This was billed as a festival with 5 days of orienteering, beginning with the COCs [ed: Canadian Orienteering Championships]. Actually there were 6 days, not including the training day. The whole thing was preceded by a 3-day Sage Stomp in British Columbia. We were not able to attend the Sage Stomp.
These Albertans are super-organised. They had multitudes helping with administration.
The COC's were held near Smokey Lake (no relation to the bear). This community of 1100 swelled by the addition of over 500 orienteers. The entire community got into it. Most businesses had Welcome Orienteers' signs. They held an opening ceremony where they blocked off the streets. Music, dancing and other festivities were held after a rendition of O Canada, replete with Mountie. I was impressed.
New Brunswick was represented by 3 St-Laurents, Wil and Sandi Smith, and Sheri Faulkner. I was also there but I do not purport to represent New Brunswick. Sheri took the train to Alberta. Also on the train were 3 Nova Scotians: Michael Haines and 2 boys from Amherst.
There were participants from many other countries (I expect I've missed some): Australia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, England, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA. The Japanese had a bus load. There was even a venerable old Swede who competed in the H90+ class. He won.
Smokey Lake terrain is very flat with sandy soil. Much of it is covered by open forest with good visibility. There is little undergrowth, consisting primarily of sphagnum and reindeer moss. The exception was what they called marsh areas. These were still dry but had more give underfoot. However they were covered with dense shrubbery, reminiscent of New Brunswick's nastiest except they had no thorns. It was very dry underfoot with the sphagnum making sounds like crunching celery. I saw no water on the map. Weather was sunny and in the mid-twenties.
Because of the flat terrain, the courses were longer than usual to achieve the recommended winning times. The organisers placed drinking water in many spots; these were well used and appreciated.
The short O championship was held on an adjacent map. Surprisingly there was noticeably more undergrowth.
There was a mid-week event at Big Valley. It was judged to be the most enjoyable event. We were unable to attend that event, sigh. The terrain was quite different; it resembled badlands with large erosion cuts. The ground had more gravel content.
The following weekend, a 2-day event was held near Bragg Creek. This is in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. More climb required. The terrain was again totally different than the previous two sites. It was more reminiscent of New Brunswick terrain except that a common undergrowth was reindeer moss. It had the additional feature of a scree, a large boulder field with rocks typically 2 meters high. Weather here was cooler and more humid than at Smokey Lake. We started in a downpour on day 2. Many entrants chose not to start. Wimps. Needless to say, Maritimers did not find the weather unusual.
At the finish on day 2, they brought a large truck/stage with a singer belting out country songs.
No doubt about it, Albertans know how to organize events.