Course was advertised as 13K but clue descriptions had it 11.4. So it basically was a Blue course (as evident by Joe Barrett's time). The shorter distance was a huge win for me because 13K was pushing the distance for me. Also nice was that the Long stumble did the short stumble first then another loop. This meant we were with the short stumble people so there were more people to navigate with which was nicer.
I was wearing the camel back which I filled based on doing the whole 13 K by myself. Since we came back through the area I didn't need it as filled. I did sip it so helped keep my hydrated on a hot November day (low 70's and humid).
Route Gadget:
https://www.dvoa.org/cgi/gadget/reitti.cgi?act=map... I got off to a bad start as I started heading to 14 out of the start instead of #1. Quickly realized I was off but this put me futher back in the back then I wanted. Decided to just take it easy and follow the pack. Followed to #1 and #2. At 2 I realized the lead pack was just about out of sight so I started reading the map (everyone now following me).
#3: Cut up to the road parking lot, cut through power line on an animal track. Went to small trail running NW-SE. I intended to take a small trail to the left of the control. Looking at the map I now see that the trail I was planning to take was actually a formline and didn't actually join the trail I was on. The contour color is very dark and easily mistaken for the trail. Someone else asked on the course if the contours on my map were black also. Anyway, I was looking for trail junction that didn't exist so ended up on the wrong trail. I went part way down and realized I was on the wrong trail so cut back up the hill towards the control. Lost some time but not too bad.
Window Order: A-C-B
Decided I would avoid climb and hit A first, the up the more open woods to C and trail to B. (I didn't like the look of A-B route so avoided that.).
A) Cut over to the trail, got onto the correct loop and cut into the woods. Apparently things went bad from there. The control was a charcoal platform but I was looking for a Boulder (stupid me). I was apparently to low and then everything fell apart. I didn't know where I was and floundered. I ran around trying to make sense but wasn't having luck. I saw some large cliffs and hoped they were the ones I though they were and corrected. As I got to where the control should be I saw other people cutting down to it.
C: up the hill to the control
B: Over to the trail. Down the trail. I cut in too soon as it turned out you could see the control from the trail.
7: Straight'ish. I was trying to read the rock as I went and only having moderate success. I saw the control below me and figured that since there were only stumble controls out here it must be mine. Joined up with Matt Smith again.
8: Angled up the hill (Would have been better to go back to the N-S trail.) Hit the trail at the top of the ridge but misjudged where I was. I was at the eastern form line hill instead of the western one so cut into the woods at the wrong spot. Hit the southern trail and was confused. Guessed where I was but didn't go far enough to verify. Still short of the control. Finally went back to the ridge trail, went to the trail junction and cut into the woods. This time the control was there. Person in QOC jersey (who I though was Lydia but turned out to be Addie) was in front of me. Since I was navigating poorly, I decided to just loosely follow them instead since they seemed to be doing better than I.
Window: D-E-F
Doing D first since I was following Addie to opted DEF so F would be a long trail run down the powerline.
D: I got onto a trail system but I didn't trust the trail system and was just reading contours. Addie was too low (or so I thought until she ran right to the control.) I was too high. Good thing I was following her.
E: No problems Got there just as Addie did.
F: Straight. Got there ahead of Addie.
12: trail run, through parking lot, trail across powerline, cut into area where contol should be but didn't see it. As I was standing there, Matt came from the other direction right to the control. Control was visible the way he came but hidded from my approach.
13: Since I didn't trust the trails, I ran back the way I came to the trail through the power line that I knew was there. Matt took the better northern trail and got ahead of me. I caught back up to him on the trail run. I have had this control before so ran right to it.
#14: up across the road and down the reentrant. Matt just in in front of me and he had a better line through the green so I followed him. As we got close to the control I saw Tom Nolan taking the trail heading towards the finish. Then saw Glenn Tryson leaving the boulder (but turned out not to be the one the control was at. Lost little bit of time climbing up the hill to the correct boulder. Matt still with me.
Finish: Decided to just go straight rather than the trail around. Long climb up the hill. Got there about the same time as Matt.
Drank gatorade and had a Gel. Good break. Looking at next map I couldn't tell what the next control was. There were so many lines on the map. I had to ask Brad if we were supposed to punch the spectator control. Brad sad next control was the window.
Window: G-H-I
Decided to take trails to G and play it safe instead of the more optimum H-I-G.
G: Through the two parking lots, down trail, down the hill, cross steam then up over the spur to the control.
H: Down the steep hill and up the steep other side. I was really tired now and the climb was tough. No problem.
I: Followed Cliffs. no problems
#4: I intentionally ran to #5, then to #4, then back to #5.
#6 : Followed lower trail to junction, up trail part way and cut corner to other trail. Followed trails to close to #6. I was little off and hit boulders west of control and had to cut over.
#7: Back to the finish. I took the trail this time.
#8: Around fence to the control.
Window: L-K-J
I was originally going to go J-K-L but when I got to #8 realized I was still at the top of the hill so I the high route to L instead.
L: Up to the parking lot, over to the softball field. No problems.
K: Straight. No problems. Finally able to read the rock.
J: Straight. Rock was making sense.
12: Took the trails. Mostly walking at this point.
Finish. Straight. but I got on the trail and took it around to the parking lot.