10 reasons to visit Mount Baw Baw this weekend

Mt Baw Baw’s spectacular alpine landscape and mountainous terrain make it a mecca for adventure and offers a unique experience all year round. Check out these fun activities to fill the weekend.

Victorian State Series Race 1- Remember to get your entry in by midnight Wed 20th Feb via Eventor.
More information here. Full information will be published on Thursday and emailed to entrants.

Dine at the Village Central Restaurant.
VC offers a great A la Carte menu and the event will start on the deck of the restaurant so enjoy a coffee or cold drink after the race.

$18 All-you-can-eat Pizza night
A special for the orienteers- the pizza night will be held in the Alpine Hotel.

CROSS COUNTRY MOUNTAIN BIKING
Mt Baw Baw has a growing network of trails, from tough climbs to the summit, and flowing single trail back down again. Plus the altitude will really get your heart pounding. X COUNTRY MTB TRAIL MAP

DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKINGMt Baw Baw’s downhill mountain bike track has developed a reputation within the industry as one of the most challenging and exciting runs in the country.



ROAD CYCLING
This climb up Mt Baw Baw is considered the hardest sealed road climb in Australia and the 2nd steepest categorised climb in the world, with the steepest gradient of 20.6% and an average of over 11%. Definitely not for the weak of knee!


BUSH WALKING and TRAIL RUNNING
The Resort’s 10km of walking trails wind their way through the magnificent alpine landscape and connect to a wider network of trail in the Baw Baw National Park. There is an adventure to suit all abilities from a short walk around the beautiful LaTrobe trail to a full day expedition to magnificent Mushroom Rocks.


RELAX- And book an hour in the Rock Spa Pool.
Set amongst giant granite boulders and twisted gum trees, a dip in the Rock Spa Pool is the perfect way to relax at the end of the day.

REGIONAL EXPLORATION TOURS
The Gippsland region is such a fascinating and diverse area…take in mountain summits, rivers and stunning alpine forest. Cast your line in a local stream, breath in the fresh mountain air or feast on delicious local produce and fine wines.

Orienteering Victoria State Series 1 at Mt Baw Baw, Gippsland

Orienteering Victoria STATE SERIES Race 1
Sat 23rd Feb, MT BAW BAW, GIPPSLAND

Middle Distance Format

The first State Series race for 2013 will be a truly memorable event. Mt Baw Baw is the smallest of Victoria’s alpine resorts but it is also the closest to Melbourne. The spectacular alpine landscape and mountainous terrain make it a mecca for adventure and offers a unique experience all year round. Very few alpine areas in Australia have been used for orienteering so don’t miss this event. Mt Baw Baw offers some amazing granite boulders, alpine meadows and snowgums and fantastic views that you would expect in the high country.

The middle distance courses won’t look far on paper, but the thin alpine air and elevation of almost 1600m will definitely have your legs and lungs burning. And while Melbourne may swelter in high 30’s such as today- Mt Baw Baw will be a pleasant sunny 24degrees. Though if the clouds close in and visibility drops you will have to rely heavily on your compass.

Mt Baw Baw has plenty of activities to keep you entertained so come for the whole weekend and bring your family and clubmates. Check out the bushwalking, mountain biking and other adventures at http://mtbawbaw.com.au/summer/. Or bring your road bike for a crack at the steepest climb in Australia!

Mt Baw Baw has plenty of reasonably prices lodges so bring your family or get a bigger lodge for your whole club.
http://mtbawbaw.com.au/accomodation/

……………………………………………………
Organiser/Course setter: Rob Preston for Orienteering Gippsland/CHOC
Map: Mt Baw Baw Scale: 1:5,000, 5m contours
Start times: 2pm-4.00pm. No allocated start times. The later starts will allow for travel times from Melbourne, Ballarat, Bendigo etc. Travel time from Melbourne CBD approx 2.5hrs.
SI will be used and SI sticks will be available for hire for $3.
Further Information- check www.orienteeringgippsland.com closer to the event, and also www.mtbawbaw.com.au

Enter Online: Use Eventor Online entries close, Wed 20th Feb, 2013
Entry on the day is available but at an additional $5 so please help the organisers by entering online.
Contact: Rob Preston rob@orienteeringgippsland.com ph.0403296516

Orienteering Gippsland- Traralgon 17 Dec 2012 Report

The final race of the 2012 Orienteering Gippsland series was held last night in Traralgon. Starting from the Bert Thompson Reserve near centre of Traralgon, the course included sections of the Traralgon Creek parks and sporting fields. The weather looked impending but the storms held off and it was a pleasant evening for running.

Kathryn Preston and Mel Jones, making her first appearance for the series, finished the full course within the 45minute time limit. First timer Josh Hellings showed he has the fitness to challenge the field, especially with the help of experienced Liz Kenney. They only missed one control and finished with 30points in 43mins32secs. Stephen White was again consistent to finish on 29points, pretty good effort considering he didn't have the help of his daughters this week.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the 2012 Gippsland Orienteering Series. All participants have been so positive and enthusiastic and we have has some volunteers offer to help organise some events in 2013. Keep an eye on www.orienteeringgippsland.com for more details.

Traralgon 17 Dec 2012 Full Results

Place	Points.	Name
1	32 (41.48mins)	Mel Jones
1	32 (41.48mins)	Kathryn Preston
3	30 (43.32mins)	Josh Hellings
3	30 (43.32mins)	Liz Kenney
5	29 (44.11mins)	Stephen White
6	27 (44.30mins)	Steve McLeod
7	27 (43.37mins)	Diana Van Rhine
8	26 (43.37mins)	Jen Houghton
9	23(44.30mins)	Bob Duljas

Orienteering Gippsland - 10 Dec 2012 Morwell Report

The 3rd race of the Orienteering Gippsland series was held in Morwell on Monday. It was a beautiful warm evening perfect for running. Steve McLeod showed the benefits of race practice by turning up every week and finished first with 24 points. Anna Orr was 2nd, also finishing with 24 points just 24 seconds behind Steve. Diana van Rhine has also show great enthusiasm and determination for 3 weeks and finished in 3rd place with 22 points.  It was good to see Todd and Jen Houghton having a good battle and despite carrying an injury Todd finished a few points in front of Jen. Stephen White had the company of his daughters Natalie and Gemma who enjoyed themselves and apparently have a pretty good knowledge of the local parks.

Next weeks race will be in Traralgon on 17th December. The start will be from the picnic shelter in Bert Thompson Park, park behind Red Rooster. Click here for a map. This area has some nice sections of bike paths and sporting fields. If you haven't made it to a race yet it would be great to see you. This will be the last race for 2012 and we will be discussing a possible new series in February.

Full results

Place	Points	Name
1	24 (46.12mins)	Steve McLeod
2	24 (46.36mins)	Anna Orr
3	22 (42.30mins)	Diana van Rhine
4	21 (46.15mins)	Todd Houghton
5	18	Jen Houghton
6	13 (41.40)	Stephen White
6	13 (41.40)	Natalie White
6	13 (41.40)	Gemma White

Orienteering Gippsland 17 Dec 2012 Urban Adventure- Traralgon

Starts at Bert Thompson Reserve, off Grey St, Traralgon at 6pm.

Please arrive early to enter and prepare your map.

Cost $4 adults, $2 Children.
When Mon 10th Dec 18:00 – 19:00
Where Bert Thompson Reserve, Traralgon

  

View Larger Map

Orienteering Gippsland- Churchill 3 Dec 2012 Report

The 2nd race held in Churchill on Monday produced some really close racing. The course consisted of two regions- firstly the parklands and shopping precinct in Churchill, followed by the Monash University campus. The larger scale 1:4000 map and intricate detail of the university buildings added a new level of difficulty compared to last weeks street event in Traralgon.

Visiting orienteering from Werribee Chalky Thomas finished the full course in an impressive 37mins 55secs. Hopefully we will see more of Chalky over the summer as he sometimes works in Sale. Traralgon's Stephen White again showed he has plenty of talent to finish 2nd with 20 points. The combined brain power of Bob Duljas, Steve McLeod and Anna Orr scored 19 points just in front of Jen Houghton and Vellida Bradford with son Oscar and friend Flynn.

Next weeks race will start at 6pm from the Morwell Leisure Centre carpark.

To encourage more participants, anyone who attended the first two weeks and brings a friend to race 3 will race for free. So lets double the fun and help build orienteering in Gippsland.

Full results

Place	Points	Name
1	22 Full course  (37.55mins)	Chalky Thomas
2	20 (43.25 mins)	Stephen White
3	19 (43.58mins)	Bob Duljas
3	19 (43.58mins)	Steve McLeod
3	19 (43.58mins)	Anna Orr
6	19 (45.15mins)	Jen Houghton
7	19 (46.53mins)	Vellida, Oscar Bradford and Flynn
8	18 (43.58mins)	Liz Kenney
9	17 (40.20mins)	Diana van Rhine

Orienteering Gippsland- Traralgon 26 Nov 2012 Report

The first Orienteering race of the 2012/13 season took place in Traralgon West on Monday. A small field enjoyed the sunny evening with the course starting from the Traralgon Harriers clubrooms. Kathryn Preston impressed by scoring a full score of 30 points within the 45 minute time limit. Duncan Orr also had a great run, collecting 30 points but was over time by nearly 3 minutes so finished with a score of 27 points. Perhaps Duncan is a rare army soldier who can actually navigate! Stephen White was also impressive in his first race finishing 3rd with 20 points, just ahead of Morgan Tucker. It was great to have youngsters Lucille and Oscar Bradford competing with mother Vellida and obviously had a great time.

Next weeks race will be held in the Leisure Centre in Churchill, with the start at 6pm. It would be great to have a few more of the Harriers racing and starting to build some rivalries among the more serious competitors.

Full results

Place	Points	Name
1	30 (44.41mins)	Kathryn Preston
2	27 (47.51mins)	Duncan Orr
3	20 (44.58mins)	Stephen White
4	20 (46.59mins)	Morgan Tucker
5	20 (47.18mins)	Liz Kenney
6	16 (40.40mins)	Diana van Rhine
7	16 (46.50mins)	Vellida, Lucille and Oscar Bradford
8	14 (48.37mins)	Ian Twite
9	13 (46.18mins)	Steve McLeod
10	11 (45.16mins)	Biasi Silvestri