Location
Silas Condict County Park
100 Kinnelon Rd
Kinnelon, NJ 07405
Silas Map Adventure is an annual orienteering event co-sponsored by
Kinnelon Boy Scout Troop 277 and Hudson Valley Orienteering
(In honor of late Kinnelon resident, Boy Scout ASM, and Silas Map Maker, Bjorn Waalberg).
What is ORIENTEERING?
Orienteering is a fun sport which is something like a race with a treasure map. During a run or hike in our beautiful park, participants find checkpoints with the help of a map and a compass. Since you use map-reading and compass skills, it is a race that requires using your head to find your way…cunning running! Find all the checkpoints in numerical order the quickest for the win! Or just enjoy the time in this gem of a park.
The beginner course is ~1mile and may take about an hour to finish.
Beginner instruction available (but you must register in advance)
How much: non-members from $10 indiv./$20-30 per group (max 6 per group) (see details below)
What to bring: water, dressed for the weather and a hike/run
in the woods (sneakers might get muddy), a compass if you have one (we
have some to lend you if you don’t). Bring some picnic food to enjoy after your trip. We take donations and serve some hot goodies near the finish line.
Register ahead of time. Registration link here.* Registrations on the day of the event will be processed only in exceptional cases and only using online system (no paper registration).
*If you are an OUSA member, you may use this registration link instead.
So get your group together, figure out a team name and time you want to start and get registered! We look forward to sharing this great activity with you!
Questions can be directed to Event Directors:
Liz Merritt (Boy Scout Troop 277) email Liz
Ching-Hua Chen (HVO) email Ching-Hua
Course Setter: Jeremy Colgan
Registrar: Guy Olsen
Further details about the event
Choose a course for registration
Beginner ("White") - 1.7 km (~1 mile)- 9 controls (controls = checkpoints to find along the way)
Intermediate ("Yellow/Orange") - 2.8 km (~1.75mi) - 13 controls
Intermediate/Advanced ("Green/Brown") - 4.1 km (~2.5 mi) - 12 controls (same as 2019 course)
Advanced ("Red/Blue") - 6.1 km – (~3.8 mi) 23 controls (same as 2019 course)
On all courses you must Sprint to the Finish as fast as possible using a second, simple Sprint Map. At each control in the Sprint to the Finish, there will be no e-punch controls. Instead, you will find a letter. Remember each letter. They will spell a word. Tell the timer at the finish line what the word is. REMEMBER to pick up a new map at the map exchange! Remember to punch the E-punch at the finish flag!
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Event day logistics and social distancing policies
To avoid crowding, we ask that participants arrive and start your course within specified time windows (you can select start window during pre-registration).
Masks must be worn near and around the event center and otherwise worn whenever social-distancing (i.e., 6 feet between people) is not possible to maintain. We will not accept cash payments (only paypal or venmo).
There will be no running water at the park due to the lateness in the season. Portable toilets will be available.
Detailed Cost Schedule
Member rates (HVO and reciprocal clubs)
Individual Adult: $7
Individual Junior (age 20 and under): $5
Group of 2 (regardless of ages): $10
Group of 3 or more (regardless of ages): $15
Non-Member rates
Individual Adult/Junior: $10
Group of 2 (regardless of ages): $20
Group of 3 or more (regardless of ages): $30
All individuals and groups must use an electronic punch (“E-punch”) card on their course.
E-punch Rental: FREE, but we still require a cash deposit or collateral (typically car key, driver license, credit card). One deposit can cover multiple rentals
Compass Rental: FREE, plus deposit
About the map
The Silas Condict map has a 1:7,500 scale, and 3-meter contour intervals; it was last updated in 2015.
About the terrain
Silas is a medium size park that had expanded to the west and south with donated / purchased undeveloped land. Oak, Sassafras and Maple are the primary trees, with a few pine trees near the parking lots or near hill tops. Fall leaf color is near peak, with only a few green leaves left.
One large pond and one or two medium sized swamps are the primary water features, with plenty of side streams and re-entrants to explore. Lots of granite cliffs and rock features for intermediate and advanced courses, but plenty of trails for the beginner courses, although most will have leaf cover.
How to get there
From the interchange of I-287 and NJ Rte 23, take Rte 23 North (I-287 exit 52B). Follow Rte 23 North for about 3.5 miles and take the ramp on the right to Kinnelon Rd / Kiel Ave (it is about 0.5 mi past the pedestrian overpass, just before the next signal). At end of ramp (signal) turn left onto Kiel Ave. Go straight across Rte 23 onto Kinnelon Road, and continue about 1.1 mi to the park entrance (William Lewis Arthur Drive) on the right.
Follow park road about 0.8 mi to parking at the (far) end. Registration will be at the pavilion.
NOTE: Navigation systems/websites might direct you to turn right onto Ricker Rd. Do NOT turn onto Ricker Rd! There is NO vehicular access to the park from Ricker Rd! Instead, continue straight, about 0.2 mi, to the park entrance (William Lewis Arthur Dr).
Google Maps – Use “Silas Condict Park” as destination, or click on the map or link above, in the left column…