HVO/WCOC Winter Series
2025 / 2026
What
Once again, HVO and WCOC are pleased to host a series of bare-bones, time-yourself orienteering races this winter. As with last year, most events offer a Brown, Green and Red course, and participants download the maps from a link posted on HVO’s website. Control flags will be out in the woods for at least four weeks and the events overlap some weekends so you can do two in one day/weekend if you want. You run whenever you want while the flags are out. The races are honor system based with no boxes/punches on the controls, just touch the flag (no remote visual punching!). No beginner’s courses will be available. In case of major snow falls, revised dates may be considered and posted.
How
Maps and additional instructions can be downloaded a few days before the controls are in the woods.
Results
Participants can time themselves and can upload their results directly to the respective Attackpoint.org event pages. Posting splits and GPS tracks are preferred, but not required.
Important
Each participant in any or all of the Winter Series events assumes full responsibility for any and all injuries, losses and damages that he or she incurs while attending or participating in the Winter Series event. Downloading of any map constitutes agreement to the waiver which is available on the download site.
These are training courses and not organized events. Each participant in any or all of the Winter Series events assumes full responsibility for any and all injuries, losses and damages that he or she incurs while attending or participating in the Winter Series events. Please observe all County, State and Federal regulations that may be in place.
Schedule
#1 Dec 20 – Jan 11 – Saxon Woods, White Plains, NY – Stefan Slutsky
Completed.
#2 Jan 3 – Jan 25 - Huntington SP, Redding, CT – Joe Brautigam.
Completed
#3 Jan 11 – Mar 8 – Ward Pound Ridge, Cross River, NY – Geof Connor
Maps Posted R/G/B/O.
#4 Mar 7 – Mar 29 – Five Ponds, Litchfield, CT – Tim Grogean
Maps Posted R/G/B
#5 Mar 7 – Mar 29 – Brooksvale Park, Hamden, CT – Niels (compass training+R/Gr/Br courses)
#6 Mar 21 – Apr 19 – Surebridge North, Harriman, NY – Greg Balter
After all the snow, we hope to continue the Winter Series with two events opening on March 7th. We will provide a weather update next week sometime.
First, Tim Grogean has designed some fun, interesting courses at Five Ponds in Litchfield, CT. The courses utilize the rarely used western part of the map. This is a great opportunity to combine orienteering with an exploration of scenic Litchfield.
The same weekend we will also organize a compass training event at Brooksvale Park in Hamden. To prepare for QOC’s Nationals middle distance race on March 21st, we have prepared the compass training on the flatter part of the map using 5,000 scale maps. In addition, there will be the usual Red, Green and Brown courses as well.
The final event of the Winter Series is planned to be at the northern section of the Surebridge map in Harriman SP. This should be excellent training for the upcoming West Point NRE.