okansas.blogspot.com
Occassional thoughts about orienteering


Sunday, September 02, 2012

My current "rule of thumb" for MTB O trail mapping

 

I spent some more time working on an MTB orienteering map.  The map clip shows some of the trail network.



I've been struggling a bit with the mapping.  It is tempting to draw lots of variations in the rideability of the trails.  As a trail alternates between faster and slower (usually due to rocks on the trail), it would be easy to over map the changes.

For my current project, I'm mapping trails in three categories.  The clip above shows all three.  The dominant category is the fastest riding and is shown with the longest dashes.  Slower riding is show with shorter dashes (see the area labelled "B") and the slowest riding is show with very short dashes (see the area labelled "A").

To try to avoid over mapping the differences I'm following a "rule of thumb."  Specifically, I don't draw a change in unless it covers an area at least as wide as my thumb (on the 1:5,000 map I was using to fieldcheck this represents about 120 meters on the ground).

I make an exception for the areas that are extremely slow.  The area labelled "A" above is short, maybe 50-60 meters, but is quite rough.  If I were biking it, I'd have to get off and push the bike. I suspect a better rider would be able to ride some of the areas I've mapped as extremely slow.

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posted by Michael | 2:01 PM

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Saturday, September 01, 2012

"Year of he Perfect Run"

 

I recently finished Year of the Perfect Run - a non-fiction orienteering book about trying to have a perfect run.  I found it interesting, though I got bogged down in some of the leg-by-leg descriptions of the races.  An orienteer reading the book will recognize a lot of the author's experiences and frustrations.

Back to okansas.blogspot.com.

posted by Michael | 10:17 AM

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