Ranch Club - Night Event

Kick off the 2022 orienteering season with a night event at the Ranch Club! 

Date and Time

The event will take place Saturday, January 29 between 6:00pm-8:00pm. Please arrive at your assigned time slot in order to help us run things smoothly and safely. The Ranch Club's restaurant will be open during and after the event. Come grab a bite once you are done! If you are interested in dining, please call the Ranch Club restaurant at 406-532-1019 for reservations. It's prime rib night so the dining could get busy!

Location

The event will be staged at the Ranch Club in Missoula. 

Format

This event will feature a choose-your-own-adventure format. Once you start, you will have 60 minutes to find as many checkpoints as you can, in whatever order you like. The checkpoints will be spread out all over the map and will have reflective flags for ease of finding at night. You can choose to ski, snowshoe, or run your way around the course - the choice is yours!

Registration

First-timers: Free

Standard event entry fee: $15 per individual; maximum of $30 for group*

Member event entry fee: $5 for members; maximum of $10 for member group

Junior entry fee: $5 for youth aged 12-20

Kid entry fee: Free for kids under 12

Volunteer discount: Free for anyone who volunteers at a given event

Extra map for any additional group member who wants one: $2

Second course: Free

Compass rental: Free

Grizzly Orienteering is offering annual memberships for individuals and families. A membership gives discounts on event entries, priority registration for certain events, and access to skills clinics throughout the year. The cost for an individual membership is $35, and for a family $50.* 

* Membership prices are subject to change during 2022.

Covid-19 Precautions Please wear masks the entire time you are in the registration, start, and finish areas. Hand sanitizer will be available at check-in.For the purposes of beginner instruction, you will be assigned to one  of our experienced volunteers. Please respect their space and maintain  proper social distancing.

Equipment  We will provide specially created maps with pre-printed courses for each participant. We will also provide loaner compasses. Please return these when you are done. The compasses will be sanitized after each use. Wear clothing that is comfortable for activities in the woods and  off-trail and appropriate for the expected temperatures. Please bring your own snacks and hydration. A limited supply  of single-serving snacks will be provided, but due to Covid-19  precautions, selection and supply will be limited. Also due to Covid-19  precautions, water will NOT be provided. Please bring an adequate  supply of liquid.

Beginner Instruction Beginner instruction will be provided by several experienced orienteers. If this is your first event, take a look at the "Newcomers" section of our website to get an idea of what to expect: https://www.grizzlyorienteering.org/newcomers .

Start and Finish You will need to check in with one of our volunteers at registration  before proceeding to the start. Our volunteers will provide you with the  appropriate map, a loaner compass if needed, and a loaner electronic  timing chip and will keep track of  who is out and doing which course. When you have found all the controls  on your course, return to the finish and check in with a volunteer  there. Even if you decide to quit your course before finding all the  controls, please check in at the finish so we do not go out searching for you.

Electronic "punching"

An e-punch records your race. At each control, you’ll dip the e-punch  into an electronic box, which will beep and flash as confirmation.  After you finish, you’ll download the e-punch at the download tent and  get a receipt that shows which controls you visited and how long you took  between each; these are your “splits.”

Part of the fun of orienteering is comparing your splits with people  who completed the same course, and discussing the routes you took!