Best way to draw out a route on an OS map?

[Garnett]

As per the title really. Taking part in a psuedo-orienteering walk called Tour De Trigs. They give you a set of grid references and you have to walk from A to B to C. It's 50 miles mostly in darkness.

I was wondering if anyone has any good ideas about how to mark out the route clearly and without obfuscating too much underlining map detail.

Thanks for any tips.

 

[The Joker]

Mark the route out on a plastic overlay, then it can be removed to see the map clearly and placed back when necessary.

 

[Mesquite]

Mark the route out on a plastic overlay, then it can be removed to see the map clearly and placed back when necessary.

Just make sure you use permenant makers for the overlay, not the water soluble ones

 

[Garnett]

Mark the route out on a plastic overlay, then it can be removed to see the map clearly and placed back when necessary.

Sounds good, but what sort of plastic do you use? Doesn't it make it hard to fold up the map?

 

[resnikov]

Chinagraph pencil would work on a map case, might even work on the laminated OS maps aswell.

 

[The Joker]

Just a bit of stiff-ish transparent plastic that you can place on the map so its not attached and wont affect the map.

 

[Garnett]

Chinagraph pencil would work on a map case, might even work on the laminated OS maps aswell.

They look good. I was wondering whether the non-permanent Staedtler Lumocolor Map makers would be durable enough, but Mesquite's comment seems to suggest not!

 

[Mesquite]

They look good. I was wondering whether the non-permanent Staedtler Lumocolor Map makers would be durable enough, but Mesquite's comment seems to suggest not!

They're fine until it starts to rain

 

[The Joker]

Or, just take a colour copy of the area and scribble on it to your hearts content....cause its a disposable copy.

 

[nac mac feegle]

my way is tracing paper and an ordinary pencil can mark routes and way points on any map and fold inside easily just mark a crossing grid lines and mark the numbers to realign if nessesary i try to keep copys of routes walked and then on a rare empty day you can chose one and off you go

 

[Garnett]

my way is tracing paper and an ordinary pencil can mark routes and way points on any map and fold inside easily just mark a crossing grid lines and mark the numbers to realign if nessesary i try to keep copys of routes walked and then on a rare empty day you can chose one and off you go

Niiiice! That seems like a good solution. Might try and find something between the two that can stand up to a rain lashing a bit better than tracing paper.

 

[hoppinmad]

I would second resnikov...in the use of a chinagraph pencil and a laminated os map..the pencil can be removed with some tooth paste..also no need for a map case

 

[Garnett]

I would second resnikov...in the use of a chinagraph pencil and a laminated os map..the pencil can be removed with some tooth paste..also no need for a map case

Are these chinagraph pencils easy to use on laminated maps? Do they show up clearly, and is the mark suitably permanent not to come off in heavy rain/mud/user error!

 

[hoppinmad]

get a suitable colour for visability [not red..red head torch at night may not show up like countours]..it is easy to mark..but quite difficult to get of hence the need for something like tooth paste

 

[gregorach]

I used to use a chinagraph pencil on laminated maps for route-plotting back in my flight-simming days... You can erase them with an ordinary rubber, but it takes a fair bit of elbow grease. I still use them for writing plant labels because they're waterproof, although they do eventually fade after a few months outside. I clean the labels with steel wool, and it still takes a fair bit of elbow grease...

So yeah, chinagraphs are erasable with effort, but they're not going anywhere by accident.

 

[Garnett]

Thanks a lot, guys. This info is invaluable. I think Chinagraphs are what I'll go with. Now, what colour! Hoppinmad has got me thinking - looking at an os map, blue seems like it would stand out.

 

[mike-bennett]

yeah i am thing of doing the tour, i will just mark the map, i always have, i treat maps as fairly disposable. if you use them a lot you get used to it.

i know people will disagree but when we used to get through maps rallying they just become worn, after 50 miles it will be not much good anyway, especially if its wet.

a decent pencil, nice and soft is the best way.

 

[Wayland]

Chinagraph can be erased quickly with a drop of meths on a kitchen towel if needed.

Should work well on laminated maps.

I just print off A3 pages from Memory Map and mark them up as required.

 

[naefearjustbeer]

A3 print outs how do you do that! I am sure I can only do A4 with Memory map

I print out maps and laminate them at home that way I can use them in all weathers and out on a sea kayak without worry.

 

[resnikov]

With an A3 printer?