Rule changes - for nerds only

[EddieH]

I have just been looking at the latest (2004) update to control descriptions.

Apparently when using the between symbol features should no longer be both placed in column C, but should be in column C and D (as for junctions and crossings).

Four years later I have never seen this done and Condes still has the function to do the old system.

Hardly important, but interesting to note how ineffective some rule changes can be.

I note that this was also the time when the symbol for "rib" was dropped - scarcely used but theoretically a spur was a single contour feature and it became a rib when it was longer than a single contour.

In the ancient days, the word "niche" was used to describe a single contour reentrant. |I have always thought that another pictorial symbol that differentiated would make it far easier to clearly describe many features in many areas.

[geomorph]

just up my street then

Uk sport look away now

I thought 'niche' was a really good differentiation; worked well when used correctly.
Many however were 'form line' level, and worse still they were 'created' to put features in an otherwise featureless area, and had a so called 'bingo' element to it.

Now we are using 1:5000 again at the highest level, with a high density of active controls, true niches are great locations, and clearly readable in amonsgt other detail. Many parkland/landscaping mounds/knolls contain them. Certainly they can abound in dune areas, especially where eroded. Rock outcrops are often separated by them, especially in quarried areas. They allow kites to be 'hidden' cos often you cannot see a niche until you are right next to it.

I suppose the argument was that they are just short deep re-entrants. We just don't have a descriptor, 'short', only 'shallow', and quality niches are rarely shallow. Shallow niches are in the same category as shallow small depressions.... Deep - well that depends on whether viewed from above or below

so there you are niche = steep-sided short re-entrant requiring no more than 1 contour to deviate.

[Kitch]

Clearly controllers do not believe that they or orienteers at large are nerds and therefore the rule changes do not apply

[Gnitworp]

so there you are niche = steep-sided short re-entrant requiring no more than 1 contour to deviate.

With its reverse: a pulpit?

[geomorph]

so there you are niche = steep-sided short re-entrant requiring no more than 1 contour to deviate.

With its reverse: a pulpit?

guess I'm preaching to the converted