Discussion: Start planning now!!!

Hi all.

We are very excited to be offering a second iteration of the Missoula events as part of the Pacific Northwest Orienteering Festival!! We had such a great time in 2022 and we are hoping for better weather as we share two new maps and host 4(!!) NREs (pending sanctioning).

Due to an unfortunate overlap of open weekends for the venues, the Missoula weekend of PNWOF is the same weekend as the Missoula Marathon. This is one of the busiest weekends in town, so please complete transportation plans early! Missoula is a small airport and the flights and rental cars will fill up.

We will be offering lodging at Lubrecht as well as bussing for the Friday event. If you prefer not to stay at lubrecht, we suggest booking rooms in town early.

We're excited to host this event and hope to see many of you in June! Please reach out to us if you need help with anything as you plan to come to this event!

Safe to assume the option of camping "in-vehicle" will be available at Lubrecht as it was in '22?

Yep!!

Are there other (tent) camping options there?

At Lubrecht? Sure. Just find a spot and put up a tent. You can have access to the bath house and kitchen.

Lots of good VRBO choices in Missoula... LOTS. Seems like good prices for that week, also.

Is there an event website yet? Something a bit more official than an AP forum post? Beginning to think about summer plans and it's a bit much to ask for travel commitments with major costs and time off requirements, on an event that perhaps is not official. I know this is tough in the O world considering all volunteer based to get work done ahead of time, but I feel like this is something that needs to be normalized as it's getting out of hand across many regional and national events lately to expect people to put their money behind something that doesn't have all the details and also possible to fall thru and expect you to register a few weeks before a major event. A national event should be details published 6 months and regional event 3 months in advance in my opinion. Registration doesn't necessarily need to open that early, but a timeline put forth certainly.

Closest airport for all events?

Spokane airport for the first 4 (June 22-25 events). Missoula airport for the last 4 (June 27-30 events).

Despite Cascade hosting the first two events, Seattle is actually further away from the Cascade events than Missoula is.

@MIclimber: Good question! Both the event website and registration should be launched imminently. All six NRE events are in sanctioning right now and are expected to be approved for NRE status within the next couple of days.

Thanks Boris and I'm not picking on this event per say, it just happens to be in front of me at the moment. Based on it's previous history and what I could find online all appears to be legit, but for those event organizers out there looking to bring in people from far and wide to these types of events, know that people are highly skeptical if details are not published and they have never been to your events before and only people that are OCD are going to seek out your event more than once. Other carefree people are likely to not spend time searching and give up, forget, move on to something else...

@MIclimber: Nah, I don't think you are picking on this event, and I totally agree with you. Information should be out there as early as possible.
I have put up the info that's available for each of the events here: https://www.grizzlyorienteering.org/upcoming-event...

Thanks Boris, I plan to be there. On the other hand, I've basically given up on the Pan-American Masters Games, as there is no information on where the races will be or what the terrain will be like.

Ross, there was a tiny bit of info on the P-AMG venues in a different thread: https://www.attackpoint.org/discussionthread.jsp/m...

Can we get some clarity on the opening dates? The COC website lists a Friday 6/21, but then says 6/22-6/23. Why not say 6/21-6/23? And this thread doesn't mention 6/21. Yes, sorry I am that guy...

https://cascadeoc.org/marmot-o-cup/

I think an informal training event was just added for June 21st, but hopefully someone from Cascade can confirm.

https://cascadeoc.org/marmot-o-cup/

Looks like they are planning on a simple little low-key race at Fishtrap (which is west of Spokane by about 35 minutes) on Friday the 21st. The "official" races that are looking for NRE sanctioning are on Sat-Sun.

Just noticing about the marathon also being on Sun 6/30, the same day as the sprint at U of MT. Is there any thought of moving this to another day? Seems like that is going to be problematic, especially for those of us that would want early starts so we can get to the airport. Looking at the marathon course route, it blocks most of the ways back across the river and the ability to get to the airport.

Hi Steve, good question.

The marathon does not block the route to the airport at all, as neither Broadway nor I-90 are affected. This should not be an issue.

The staging area for the marathon is close to the UM campus, but they have repeatedly assured me that they will be completely done and cleared out by 6am on Sunday.

While it is not ideal to have PNWOF coincide with the Missoula Marathon, it was the only timing that worked to get all the venues we wanted to use. We do not anticipate any disruptions to your racing or travel plans due to the marathon. The only thing I would say, is to book lodging early if you want to stay in Missoula. However, we have the entirety of the Lubrecht camp reserved, including lodge rooms and cabins.

Here is the best route from the UM campus to the airport: https://maps.app.goo.gl/B6X7pMaLw5CS9GBW6

This is only a few blocks away and that route back via Broadway to I-90 is probably going to be a nightmare with thousands of people coming and going that same way, with the race starting at 6am and the course not closing until 130pm which says you can't cross. Statistically most people should be leaving the area between before 11, so that's a plus.

But ok, understood, will have to deal with the traffic. Good on lodging already thanks, yes, the rentals are starting to dry up for sure for anyone else not yet started.

There were about 1,000 participants in the Missoula Marathon last year. Typical UM football games get about 25,000 fans, and only minor disruptions to the traffic, so I truly don't think you need to worry about big delays getting to the airport after the orienteering race on Sunday.

Is there any swag/tshirts?

Yup. Every participant gets a free gift (not a T-shirt).

Ok. Noticed the new logo and didn’t see a shirt option during reg. I do these for the shirts doesn’t everyone? :)

If you're traveling between Spokane and Missoula and like ice cream, Panhandle Cone and Coffee in downtown Couer d'Alene is highly recommended...one of the best homemade ice creams I've tasted in the country.

Hi Boris, would it possible to make the google map with locations open/shareable/downloadable, so we can add / create our own local map? Thanks

I was able to copy the map and make my own.

Now I'm looking for activities suggestions. Anyone from the area or been to Spokane/Missoula before have some ideas for post events, activities, tours, or sights that are must do while in the areas? Also favorite restaurants?

Thanks
Steve

Oops, I dropped the ball on responding to the google map question. Sorry about that!

Glacier National Park is "in the neighborhood" and is unbelievably spectacular.
Closer to Missoula, I recommend the National Bison Range.
If you like water, Missoula is great for river floating, stand-up paddleboarding, tubing, kayaking, etc, with several places to rent equipment in town.

Closer to Spokane, I have had consistently great luck with wildlife viewing at the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, especially close to dusk.

I don't like cities, but Spokane is perhaps my favorite city. Downtown is cool (numerous dining options), and the park down at the river is worth checking out.