I got this map and summary from The Lost Pole (my comments are at the end):
The score event ran for 90 minutes. I marked my map, and skipped the first start to start about 30 minutes later. In the meantime, I studied the map and planned my strategy. I would go for 20, and 10 point controls, and only get a 5 point control if it was on the way.
On the map 20 point controls are marked with a line, 10 point controls are marked with a dot, and 5 pointers with no extra marks. Scanning the map was good incidentally, because now it can easily be blown up and studied. Also, I need to start wearing my glasses since it is too difficult to refocus from the map to the surroundings.
The time started and I headed northward to 24. After leaving the parking lot to it's west, I followed a path until it petered out and worked my way down the incline and easily saw it at the bottom as I was half way down.
My goal was then to 22. I set a bad bearing too far off to the right, and was halfway down the hill toward 23 when I realized it was not the map that was screwed up. I easily doubled back and got 22, and then also 23. There was a cool castle at 23.
I was on my way to 11, and just by dumb luck I got it since the master maps were miss marked. So everyone (unofficially) was going to get points for it.
It was easy walking as I picked up 14, 10, and 4 on my way to 9, but at that point I realized where I was on time so abandoned any plans of going further south. I replanned and headed for 5. I should of took the road and cut back south, instead I crawled up the hill hanging on to dead trees, roots, and what ever I could get my hands on as I worked up the contour. I nailed 5 and also 16 without much problem.
I set a bearing for 15 and hit it dead on. It was the best hit control for the day. I then got to the edge of the gorge, and had 15 minutes left. I found a reentrant and started down, sometimes dropping 4-6 feet from ledge to ledge, sometime on the seat of my pants as I got an assist from the wet leaves.
I got near the bottom was on a six foot ledge and the creek was immediately below, and about as wide. There was no other route so I jumped the creek since I did not want to get my feet wet. It was maybe 140 feet down to the bottom of the gorge (7 six meter contours), and now I had to climb back up. The trip up to 5 was bad, this was triple bad.
Once on the north side of the gorge, I walked to the road and from there ran most of the way in. I was 1 minute late. I promptly collapsed flat out on a picnic bench, and lay there for about 20 minutes since every time I sat up the world went whirling around.
I recouped, thought twice about volunteering to pick up controls and went home.
It was alot of fun. I raced under the name of "The Lost Pole".
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I am familiar with the gorge Lost Pole did 15 minutes from the end, as I sometimes crossed it as a "challenge" while wearing hiking booths with high traction sole and sturdy ankle support, and felt for you while reading. I remember that sometimes the bottom of that gorge has downed trees, making the logs and branches really treacheous, almost inpenetrable. My room-mate and I (we rented in Mayfield Heights) after work would go to the park, and hike along the sides of the gorge, and say "lets try cross here". It was always adventurous.
The part of the park that I know best is the south east corner, where the big lake is. The western shore of the lake is really wild, and went up exploring those mini-gorges going from the lake shore towards West. I like hemlock trees, and I found a few groves there.
About 300 m NW from control 14 there are five structures in a pentagon perimeter. They are abbandoned wooden cabins. I always liked them, remnants of past civilizations. The gorge going west from those cabins is also not bad.
Where control 3 is, I think that is where there is a stone with an incription on it in memory of someone who dedicated so much for the park.
The road on the bottom SE corner is blocked to traffic, and is somewhat abbandoned, with weeds growing off the asphalt. The marshes on that corner are also very nice this time of the year. There is a parking lot for access to that corner. Check it out.
The building on control 6, i remember that: that is a bird watching platform with roof. not a bad spot, very scenic. I can see how nice the approach to 7 would be. neat.
About the area where controls 24 , 22 are: I was surprised that the park has no trails on that big area on the northern part, so once I spent three hours hiking all that area, looking for a secret hidden "Area 51", criss-crossing gorges etc etc. Lots of big trees. Not finding any trails for so long really feels remote.
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