quarter minute grid overlay; 0.1 minute long. = 1 cm; 0.1 minute lat. = 1.2 cm (ruler and magnifying glass will be useful). Maps are not printed on waterproof paper, protect them with bag/case; consider mini umbrella for plotting. Other maps and barometric altimeters permitted.
Finding all fifteen caches and plotting coordinates at best will consume a few hours. Add to that the travel time on foot (much of it cross country) and you can understand why 12 hours is an optimistic timeframe. You can expect to spend a significant time outside of your physical and mental comfort zone on this challenge.
What you’re looking for:
Challenge dynamics: if there are multiple participants, 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.
You may find it beneficial to team up on searches. This is permitted. Many caches will be difficult to find. Note that any interaction with a participant using GPS assist means that you are using it as well. Remember, keep all GPS devices silenced and in “unplugged pouch” for full points.
You can quit the challenge before completing it, but you must first return to Gray Owl S/F to check in with the designated organizer. If you don’t want to lose any points for the caches you visited, you must also show your sealed “unplugged pouch” to the designated organizer before opening it.
Participants arriving between 9pm Saturday and 7am Sunday will see special instructions on how to sign in at the finish.
A prize will be awarded to the highest scoring team/individual.
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