The corn maze just east of Lawrence should be open soon. The maze -- built by well-known crop artist Stan Herd -- will be in the shape of a butterfly. Last year you got a map as you entered the maze, making it something like an orienteering event.

The maze is expected to be open soon (June 24, I think) and will be open through about the end of September. It is at Pendleton's Country Market, 1446 E. 1850 Rd.

-- Michael (meglin@juno.com), June 06, 2000

Answers

Last year, they Pendelton's informed us that running was frowned upon. Therefore, we will have to disallow times of those who run. Further, I highly recommend NOT going after it rains... unless mud is the preferred surface to travel upon.

Should we set a date for those interested?

-- Fritz (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), June 06, 2000.

Let's set up an OK maze trip. How about sometime after the Forest Park event?

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), June 06, 2000.

Do you think we could arrange a time for OKers to _run_ through the maze? At the beginning or end of the day? We could have a real competition, then. Or we time each person as they walk through the maze, and trust OKers not to cheat (or knock down little kids and old ladies who get in their way!)

-- Mary (maprunner@juno.com), June 07, 2000.

Might want to talk with the folks at Pendleton's.

When we were there last year, they said they would plant this year's maze in milo, to allow for crop rotation. Thus, we might want to wait until the optimal height is reached... which, as I understood, was still only about 2 feet.

Do they have a website and does it have a number or email?

-- Fritz (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), June 07, 2000.

Check out:

http://www.pendletons.com/

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), June 07, 2000.

Which leads to the article giving a more complete description of the maize maze @ http://www.ljworld.com/section/citynews/story/10055 wherein I found they will be having corn and it won't be open until the 27th and after the Forest Park meet would be a good time. I'll email and see about us reserving the maze...

-- Fritz (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), June 08, 2000.

Time to kill two birds with one stone. Arrange a time when orienteers can run (at night, if need be), and make it the Heartland Champs. You can let Pendleton's know that the required time window won't need to be too long, since we move fast.

-- J-J (jjcote@juno.com), June 08, 2000.

Night O' would be very cool. It would also avoid interfering with the regular operation of the corn maze. How about the "unofficial world night corn-maze orienteering championships"?

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), June 08, 2000.

Pendleton's really might allow this.

But, how to make sure people had an equal advantage with respect to lamps. Go one at a time, all using the same lamp? Or limit folks the the AA battery headlamps? Or, better yet, just do it during the full moon with no lamps!

-- Fritz (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), June 09, 2000.

Well if one wanted to be picky about lights we could get that Scot guy to send us his lastest USOF night-O rules. I'm sure he would love to add a section about corn maze events. Perhaps he would have to say something like this:

3.5.21 Paragraph B: An exception to the 31-candela open flame limit is the annual US corn maze night championships wherein, in consideration of the possible hazard open flames or enclosed gas lamps pose to other competitors, flame-based sources of illumination are deemed illegal...

... or some other nonsense.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), June 09, 2000.

Actually, he already has a clause about flame-based illumination being illegal.

I can't imagine that you need to worry about lamp power in a place where even the wimpiest lamp can light up the longest straightaway. But the full-moon idea is excellent. I did one night-O under a full moon with only a 1 AAA penlight to read the map. It would be great to issue everybody one of these little keychain lights, and that's all you get. And hey, who needs the moon? There's not much to trip over in there, and you can always feel your way around. And you don't have to worry about the one thing that caused me problems during my full moon adventure: barbed wire.

-- J-J (jjcote@juno.com), June 12, 2000.

We would be glad to have your group out to the maze this summer. We are opening the maze on the 24th of June, and will be open until at least Labor Day. Since we would want to close the maze to other guests while you are in competition, maybe a Sunday morning would work? We are more than willing to work with you all on this! Sounds like fun!

-- Karen Pendleton (karenp@pendletons.com), June 16, 2000.

You all heard the nice lady from Pendleton's. So, after a brief phone chat with Mike, I am asking for input as to people's thought on truly having a Sunday morning romp through the maze. We figured sometime in August would allow for some time to prepare. Anyone have any weekend they are more amenable to, or can't make?

-- Fritz (fpmenninger@hotmail.com), June 26, 2000.