Thanks to everyone who signed up for our 2026 Rim Country Navigation Games at Lake Mary (Flagstaff). We're excited that you've decided to join us for a day of navigation fun at another scenic Arizona location. The rolling terrain and open forest surounding Lake Mary is a nice break from the Phoenix summer heat. The area surrounding Lake Mary doesn't include the steep cliffs that we find at some of our other event sites. One bonus in the area is the wildlife. We saw many elk, antelope, and deer during our scouting of the area. Make sure to bring your camera. You're in for a real treat. We hope you enjoy your visit.

Below are notes for events. Please read the notes carefully as they include important information about the race. Let us know if you have any questions.

The following sections are included below:
1. EVENT LOCATION
2. MISCELLANEOUS
3. SCHEDULE
4. CHECK-IN
5. MAPS, COURSE STATISTICS
6. SCORING
7. GEAR LIST

The start/finish for all events is at the east end of Upper Lake Mary, at the interesection of Lake Mary Road and FS 9485C, between mileposts 329 and 328. The parking area is isolated from the more popular day-use areas on the north side of Lake Mary. Traffic is light early in the morning, but gets busier later. Please note: A Day Pass is NOT required to park at the start/finish.

You will need a pass if you plan to park your car at other day-use areas surrounding Lake Mary. There are kiosks onsite where you can purchase a pass. However, prices at the kiosk are 50% higher than the price if you purchase before you arrive. See the Coconino website https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/passes for more information. America the Beautiful passes (Annual Pass, Senior Pass, etc.) are also valid for parking at the day-use areas.

• Weather - Rain, Cooler Temperatures The monsoon has arrived in Arizona. The forecast predicts a 60% chance of rain on Saturday. With lows in the high 50s, and the likelihood of rain, you should bring rain gear. Also, you have the chance to travel on a variety of roads, including paved, improved gravel, and jeep trails. With heavy rain, travel on the jeep trails will get ugly.
• Snakes Nope. With the weather, I wouldn't worry much about snakes. FYI, we've walked the desert setting for 100's of events over the years. We've about stepped on 6 snakes total over 20 years, but never in the Flagstaff area.
• Itchy Vegetation We haven't encountered much itchy vegetation in the area. We scouted the area in shorts without gaiters for 9 hours and didn't encounter noxious plants. That doesn't meant those plant aren't there, but we didn't run into any. Still, there are patches of foxtail grass, which leave seeds that are hard to get out of your socks. You may want to use gaiters.
• Thorny Vegetation There are some spots in the drainages that contain thornier vegetation. We were able to avoid thick patches of vegetation.
• 50 Meter Limit Teammates in all events must stay within 50 meters of each other at all times.
• Visit Controls Together Teammates in all events must visit controls together. You are not allowed to send one teammate to visit a control while other members of the team take a nice break.
• Target Shooting We didn't encounter any shooters when we set the course. But it's Arizona, so anything is possible.
• OHVs (Off-Highway Vehicles) The area is quite popular with the OHV crowd, but mostly on improved roads south of Lake Mary. There are huge parts of the terrain surrounding Lake Mary that are off-limits to all motorized vehicle traffic. You can see the approved OHV roads at https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/nfs/files/publication/Coconino_Mvum_North_2025_34x54_0.pdf. During the event, you may find yourself on OHV roads, but we're generally quite symbiotic with their use of the area. If you're on an OHV road and you hear a loud engine, we suggest you step off the road and wait for the vehicle to pass.
• Dispersed Camping There are many dispersed campers in the area (none on the shoreline). Avoid the campsites and give the campers their space.
• Controls on Trees and Bushes We hung many of the markers on shrubs and trees in the area. Depending on the angle of approach, the markers may or may not be visible in the mapped location. If you're sure you're in the correct location marked on the map, you may need to look on the opposite side of the vegetation.
• Steep Terrain, Loose Rock The course includes less steep terrain and loose rock than other event sites used by the club. If you do encounter a steep area with loose rock, rather than attacking a steep slope and risking sliding back down, we suggest you travel around the steep areas and stay in drainages that are less steep.
• Game Trails We followed a number of game trails when we set the course. The trails were handy, but aren't visible from satellite views. The maps do not include game trails.
• Unmapped Features The area covered by the event is large. Given the amount of time spent on the course, it wasn't feasible to create an orienteering-quality map of the area. There are many unmapped rocks and cliffs, some roads and trails may not appear on the map, and some roads and trails that appear on the map may not exist. The contours are based on a lidar point cloud. The 2.5m/5m/10m contours are quite accurate. We tried to place controls in features easily identified by the contours.
• Manual Punching We are not using electronic timing. We have manual punching for all our destination markers. We'll give you a control card at the start of the event. You'll register your visit to each destination by punching the appropriate spot on the control card.
• Cell Phones We encourage you to travel with a cell phone. There is adequate cell phone coverage throughout the higher areas of the course. Coverage is better at the heights surrounding the lake. You may take pictures with your phone or use your phone for emergency communication. You are not allowed to use your phone for navigation. Use of navigation features on your phone will result in disqualification.
• GPS Trackers You may use a GPS tracker (standalone GPS device, GPS watch, etc.) to record your route during the event. You may not use any type of GPS for navigation or measuring distance. Manual bike odometers that measure distance based on wheel circumference are allowed. Barometric altimiters are allowed. Bike odometers that measure distance using GPS are not allowed. Navigation or measuring distance with a GPS unit will result in disqualification.
• Disappearing Control Bags We placed many of the destination markers in the field last week. We can't guarantee that the orange and white bags remain where we left them. If you get to a place where you think the bag is missing, look for a piece of orange tape nearby. We placed the tape in trees/bushes near the bags and wrote a three-letter word on the tape. Record the three letter word on your control card if the bag has disappeared.
• Aid Stations We'll have one manned aid station on the course. The manned station is accessible for all courses, but may not be worth the hike for the 3-hour event. The hike is worth it for the longer events since the only place to get a map showing "water" controls is at the aid station. All "water" controls are accessible on foot, but it's much more efficient to cross the lake (watercraft, swim) to get to the controls. Please note: Anyone planning to cross the lake on the water must show a PFD at the aid station. You are not allowed to travel on the water without a PFD.
• Restrooms, Showers There are no showers, but there are several spots with restrooms in the area, including the day-use areas on the north side of the lake and the Pine Grove Campground south of the start/finish. You'll also have a lot of nature's finest forest terrain to do whatever it is you need to do.
• Early Race Termination If you need to leave the event early for any reason, please sign out with race directors at the start/finish. It would be really bad if we called out emergency services and spent time looking for you only to find out you decided to go home two hours earlier.
• Arizona Trail The course includes part of the Arizona Trail. A trailhead is located near the Pine Grove Campground, to the south of the start/finish. You're welcome to hike the trail and say you've completed part of the AZ Trail Challenge.
• Abandoned Railroad Lines In the early 1920's, a number of narrow-gauge railroad lines were built in the Lake Mary area. These lines were used to move timber. Rumor has it the lines were used for about 4 years, then abandoned. The metal rails no longer exist, but wooden railroad ties are common. Parts of the old railroad beds are prominent. Other parts are barely visible, even with a good imagination. These historic railroad lines are a treat for your exploration of the area. You'll see symbols for "railroad, ruined" on your description sheets. We have 3 controls that are on or near the old railway beds.

Adventure Racers

• No mandatory mode of transportation (Adventure Races Only) For the adventure races, there is no mandatory mode of transportation. No electric bikes are allowed, and the watercraft must be inflatable. You are welcome to travel by foot, bike, or watercraft to any of the controls. You may also swim across the lake if you like (PFD required). It's your choice.

  Most of the controls are more efficient to visit on foot. For 6 or 7 checkpoints at the southern edge of the map, getting there by bike is quicker. Remember, a solid brownish yellow line (like the one north of Lake Mary) is a paved road, and a solid black line is an all-weather gravel road. These roads are easy to travel by bike. The jeep trails (dashed black lines) are much more difficut.

Bikes

• Bike on Roads and Trails Only When traveling by bicycle, you must remain on obvious paved roads, improved gravel roads, jeep trails, or single-track trails. You are not allowed to ride cross-country between points. The area is fragile, and riding cross country will leave a trace that could take decades to disappear.
• Paved Roads. You're welcome to ride along Lake Mary Road. This road is designed to accommodate bike traffic. The highway gets very busy during the day. Please remain in the bike lanes while you ride along the road.
• Helmets Required (Bike travel only) Helmets are required while you travel on your bike. Travel by bike without a helmet will result in disqualification.
• Bike Lock The bike controls are all within 200 meters of a road or trail. There will be cases where you need to drop your bike and hike for a short distance to reach the control. While we didn't encounter many others when we set the course, you should lock your bike if you're concerned about theft when you hike to the controls.
• Bike DropSomeone will remain at the remote aid station at least until 18:00. You're welcome to drop a bike at the remote aid station if you think that could help your planned route.

Watercraft

• Not Mandatory You are not required to travel by watercraft during the race. However, we only provide a map of the water controls at the remote aid station. You have to visit the aid station to get the map. We will not count points for the water controls if you haven't visited the remote aid station, but someone else provided you with the locations of the water controls.
• Inflatable Only Only inflatable watercraft are allowed. This can include inflatable pack rafts, inflatable kayaks, inflatable paddleboards, etc. No hard-shell watercraft are allowed. You're welcome to swim across the lake if that's what you're into. We suggest bringing a waterproof bag for your pack. Note: PFDs are required for all participants traveling over water.
• Inflate before the Pre-Race Briefing? Don't bother. You'll hike several miles before crossing the water. There's no sense inflating the watercraft beforehand.
• Human-Powered Only Watercraft must be propelled by human power. No sails allowed. No motors allowed. The most common means to propel the watercraft is with oars or paddles. You're also welcome to strap on flippers and flutter-kick your way across the lake if you like.
• Transport by Bicycle You're welcome to carry your inflatable watercraft with you on your bike. You will travel between points by paddling or by carrying your watercraft as you hike.
• PFDs Required You must wear a PFD whenever you're on the water. Travel by watercraft without a PFD will result in disqualification.
• Sign Out/In Before you start traveling by watercraft, we require you to sign out with race directors at the remote aid station. If you plan to travel over water, you are required to show your PFD.

All participants must check in before their race at the event start/finish. In addition to asking participants to sign in, we'll also hand out control cards for the events. During the events, at each "destination marker" (control), participants use a manual punch to record their visit to the control location.

After check in, participants must attend a pre-race briefing at 6:30 AM (for the 12-hour events) or 7:30 AM (for the 3/6-hour events). Please be on time for the mandatory briefings. We'll hand out maps and provide last-minute instructions at the mandatory briefing.

Special Instructions for Adventure Race Events

Please prepare the following for your check-in:

• Declare if you plan to use a mountain bike for travel during parts of your race.
  Note1: You are not obligated to actually use your mountain bike if you declare your intention. We simply verify your equipment at check-in.
• Declare if you plan to travel by inflatable watercraft during parts of your race.
  Note2: You are not obligated to actually use the inflatable watercraft if you declare your intention. We simply verify your equipment at check-in.
• If traveling by inflatable watercraft, each member of the team must show their PFD and inflatable watercraft at check-in.
• If traveling by mountain bike, each member of the team must show their helmet at check-in.
• If participating in a 12-hour event, you must show a working light source at check-in.

All participants will receive 5 maps.

• A tabloid-sized, 1:50000 scale overview map, which shows the location of all maps.
• A tabloid-sized, 1:30000 scale map of the west side of the course.
• A tabloid-sized, 1:25000 scale map of the east side of the course.
• A tabloid-sized, 1:10000 scale map of the west side of the foot part of the course.
• A tabloid-sized, 1:10000 scale map of the east side of the foot part of the course.
• All maps are rotated so magnetic north is straight up on the maps. You do not need to account for declination.
• There is overlap between the smaller scale maps (1:30000, 1:25000) and the larger scale maps (1:10000).

The Rim Country Navigation Games at Lake Mary consists of the following sections:

Section	Straight-Line Distance	Climb	# Controls	Notes
Foot/Bike	52.5km	1000m	37	Note1: For the 6-hour and 12-hour events, you are welcome to use any means to travel to visit the "foot" controls, including travel by inflatable watercraft or bike. If you plan to use an inflatable watercraft or a bike, you must declare your intention at check in. Note2: None of the controls are mandatory. For all events, you're welcome to paddle/walk/ride aimlesly around the courses without visiting any of the destination markers. Note3: There is nothing that separates the foot controls from other controls. The foot controls are worth 1 point. Note4: All bike controls are optional. You may visit as many or as few of the bike controls as you like. You may also use any mode of transportation you like to reach the bike controls. Note5: There is nothing that separates the bike controls from other controls. The bike controls are worth 2 points.
Water	3.75km	50m	5	Note1: For the 6-hour and 12-hour events, you are welcome to use any means to travel to the "water" controls, including travel by inflatable watercraft or on foot. However, most of the water controls are on the banks of the lake and are easier to reach using a watercraft or by swimming. If you plan to travel on the water, you must declare your intention at check in. Note2: None of the water controls are mandatory. For all events, you're welcome to paddle/walk/ride aimlessly around the water course without visiting any of the destination markers. Note3: There is nothing that separates the water controls from other controls. Controls are numbered either 100-199, worth one point, or 200-299, worth two points. The water controls are worth 2 points.

Additional Map Information

• Rogaine Maps All maps are Rogaine-style maps. We have done a minimal amount of field checking of the maps. You can expect unmapped cliffs, boulders, fences, washes, game trails, etc.
• Game Trails There are some game trails. We have not mapped most of the game trails. Some of them could be excellent for traveling between two points. The game trails are sometimes useful when ascending/descending steeper areas of the terrain.
• Blue Stream Lines Except for the solid blue color representing Lake Mary, ALL blue lines represent where water would flow if there were water in the area. Falling rain tends to dig channels in the terrain. The blue lines on the map represent streams, washes, arroyos, re-entrants, whatever you'd like to call them. We hope you'll accept this obvious difference between our deserty maps and the cool maps you have in your fancy-dancy forested areas where you actually have running water.
• No UTM Plotting None. Nada. Negatory. We don't like creating UTM maps, you don't like UTM plotting, so we have no UTM work during the event.
• Declination All maps include magnetic north lines. Don't bother learning the declination at Lake Mary. You don't need to know it. And, if you have a declination dialed into your compass, go ahead and adjust your compass back to 0 degree declination. Really. Seriously. Our maps include magnetic north lines, so if you have a compass where you can adjust the declination, you want to adjust the declination to 0 degrees.

• Overview Map 42 controls available. Controls numbered 101-125 are worth 1 point. Controls numbered 201-214 are worth 2 points. The scoring applies to both the adventure races and to the rogaines.
• All controls optional There are no mandatory controls to visit. You can visit as many or as few of the controls as you like.
• Ranking Teams are ranked first by number of points and then by elapsed time. If two teams have the same number of points, we'll use elapsed time to make the final ranking.
• Penalties For all courses, we will apply a 1 point penalty for each 5 minutes a team arrives after the cutoff time. For example, a team on the 6-hour event arrives after 6:00:00 hours on the course, no penalty is applied. A team arriving after 6:00:01 will receive a 1-point penalty. A team arriving after 6:04:59 receives a 1-point penalty. A team arriving after 6:05:00 receives a 2-point penalty.
• Disqualification We'll mark teams arriving 30 minutes or more after the course cutoff time as disqualified.

Mandatory Race Gear

• Whistle
• Compass
• Water carrying capacity for 2-3 liters.
  Water is available at the start/finish, at the remote aid stations, and up to 8 locations on the course. Most of the water stations are at distant controls further from the start/finish. We suggest you bring some type of water purification (filter straw, filter, tablets) for emergency water from Lake Mary itself.
• Space blanket. (For emergencies. 12-hour events only.)
• Cell phone. (For pictures or emergency calls. One per team. Not for navigation. Use for navigation will result in disqualification.)
• First aid kit. (Mandatory for 12-hour events only. One per team.)
• Water purification tablets or filter. (Mandatory for 12-hour events only. One per team.)
• Waterproof map holder. (Maps are not waterproof.)
• Light source like a flashlight, headlamp, etc. with fresh batteries. (12-hour events only)
  The 12-hour events will finish near dusk.
  Participants must carry a light source for safety.

Mandatory Bicycle Gear

• Mountain bike. You will find it easier to hit cutoff times if you use a bicycle to travel to the distant bike controls.
• Helmet
• Bike tool kit (At least one per team.)
• Spare tube. (One for each bike.)
• Bike lock (optional). You will have to drop your bike and travel on foot up to 100 meters for all controls. None of the controls are accessible from a road or trail, so you won't be able to ride up to the controls themselves.

Water Gear

For the 6-hour and 12-hour events, use of inflatable watercraft is optional. The 5 water controls are shown on a map that participants receive at the remote aid station. Participants traveling over the water are required to have a PFD, even if they choose to swim across the lake.

There is no prescribed water course. Five controls are located on either side of the lake. The most efficient route to collect all the water controls could have participants cross the lake up to 5 times. There are no mandatory paddle sections. Participants are allowed to portage their watercraft as needed.

At check-in, you must declare if you plan to travel by inflatable watercraft or swim. The gear listed below is required for those who will include travel by watercraft.

• Any type of inflatable, non-motorized watercraft. This could include an inflatable kayak, packraft, paddleboard, etc. You are also allowed to use fins and swim. You will likely carry the watercraft up to 5 kilometers on foot or by bicycle. You should not inflate your watercraft before the race.
• Personal floatation device (PFD). Each participant must have their own PFD. This is in addition to the inflatable watercraft itself.
• Waterproof bag. For transporting gear that you don't want to get wet while you travel on the water.

Recommended Gear

• Sun screen. There is shade throughout the course. We were left with a blistery sunburn after we set the controls. We encourage you to protect yourself from sunburn.
• Leg gaiters, especially for off-trail travel. There are minimal prickly plants, but some noxious plants as well as foxtail grass could add to your annoyance. Leg gaiters could help.
• Duct tape.
• Lightweight rain jacket (rain is in the forecast).
• Extra clothing layers. It's likely to be in the high 50's at the start of the 12-hour events. Daytime temperatures are expected in the mid 80s.

Not Allowed

• Any device that uses a satellite connection for navigation, distance, or elevation. This includes standalone GPS units and GPS watches. You are allowed to use a GPS unit for recording your track, but you must not use any of the navigation functions of the unit during the race. We will disqualify any racer using a GPS unit for navigation during the race.
• Motorized bicycles (electric, gas, etc.) (Do we really have to tell you?)