Tahoe 4-Day
Day 3: Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Event #4 of 6 in the 2026 Summer Series
Date: (Sun.) Aug. 2, 2026
Location: Tahoma, CA
Event Director: 
Course Setter: Peter Wailes
Type: C; Day 3 of the Tahoe 4-Day events will provide a Summer Series event with Beginner, Short, & Long courses. Beginners & non-members are welcome, beginner instruction will be offered. Attendance at other Tahoe 4-Day or Summer Series events not required.
Related Event Information
Optional Online Registration (https://eventreg.orienteeringusa.org/eventregister/register/start/tahoe4day2026) Main Tahoe 4-Day Page Day-1 Event Information Day-2 Event Information Day-3 Event Information Day-3 Volunteer Sign-up (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bCZSRXZ42w7YQ98CxW9ky8_KpllmN4-APtfewc1r9E0/edit) Day-4 Event Information Attackpoint Event Page (http://attackpoint.org/eventdetail.jsp/event_60560) BAOC 2026 Summer Series
The information below is preliminary and subject to change.
For this third day of the Tahoe 4-Day event, we have yet another new map, of Ed Z'Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park (https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=510) (on the west side of highway CA 89, not the beach side), and we're offering Summer Series courses. Anyone can do the courses, which are Beginner, Short advanced, and Long advanced — and you can score points for the BAOC Summer Series if you care about that sort of thing.
Everyone is welcome to participate in this event, including beginners and non-members. Free beginner instruction will be available during the time shown below.
- Note: Attendance at other Taheo 4-Day or Summer Series events is not required.
Schedule
The following non-standard event schedule will be followed:
- 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Registration is open
- 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Beginner instruction is available (free)
- 10:00 AM – 11:30 PM: Starts are open for all the courses
- 2:00 PM: Everyone must have returned to the Finish
- Note: Participants under age 18 who register at the event must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or bring with them a waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian. (The Summer Series registration form is available here [14KB PDF]. Note, however, that some of the fees for this event might be different than those on the form.)
Note that you can register and start on the courses anytime during the open times above. Thus, for example, you do not need to be "punctual" at 9:00. (You can if you want, but please don't show up earlier and expect to be served.)
Beginner instruction is 15–20 minute, repeating sessions ("clinics") that introduce the sport of orienteering, and provide enough instruction to be able to complete a beginner (White or Yellow) course.
- Note: Beginners are given their course maps at registration. You should get your map before joining a beginner clinic.
Everyone must return to the Finish by 2:00 PM, and then promptly go to the download tent, even if they have not completed their course. Please do not leave without checking in! If there are unaccounted people after 2:00, we must initiate a search for them.
Costs & Registration
Since this is a "special" event, the standard BAOC registration fees do not apply.
The prices for the Tahoe 4-Day Package and for individual events are shown on the main Tahoe 4-Day event webpage. (Be sure to read the notes below the prices table.)
- Note: In addition to the BAOC fees, the park charges a $10 vehicle day-use fee (possibly different on summer weekends).
Online registration for the Tahoe 4-day Package, and for individual events, will open closer to the event.
Registration for individual events (but not the Tahoe 4-day Package) will be available at the events.
Location of the Event
The Assembly Area (e.g., Registration and E-punch) will be located by the day-use parking lot of Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park, on the west side of highway CA 89 (W Lake Blvd.). The driving directions are below. This park map (https://csparks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=065b067caa204e8da48d4b53c9483ab0&UNITNBR=339) might be useful (zoom in for details; look for the cluster of parking areas close to the highway).
The park charges a $10 vehicle day-use fee (possibly different on summer weekends), which might need to be paid by cash in an envelope.
Venue Facilities
There are restrooms in a campground close to the Assembly Area (about 200 m away).
Water will be available near the Assembly Area.
What to Bring
For Beginner (White and Yellow) courses, comfortable outdoors attire and shoes are fine.
For the Intermediate (Orange) and Advanced (Brown, Green, Red, and Blue) courses, the steeper hillsides can be a bit slippery due to dry leaves and loose dirt, so shoes with good grip are highly recommended. Long pants and/or gaiters might be desirable because of undergrowth.
A compass is not required, but can be very helpful — and can improve safety — so is recommended. We have compasses available for a $1 rental fee.
We time the courses with the SPORTident system, so each entry/team needs to have a SPORTident E-punch fingerstick. If you don't have your own, you can rent one at Registration for $5. (Use of the "E-punch" system is easy. You can learn how at the event, or read about it here.)
Courses
The course details will be available here closer to the event. There will be Beginner, Short, and Long courses. The Short and Long courses involve advanced navigation, and can count toward the Summer Series standings as explained below.
Hazards
Fortunately, there is no poison oak in the Sierras! 😊
However, deer ticks are found in this area, and they might carry Lyme disease. So, please be sure to check yourself carefully after the event.
You should be mindful of dehydration because the high-altitude air will be dry. That concern will be even greater if the weather is hot. So, you should consider carrying water while on your course.
Also because of the altitude, there will be increased risk of sunburn, so be sure to use plenty of quality sunscreen.
2026 Summer Series
The Summer Series consists of six events (five in the Bay Area and one in the Lake Tahoe area) that are organized as two competitions with unique scoring that "handicaps" event results based on age and gender. The objective is to provide a "fair" competition for all the participants in that it is possible for anyone to have a high point score for the day.
- Note: There is no requirement that you attend all the Summer Series events. Also, if you're not interested in the "competition" aspect of the Series, you can still participate "just for the fun of orienteering".
Points for the Summer Series will be awarded to all the individuals (not groups or teams) who complete either the Short or Long course as their first course of the day (i.e., not after the Beginner course). The results for the two courses at this event will be added to the standings in the two Summer Series competitions: Short and Long.
You can read about the Summer Series scoring details.
Volunteers Needed
As always, we need volunteers for this event.
Please consider volunteering to help — even part of a shift will help! Previous experience is not needed (except for Beginner Clinics), and easy training will be provided as needed, so please don't hesitate to sign up.
The shifts and current assignments are shown in this form (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bCZSRXZ42w7YQ98CxW9ky8_KpllmN4-APtfewc1r9E0/edit). You can check the form to see what's available, then put your name on the form to sign up. If you want, you can send email to , the Event Director, to indicate your interest or ask where he would particularly like help. Matteo will respond back to you.
Driving Directions
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is located on the west side of Lake Tahoe, between Tahoe City and South Lake Tahoe, about 3 miles south of Homewood (7360 W Lake Blvd, Tahoma, CA 96142). The approximate coordinates of the Assembly Area are 39.0568,-120.1217.
From highway CA 89 (W Lake Blvd), turn away from the lake, toward the mountains, to enter the west side of the park, which has the campgrounds. After paying your $10 park fee, make the first left to find the day-use parking lot.