Delaware Valley Orienteering Association

On a terrain report I would normally email a group of map people, but because of the original eboard interest in this terrain, I’m posting here.

Green Lane - Knight Road Corridor Terrain Report

It took three visits, but I’ve finally seen every section.

In my perspective there is a series of seven sections, connected to each other, but barely so, with weak or bottleneck connections.

I assume readers can find an available map to follow along.

Starting on the north side of the dam breast we have the existing map of Green Lane Nature Center.. Going counterclockwise (approx northwest ) around the reservoir are six more definable sections, three on each side of Knight Road.

A. The existing GLNC map is now 15 years old, and almost certainly needs a major update to be used for a regular event. Also there is a contour interval issue with this map that could be improved upon.

The forest vegetation is still nice enough in general.

This section easily has the best parking options, even aside from the Elementary School, which has already proven sufficient for a local event.

Unfortunately this area is situated at the extreme end of the potential terrain.

I sense that the Nature Center may no longer exist. Some buildings have been torn down, and this area seems to be known as Hemlock Point.

B. The next section north, has the next best local meet parking possibility (still not a certainty), along Knight Road. This might be large enough for a local event, but barely so, and must shared and coordinated with a sizable number of equestrians (needing much space) and general park users.

C. This is the first “upland” section on the NE side of Knight Road.

D. This is the first of two peninsula -like sections on the SW side of Knight Road, protruding into the reservoir.

E. This is the middle upland section between Markley and Red Hill Roads.

F. This is the second, smaller peninsula-like section. This has a mini P lot, not even large enough for a beginner event.

G. This is the third, northwest-most upland area on the NE side of Knight Road.

TOPOGRAPHY

None of these sections has notable contour features, at best a few more soft reentrants than shown on the USGS.

The rest of the areas have a combination of various stages of rough open areas, which transition into cedar (or juniper?) dominated forest, which, while not impassable, would be mostly mapped as light and medium green.

The three upland areas (CEG) on the NE side of Knight Road are mostly mature cedar plantations, sill mostly a shade of green.

The peninsula sections (DF) on the SW side of the road have more rough open and scrubbier, younger cedar trees, with the exception of some strips of white hardwood forest on steep slopes along the reservoir.

There is some thorny vegetation mixed in everywhere, not prohibitive, at least an average amount by DVOA “Briar Patch” standards.

In total, I think these networks rival (or top?) the most intricate sections on any DVOA map that I can think of. Mt Penn, and Valley Forge Fatlands (years past) come to mind.

Even though these mtn bike trails are probably relatively new, they appear to be well established, and without evidence of renegade unmanaged trails, such as on Mt Penn.

For me this is easily the most interesting attraction of all this potential Green Lane terrain, and applicable to all course levels.

The peninsula sections (DF) have simple trail networks, mostly around their perimeter, leaving the center of these area with relatively thick vegetation, and few ways to create route choices through the middle.

ROCK FEATURES

Almost no significant rock features.

MAN-MADE FEATURES

A few cultural features, but only average or less.

TECHNICAL LEVELNone of this area is normal advanced course terrain. I think the trail mazes are interesting, even for advanced orienteers, but there is no conventionally challenging advanced terrain. The next most challenging theme would be figuring out yellow/green vegetation intricacies, which can easily border on being unpleasant.

ISSUES/ CONCERNS

Traffic- I would describe Knight Road’s traffic as moderate in volume and speed.

There are very good sight distances along straight stretches of road, but very poor visibility to the sides, where orienteers might emerge.

The road has little or no shoulder, and sometimes it’s just two lanes with guard rails.

Road crossings- There are multiple official trail crossings along Knight Road. They are well marked and signed, and seem to be well respected by motorists, which might account for me not noticing any speeding, where it would normally be tempting.

Equestrian use- As others have noted, the larger parking area along Knight road is an active center for equestrian activity. I believe all or most of the trails are multi use, which brings the potential for orienteering – horse problems. Granted we seem to co-exist well enough at other venues (Fair Hill and other places?), but here a much higher percentage of O use would be on-trail.

However, despite all the trailers in the parking lot, I didn’t cross paths with a single equestrian during my time in the terrain (6+hrs and mostly on trail).

A practical mapping approach might be to start with the SE most sections, A&B, with the nicest forest, no road crossing, and best parking, and add sections further N and W if enthusiasm/demand permits.

This small area would probably allow W, Y, and easy Brown/ short Orange.

The most remote trail networks (E& G) seem to be the best, but not reachable by Brown and Green courses from A or B

Sections D and F have low value for advanced courses, and are not reachable by W and Y from projected parking area(s)

As mentioned previously, there is another official, but very small parking lot nearby, along Knight Road, also in section F.

If we have a driving-force member who understands all the issues, and takes responsibility as course setter or meet director, I would say, go for it.

If we don’t have such a take-charge member, I think there are too many complications and shortcomings to justify the risk/reward investment in mapping this entire terrain as a general local meet map.

On the positive side, I think this terrain would be a good candidate for a developing map concept, which I’ll describe as DIY orienteering, with semi-permanent courses.

This would compliment the parking situation very well.