Sunday, March 29, 2026

LOCATION

Orchard Beach, The Bronx, NY:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pLEzqhPkSaZgpWCz9

Public transportation: take Pelham Bay Park bound 6 subway to the last stop - Pelham Bay Park station, followed by City Island bound B29 bus (every 20 min) to Orchard Beach Circle and walk from there 3/4 of mile.

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REGISTRATION

Pre-registration will open soon....
 

COURSES 

• WHITE  (Beginners) - 2.0km, 30m, 7 controls

  • Mechanical punching

• ORANGE (Intermediate) - 4.6km, 50m, 11 controls 

  • Electronic punching (SportIdent) 

• GREEN/RED (Advanced) - 8.9km, 110m, 25 controls

  • Electronic punching (SportIdent)

  • Flip the map on control #15

 

MAPS

• WHITE: Scale - 1:5,000, contours - 2.5m. 

  • Paper size - 8.5x11". One side printing.

• ORANGE: Scale - 1:5,000, contours - 2.5m. 

  • Paper size - 11"x17". One side printing.

• GREEN: Scale - 1:5,000, contours - 2.5m. 

  • Paper size - 11x17". Two side printing

 

FEES

No charge for participation. Suggested donations of $10 will be appreciated.

 

TERRAIN

The area used to be several Pelham Islands on the very western part of Long Island Sound. Now they are connected with each other and the mainland. The biggest one was Hunter Island (on the north of the map), Twin Islands (on the east) and Rodman Neck (on the south).Today the former islands are part of a wildlife refuge, the Hunter Island Marine Zoology and Geology Sanctuary. The sanctuary includes rock outcroppings and an intertidal marine ecosystem that is not found anywhere else in New York state.

Geologically, these islands were flattened and smoothed by glaciers - with some boulders and bare rocks. There are plenty of cliffs along the shoreline.

Historically, there were farms on the islands, remnants of which are still visible, though covered by forest.

The forest is mainly open on the north with many paths and trails, while on the south there are many thickets and undergrowth and much less trails.

The area between the former islands now is semi-open with multiple playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball, marshland, a large parking lot (second largest in NYC), and a huge Orchard Beach.

 

EVENT DIRECTOR: Ching-Hua Chen (huaclimbs at gmail)

COURSE SETTER: Stefan Slutsky