Hey all,

I'm excited to be gearing up for the 2016 Challenge, my second crossing (my first was 2009)!


As I do not have a store here in the US that can readily provide me with paper maps for route planning, nor do I have intimate knowledge of the majority of the Highlands, I've been creating/finding some digital tools and thought I'd share them.


TGOC 2016 Base Map

Here is a base google maps template that shows 1)all 13 start points, 2) Montrose, 3) every single Munro (to the best that Google Maps could provide me, haven't vetted the full list), and finally 4) a list of Bothies (once again, do your research as I have not verified every one of these).


The Ordnance Survey also has OS Maps, a digital platform that, while not free, lets you see the full breadth of Explorer and Landranger maps.

The combination of these two can be quite unique. With an account, you can draw out your map in OS maps, which can give you things like distance and elevation gain/loss. You can even export your routes as a .GPX file and import it into Google Maps (or other mapping software). You can do the reverse of this by creating paths in Google Maps, exporting them as .KML files, using a free KML to GPX converter (like this one) and import it into OS Maps.


So far, I've used this base map to sketch out my general map in Google Maps, Import the data into OS maps, and fine tune it to actual trails and route so I can get decent distance and height measures.

Anyway, just thought I'd share what I've been doing (not sure if things like this are being done by the community these days). Anything to add/doing anything cool with route planning? I'd love to hear what everyone else is doing to plan!

Good luck with the walk! Will you be bringing along your mighty sack of GORP?

Haha, yes mostly likely I will again have my plentiful sacks of GORP. I'm not sure if I will go unsupported again this time around, but it sure does make logistics easier coming across the ocean.

Hi Shawn,

I simply use proprietary packages: Memory Map, which I've had for years, and Grough Route online mapping which gives access to the 1:25000 OS mapping for all of UK, and street level too, for very little cost. Both will export routes in GPX or on printed maps & route cards.

But all that digital accuracy (or not) is pretty irrelevant if your Naismith Rule is not calibrated accordingly. The really useful information (and you'll know this only too well!) is how long will this day be and how bushed will I be at the end of it? For that reason I always check ascents manually for the Challenge.

And that leads me onto the fine art of map interpretation. This can often matter much more than distance and ascent alone. Tracks etc are one thing, but once venturing off piste a careful study of the map will often reveal much about the terrain, and help you to gauge whether you will bound along at 3mph, or flounder hopelessly at less than 1mph.

Is there an app for that?

You rotter, Sir! You beast!

One mile per hour??? One kilometre an hour, if you're lucky, I seem to recall from last year. Some poor unsuspecting sap of a first-timer might well read your post and be horribly misled...

And speaking of being misled, they should be aware that navigating their way across miles and miles of unrelenting bog in the cloud can lead to navigational misplacement...

Phil,

I've always used paper maps for actual walking. Coming from my Scouting days I'm fairly good with a paper map and compass. GPS and digital tools are great, but you should never rely more on a device than on whats between your ears.

Once I have my route, based primarily off of OS Maps' digital versions of the Landranger maps, I'll either buy the necessary maps or print out my own and waterproof them. MAYBE I'll bring a GPS, but it would be more a novelty than an actual keep me on the track tool. I don't really trust them to tell me where I am, let along where I should be going...

Nope, for me it will be a map, compass, and some good old fashion planning.

good old fashioned planning
Never thought otherwise, Shawn!

You rotter, Sir! You beast!
Ah, well, yes, Al. Some bogs are indeed boggier than others, and I well recall that dreadful 1kph day.

navigational misplacement
US? Surely not.

Hi Shawn


I read Phil's post to you as being helpful. He was simply saying that there's absolutely no need to go bouncing between Google Maps and O.S online mapping and all round Will's Mother's at all. Using Propriety Mapping Software (like Memory Map, Anquet Maps, RouteBuddy et al) you need only to import the waymark points for all the information like Corbetts, Bothies etc into your programme and plan your route using that programme with all those points liberally sprinkled about your plotted route. There's no need for Google Maps at all (which are next to useless in the Highlands).

In fact, if you use RouteBuddy you can click between Aerial View, OS mapping and Google Earth to your heart's content, all from within your software package. Should you so desire you can whack it onto your smartphone or iPad or whatever as well.

I can assure you that Monsieur Lambert would not dream of staring into an electronic device for navigation on the Challenge. He's an Old Stickler for Her Majesty's Ordnance Survey Paper Maps and a magnetised needle floating in a bath of oil; In fact he bemoans the passing of the one inch cloth-backed series.

I do have to admit that last year, somewhere amongst the gloom inside a very dense cloud, with the rain pelting at us relentlessly and with very soggy shreddies, we did break out, from the bottom of a rucsack, a SatMuppet device. It was absolutely no use at all! It told us we were on the wrong hill, for goodness sake!



Edited to see that Phil has also replied. Obviously bashing it out on his trusty Remington as I was struggling with my Olivetti.

OS mapping online on one tab - with 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 up to date.

https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/osmaps/#54.443710447431876,-1.4863022659666185

Where's the Path 2nd tab - handy at times.

http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm

Munro map 3rd tab - obvious.

http://www.munromap.co.uk/


All I use.

Take printout of maps with lots of coverage for the Challenge and maps on a Smartphone as well.

I use Dash4It's website to obtain my paper maps here in the US, they will ship any amount of maps for the set price of 4.95 - a very good value for international shipping. They also arrive within days, again amazing service. Even though I use a free version of Anquet for my actual ascent/descent/mileage, I use my paper maps along with road maps spread out all over the table and sometimes the floor to plan my basic route - and that's after I have selected my start and finish points. With a lifelong affair with maps, I find the route planning to be one of the most interesting parts of the challenge.

This will only be my 7th challenge so I am still in the enviable position of experiencing new areas (to me!) of Scotland, yet unexplored.

Haste Ye Back!

Just a small addendum to this topic, but I've just downloaded the OS 2016 1:25000 mapping for the whole of GB from memory map for £99.99.

They are doing the 1:50000 whole of GB for £50.

Not bad value. Have a look at the offers HERE

Snap.

Thanks for that tip, Phil, I have thinking up upgrading for a while.

Can you still upgrade an old map edition to the new one for less than buying it new? I am sure you used to be able to do that, but I can't find on the website.

You drive a hard bargain, Emma. I wish I'd had you on my buying team! In 2012 I paid £59.40 for the GB 1:50000 after a 40% "upgrade" discount, so I think this offer is pretty fair. I suspect that it shows that margins on digital mapping are not what they used to be, and volume & market share are the name of the game now.

No messin' about, Phil!
Seriously though, that is a good deal, which I will almost certainly go for.

Thanks for the heads up.