Bear Wallow

Join us on Tucson’s favorite Sky Island for stunning views, cool (rainy?) weather, and heart-pumping adventure as we return to orienteering season!

Location: Bear Wallow and Mount Bigelow in the Santa Catalina Mountains. Parking is available here.

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Courses: The Beginner Course sticks mainly to roads and trails but offers some opportunities for off-road adventure. The Short Advanced course offers beautiful views and navigational options but might spare your legs and lungs some trouble. The Long Advanced offers an intimate look at Mount Bigelow’s remote and rugged beauty and will provide a fun and vigorous challenge.

Maps: 1:10,000 scale maps will be provided to all participants at the event site.

Schedule:

• 9:00-10:00 AM Check-in

• 9:00 AM First chance to start

• 9:15 AM Free beginner’s clinic. Please arrive 15 minutes early if you wish to attend.

• 10:30 AM Last chance to start

• 1:00 PM Courses close and control retrieval begins

Registration:  Pre-registration is required in order to keep an eye on crowd size and prepare the right number of maps.  See the "Fees" section below for member's and junior's discounts.  Everyone must register as an individual even if you plan on going as a team.   Registration closes at noon on September 13, 2025.  See who has registered.

Directions and Parking:  From Speedway and Campbell in Tucson: Drive East on Speedway (5.0 miles); left on Wilmot and continue on Tanque Verde (4.3 miles); left on Catalina Highway (25 miles) to Mt. Bigelow Road. Turn right and follow the paved, then dirt road to the parking area, here, and along nearby road shoulders.

What to Bring:

• Safety whistle is required (whistles can be purchased on site for $1)

• Compass (compass can be rented on site for $1)

• Water (and snacks if desired)

• Watch or phone (so you can finish on time)

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E-punch:  This event uses e-punching for timing and punch verification. We'll show you how to use it if you've never done it before and we'll have e-punch sticks for rent ($2) if you do not have your own.

Fees: 

• Adults: $12, or $8 with member discount,

• Juniors (11-20): $6

• Kids (0-10): free w/adult

If you qualify for a discount (AZ club members, kids under 11, and Friend-For-Free), you will be able to apply it during registration. ​

Friend-For-Free: Tucson Orienteering Club (TSN) members may bring one qualified guest for free to this event.  To qualify, the guest must (1) never have attended a TSN or other OUSA club event before, (2) pre-register for this event, and (3) accompany the member to the event. To get this one-time free entry, the guest should select "Yes" on the Friend field in the Discount Codes section when they register online and mention the member's name in the "notes for the registrar" section.

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Youth Participants: All participants under 18 must provide a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian. For details see our Instructions for Minors.  These instructions are for anyone who will be bringing a minor child under 18 to an event.

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Volunteer to Help at Event: We can always use volunteer help at the event. Don’t worry if you haven’t volunteered before, we can show you. You can volunteer when registering online. Or you can sign up directly for a volunteer shift here,

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Safety Information: To ensure that all are safe, everyone, whether finished with the course or not, must check in formally at Start/Finish before courses close and before leaving the event site.