Winter Edition
Camp Roger, Rockford
January 13, 2024
Up to 3 hours
9:30 am

2023 Race Recap & Results

Join us for the 13th annual Winter Edition, the largest winter adventure race in the U.S., presented by the Village of Cannonsburg and the Honey Creek Inn.

You and your teammate(s) will hike or run together on and off trail using a topographic map to find as many checkpoints as you can (about 6 miles if you do them all), conquer Amazing Race-style challenges (sometimes a little brainy, sometime a little brawny; never too difficult), and a short snowshoe loop (weather pending, snowshoes provided). No need to be in tip-top shape; many teams hike rather than run and you can come in at any point. Knowing how to use a compass (free clinic and online instruction) will be helpful for some checkpoints but you can find a lot of them with just good map reading.

We’ll enjoy lounging in the cozy Camp Roger Ridge Hall and Lodge buildings before and after the race, feasting on a Village of Cannonsburg-Honey Creek Inn chili lunch and sharing stories of glorious successes and hilarious hiccups.

Watch this 4-minute Go Pro video to get a first-hand feel for the race. Or view hundreds of photos from past races.

This race comes with a lot of great stuff!

• Mid-weight 1/4 zip pullover ($35 retail)! (you must sign up two weeks before the race to receive) or likely SockGuy wool blend socks!
• Chili and fruit lunch with hot drinks
• Chance at $2,000 in top finisher and raffle prizes
• Free navigation/compass clinic

Divisions

• Solo Males, Females
• 2-person Females, Males, Co-eds
• 3-4 person Females, Males, Co-eds
• Family (2-5 person): At least two from the same immediate family with one of those 14 years or younger)

Schedule

BEFORE THE RACE

Required Gear

• We are requiring a few items for safety but most other items are at your discretion. See the Required Gear page.
• Lots of good shoe, clothing and gear tips on that page as well.

Navigation/Compass Clinic

• Join us for a free Navigation 101 clinic at Seidman Park on Saturday, January 7, 2023. RSVP and print clinic map and notes here.
• Large group instruction followed by small group in-field practice with map and compass.

Directions/Parking

• All racers must park at Lakes Elementary School (or Bostwick Lake Congregational Church if the school lot fills up). Both lots are located at Belding Road and Young Ave. Please carpool if possible as parking is limited. Wait at the school front doors for the bus.
• We will shuttle you by coach bus to Camp Roger, which has only enough parking for volunteers and staff. It’s about a two-minute ride. Camp Roger is located at 8356 Belding Rd NE in Rockford, just east of Pando Winter Sports Park.

Awards
Members of first place teams in each division will win a beautiful, locally made barnwood team trophy. A minimum of 3 teams in a division by 2 weeks before the race is required to receive the wood trophy but teams will still receive these wood medals and top finisher prizes. Depth of prizes depends on size of division.

Merchandise (available at early check-in and on race day, limited quantities)
Hoodie sweatshirt $35
Skull cap $20
Short sleeve ($12) and long sleeve ($15) tech shirts
Neck gaiter/buff $12
Stainless steel pint $12
Sticker $2

Check-in, Pre-Race Briefing, Race Components

• Check-in. We recommend arriving to check-in early as we will hand out maps then and you can get most or all of your route complete before the pre-race meeting. You may leave dry gear for after the race in Ridge Hall, the Lodge or any of the nearby cabins. All of them have bathrooms as well for changing after the race.
• Pre-race meeting. We’ll go over rules, answer any questions, explain the passport and hand out an instruction sheet and maps.
• Passport. The passport is the piece of waterproof paper you’ll punch (or write a letter/code on during COVID) at each checkpoint to prove you found it. Each punch has a unique barb pattern. You must not lose it! At most challenges, you will punch the passport upon arrival and a volunteer will punch the box next to the checkpoint box if you complete the challenge successfully.
• Flag (control) and Punch. You are looking for orange and white 3-sided orienteering flags (technically called the control marker). You must punch the correct box in the passport so we can verify you were indeed there. A card with a number will be attached to the flag. Check it to confirm you got the right one.
• Race instructions/clues. Lists key rules, describes the course and the activities, and provides hints about where checkpoints are located.
• Maps. The map will be high-detail LIDAR. They are pre-plotted. While not every trail in the area will be on the map, the vast majority will be. You can waterproof your map with packing tape or contact paper if desired (find at Meijer-type stores). Either way, we recommend keeping it in a waterproof map case or zip lock baggie at least.
• Goal. The goal is to maximize the number of checkpoints on your passport within the time limit. A team that gets 25 checkpoints with one minute to spare will finish ahead of a team that gets 24 checkpoints with one hour to spare.

DURING THE RACE

• Distance. The trekking/orienteering portion of the race is roughly 4-5 miles to get every checkpoint plus a short, optional snowshoe loop.
• Map reading will be critical. You should also know how to use a compass, although you may be able to manage without if you can navigate well with your map.
• Order. All CPs are optional and in any order. Teams will head out in dozens of directions. Ideally, this will greatly minimize lines.
• The goal. Maximize the number of checkpoints on your passport within the three hour time limit. A team that gets 25 checkpoints in 2 hours and 59 minutes will finish ahead of a team that gets 24 checkpoints in 2 hours.

Rules

• Please read through our standard race rules. Special rules that only apply to the Winter Edition will be listed in one of the race updates you’ll receive or on the race instructions.
• We will race snow or shine. In the event of a thunderstorm or blizzard, we will postpone the race until conditions improve.
• Race organizers reserve the right to cancel the event in the case of extended severe weather. We will do everything possible to get the event in, but refunds are not available if it is cancelled due to significant costs we must pay in advance of the race. We would provide you your race shirt and likely provide a small credit for a future race.
• Furry friends aren’t allowed in the race or on site – neither the nature preservice or camp allow them. Sorry about that!

Spectators

• Adventure racing isn’t the ideal spectator sport but we offer race maps to spectators before the race so they can check out some of the fun challenges.
• Invite friends and family to check out the race and they can get warm in the lodge.

AFTER THE RACE

• Honey Creek Inn Cincinnati chili with noodles along with their standard meat and veggie chili. Fruit and hot drinks too.
• Awards/raffle. Can’t stay? We will mail a Gazelle Sport gift certificate to top finishers.

Charity Partner

• The charity challenge money and a portion of the profits will go to a scholarship fund for kids to attend summer camp at Camp Roger who would not normally be able to afford to.

Questions? Our Facebook page is a great place to ask questions and get answers so others can learn from your question. For questions specific to you, email Mark VanTongeren, race director.