Fourth Annual Jim Plant Memorial Ski-O & Snowshoe-O at Frisco Peninsula

Our first "race" in Colorado for Team Lupine. Our first training Orienteering meet was on a day that could have not been better. Day started at 9 cold degrees and would end up being about 26 and sunny.  This was our second time on snowshoes for any event and found that it was true that it only takes about 5 min to go from beginner to advanced snowshoe'er. We Got to Frisco about 10 min to 9am. Seemed that at least we won this portion "we were the first in the parking lot". went into the Frisco Nordic Center to meet our new club members.  Registration started at 9 and course open at 10. Pwild went with her Osprey Kobe 30 pack and was using the MSR Evo Accents and Zorilla packed his Salomon Advanced Skin 12 Pack and broke in his brand new MSR Lightning Accents 25's. 

 The options were the normal three, short, medium, and long course. Tho, things became challenging for the snowshoe option as we could not use ANY of the Nordic trails because of the lack of snow. We would have not known the difference as we had plenty of snow off trail. We pretty much stayed with a good trekking pace as we were learning about our HR and Temps as far as clothing choice. As we shed layer after layer, 24F and sunny started to feel like 80F the sweat was poring.

We started the course and due to the no trail issue decided on point to point Nav. We were the first on the course for the long course. We nailed every CP along the way. This being a month after we moved here we had some times of huffing and puffing. We really didn't relize that shoeing would take so much more effort then what we are used to. Pwild got a little shaky and we stopped to share some Honey Stinger Chews that really work fast for energy, oh and they taste good....like candy.  Some parts of the bushwacking on the course the snow was up to our knees. RMOC uses the memory stick logging setup and this makes for really quick punching. And after your done with the course you can print out your times right there. Things started off pretty cold and our Point 6 socks did there Job of keeping our feet warm and comfy inside our Salomon's, even if when you get done and take them off  you find you forgot to put insoles in (PWild). Rocked the first map then on to the second. The second map we wound up crossing our and others paths quite a bit and the nordic trails were getting busy with People out for some CC skiing. Many of them stopped us and asked what was going on. The last couple of CP's there was some good ground to cover. Making our way to CP 7-77 and Zorilla knowing we were right on it....double checking his map when Pwild disided to scout around the large mound of debrit for the ash borers that had done there damage to the area some years back. And yup sure enough we were right on it...Damn xray vision wasn't working. the rest was down hill and our final sprint to the finish to Keep our three hour goal in check.

Team Lupine winners of the Long Snow Shoe O (we'll take what we can get lol)

We had a great time for our first snowshoe O, and can not wait to get back out there and do another one. Next one Team Lupine will be a little more refined and ready for this new type or Orienteering. Wow this is a fun and just plain amazing way to race. We want to thank Rockie Mountain Orienteering Club and look forward to racing and working with you all in the Future.

Zorilla, Sharon(RMOC), and Pwild

Electronic Chip Control Point with a photo bomb of Salomon Spikecross's with SLab Gators.

"See You Out There"