New area requires new map symbols!

[Zokko!]

Anyone not otherwise engaged next Sunday, 15th March, might like to try a run at the SROC Compass Sport Cup/Trophy NW round on the new area called Farleton Knott, where EOD will be available on all courses. Mapper Malcolm Campbell has found it necessary to introduce several different screens to interpret the terrain adequately. You can view some extracts from the map and comprehensive notes from the planner on the event webpage. Those lucky enough to have seen the whole map say it is a brilliant job, and the terrain will pose a true orienteering challenge.

[IanD]

Someone had fun writing those details:

As a piece of general guidance, do not jump off anything unless you can clearly see where you are going to land. Limestone does not offer a comfortable landing.

[guessed]

The quarry is bordered by a high wall or a fence with danger notices at frequent intervals. These should not be climbed or crossed.

Perhaps they should put red/white tape around the notices then ?

[geomorph]

Very interesting. Great to see that there are still areas that are truly different out there.

Am looking forward to seeing how these are exploited in the planning and route choice when it comes up on routegadget next week.

Now, I wonder how we can express in a similar way the mud differences encountered in the East Midlands: ride with black shallow mud (less than 30cm); ride with variable depth brown mud (up to 1m); ride sustaining uncrossable marsh with occassional tussock islands ......

we probably also need a screen for 'terrain traversed by multiple bike trails (distinct but unmapped as they are too adjacent for clear mapping)'.

[Homer]

So, what did everyone think?

Great area for sure. Map very good but planning inevitably a little compromised by the need to strictly stick to crossing points on the (many) walls.

I hope SROC will be able to gain access again in the future.

[RJ]

It was a wonderful day's orienteering, with mildish weather. The terrain hid most of the controls very well, requiring you to navigate carefully. The ground was murder to run on.... I was very careful going over the limestone.... the memory of seeing the ground coming up to meet me the last time I orienteered on similar ground put caution very high on the list of priorities!!

A great contrast in terrain for the second half with the thorn bushes reducing visibility considerably. However, they were difficult to deal with when your eyes were on the holes in the ground where you were about to put your feet.

Thanks SROC.... a great competition. Fingers crossed for the CSC results!!

Not the official CSCup competition results.... but computed in the more usual fashion they are published on http://www.lakes-o.freeserve.co.uk and use the results published by SROC from the event.

[The Cumbrian]

Enjoyed the challenge of a new (though a family member remembers orienteering in this area in the '70's?) and different area. Liked the map out on the open once you'd tuned to it...it all made sense, not so keen on the wooded area...the area around the penultimate control on the Brown was imo not accurately mapped. A good day out though!

[deebee]

...and I got my first sheep/deer tick of the year!