These practice hunts are getting progressivly more difficult. I will be doing the course setting with Joe and April Moell doing the start/finish. The point-to-point course length will be about 5K. We will have training available starting shortly after I get back from setting out the transmitters :); sometime around 9AM. For you orienteers looking for a challege, this will do it! If you want to find out why this is growing in popularity, we'll also have an easy course where you can learn the ropes ... and then take on the advanced course if you dare!
Marvin
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The next southern California on-foot foxhunt will be Saturday, April 17, in the TravelTown section of Griffith Park in Hollywood. This will be the fourth in a series of local events leading up to the USA ARDF Championships in June. It is open to anyone of any age. There is no charge for participation. A ham radio license and/or knowledge of radio equipment is not required.
If you are a beginner, there will be a practice two-meter fox transmitters and a short 3-fox course just for you. Experts will be on hand to teach you the basic techniques of on-foot direction-finding. For advanced radio-orienteers, there will be a challenging 5-fox two-meter course of about the same length as typical national championship courses. Copies of LA Orienteering Club's excellent orienteering map will be available, so you can practice using map-and-compass techniques while navigating to the foxes.
Practice transmitters will go on the air around 10 AM, and the main multiple-fox hunt will begin soon thereafter. You may start the course at any time before 1 PM. There are plenty of picnic tables, so you can bring your lunch.
This event begins in the Mineral Wells picnic area in the northeast part of Griffith Park. From the 134 freeway eastbound or westbound, take the Forest Lawn Drive exit and go south. Turn left into park area on Zoo Drive towards Travel Town. At the entrance to Travel Town, turn right (south) onto Griffith Park Drive and follow it straight past Mt. Hollywood Drive (gated) on right and then a quarry on the left. You will soon see the picnic grounds (starting area) on your right. Look for signs and an orange-and-white orienteering flag at the starting site. If you see the driving range, you have gone too far.
From I-5 northbound, exit at "Griffith Park." Turn right (north) on
Crystal Springs Drive and continue past the Ranger station on your right and the large picnic areas on your left. At the stop, turn left on Griffith Park Drive and head past the golf clubhouse and driving range to the Mineral Wells picnic area on your left.
A map to the site is at www.homingin.com
A limited amount of radio direction finding gear will be available for loan. If you have receivers, scanners, directional antennas, attenuators, or other equipment suitable for on-foot RDF, be sure to bring it. Make sure all batteries are fresh.
Ham radio talk-in is on 146.97 MHz simplex.
In addition to the two-meter band, international ARDF championships also include an 80-meter band event. At least one optional 80m transmitter (3542 KHz) will be on the air for you to try.
Come on out and try international-style foxhunting!
Joe Moell K0OV USA ARDF Coordinator www.homingin.com