Discussion: Flying Pig Information Update

Flying Pig XVII, April 5-7, Bloomington, IN

Register through Sunday, March 24 to avoid late fees.

Preview maps ordered through Tuesday were mailed on Wednesday morning.

Ransburg Map - If you ordered the preview map, you will notice that the colors are very much darker than normal (and as a result the map looks very green). This is the map that ICO has been using since 2002. But, I have now updated the colors to ISOM standard, so for the Pig, the colors will look normal. There is a lot of light green (slow run) on the map, but most of that is practically indistinguishable from white, and generally very fast.

Yellowwood Map. On the website, I described Yellowwood as "densely wooded". I've been asked if I mean that it is thick and slow. The answer is "No", it most definitely is not thick. What I meant is that it is a large, remote forest, with few cultural features other than a few trails and logging cuts. Much of the forest is very open. There has been some selective logging, and there are some big blow-downs in places. But there is very little undergrowth and none of the invasive Asian honeysuckle bushes that ddominate so many parks closer to Cincinnati. There are some wispy thorn briars here and there, but in general they don't snag enough to slow you down. What will slow you is the steepness of some of the terrain. Yellowwood is definitely rugged.

T-shirts - We have some left in all sizes from S to XXL, but order right away to guarantee size, as some sizes will run out soon.

Lodging - Most Bloomington hotels are completely full, including Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn. There are still some rooms at A Summerhouse Inn, but they are no longer guaranteeing the special orienteering rate (ask nicely and maybe they will still give it to you. maybe). For other options, check the event website for a link to Visit Bloomington, or visit the OUSA website for a link to our corporate partner, Choice Hotels.

Friday starts will go from 3 until at least 5. We will try to accommodate late arrivals on Friday. But expect some Friday afternoon traffic getting to the event site.

Looking at the B-town weather forecast, is this going to turn into a ski-O?

We put out about 40 of the deep woods controls today in anticipation of a possible 5 to 9 inches of snow tomorrow and Monday. But we are very close to the rain / snow line, so this might be mostly rain. The next few days will be above freezing by day and below freezing at night, so there should be a gradual melt-off. It should all be gone long before Pig weekend.
Currently they are saying that Indianapolis to Dayton should get 5 to 9 but Bloomington to Cincinnati should get substantially less.

We are continuing to accept registrations without late fee at least through Tuesday March 26. But please be sure to complete the online waiver and payment. Mail-in waivers and payments are more difficult to process with less than two weeks until the event. Please note the March 29 cutoff for any mall to be received at the registrar address.

Friday Sprint. By popular request, starts will be open until 6 pm.

Needed: non orienteering spouses, parents, and others Friday from about 3 pm until 6:30 or 7 pm. Primary duty: patrol sprint course and prevent any controls from being moved or taken. Secondary duty will be safety patrol /assist for any very young juniors who might become disorientated or be bothered by locals on the campus, and tertiary duty will be to report any orienteers flagrantly violating out of bounds areas. Contact Mike Minium if you can help.

Late fees kick in tonight (Thursday) at midnight.

I find myself embarrassed in the whistle department - will you have some for sale at registration or do I need to go looking for one in the Bloomington sporting goods retail sector?

I'm 99% sure we'll have them at registration.

We have some at registration. $1.00 and they have our Flying Pig logo.

Wow, souvenir event whistles! That's kinda cool.