Deer Lake North Weekly Virtual Training

Organizers: Kate Karamycheva (Event Director), Luba Karamysh (Assistant), Robyn Rennie (Controller), Joanne Woods (Membership), Ann Karamysh (Assistant)

Map: Deer Lake North

NOTE - Burnaby has made the main trail around Deer Lake a one way trail. You can no longer park at the Beach Parking lot and get to the start location of this event. Use one of the alternate parking lots. This also means that some of the legs will be against the flow of the foot traffic. Please be mindful of this and avoid completing any legs that will be in conflict with the new rules. See map here

This week we are having a Virtual WET at Deer Lake. There are two courses: Short (2.6 km) and Long (4.0 km). The terrain is mostly park and urban, so both courses are suitable for beginners, but experienced orienteers will also enjoy a sprint-type event with plenty of route choice.

The courses are set in the north part of the park, so you are welcome to jog around the lake for a warm up or a cool down. The park is beautiful this time of the year, so enjoy the flowers, spring shrubs and the views!

There is a large parking lot just north of Shadbolt Centre, as well as a smaller lot next to the Burnaby Art Gallery. You can also use the large parking lot by the beach; however, you cannot use the trail leading to the start as it is now one-way going the opposite way.

Start and Finish are on the boardwalk trail south-west from the Hart House Restaurant. See pin on the map below. If using a paper map, it is in the bottom right corner of the map. If using the app, you can use the Go to Start feature once you’ve parked and walking towards the start.

Please keep in mind that the boardwalks and park trails may be busy as lots of people are out now that the weather is getting better. Try your best to maintain adequate social distancing at all times.

In the last couple of weeks we have been using an app called MapRunF that adds some interest to the virtual Orienteering experience. The app can be used with this event also. (- after a lot of help from Daniel Widmann and the MapRunF developer). Notes on how to set up the app are attached HowTo.pdf. Basically the app allows the phone to trace your route around the course and beep when you pass a virtual control location. Sometimes it beeps before you get to the actual location, sometimes after you leave, and, if your phone is like mine, it sometimes doesn’t beep at all. However, with our testing we have found that it works more often than it doesn’t, so it provides some interest to your training. Let me know how you find it and whether it makes you more likely to participate. You can still use a printed map and keep the phone in your pocket. Or you can forgo a paper map and just use your phone. The app doesn’t have control descriptions, but on the other hand you can zoom into the map on your phone, which makes it easier to navigate. The app will give you a track and a time at the end. Don’t worry if it shows you have mispunched – this seems to be a common result.

Remember that these events are to be run/walked individually obeying all the social distancing recommendations currently in place. However, for your personal safety please let somebody know where you are and what you are doing. These are not sanctioned events; we don't retain any liability for participants. This is a do it at your own risk, training suggestion.

Location