An essential skill for entering the TGO Challenge is to be a competent navigator. In the not-so-distant past that meant being able to locate yourself on a map by looking at surrounding features and using back bearings, being able to walk on a bearing and judging distance by counting steps. Nowadays, digital mapping and GPS technology have made navigation a lot easier, but significant skills are still required.
What is a “Competent Navigator”?
Certainly, it is a lot more than just being able to follow a GPX track on a screen – an understanding of the map beneath the line is essential. For participating in the TGO Challenge you should be able to:
- Pinpoint where you are on the map and quote a British Grid Reference for that location; conversely, you should be able to locate a position on a map given its Grid Reference. We ask all Challengers to download the OS Locate app so you can give us or the emergency service an accurate location.
- Understand what the map is telling you about your location and planned route, identifying hazards between you and your next destination and features useful as “handrails”.
- Use a compass, analogue or digital, and know how to take and walk on a bearing.
- Follow your planned route, understanding the terrain underfoot and the ascent involved and how both might affect your speed and progress.
- Navigate in poor visibility when a path may be indistinct or absent.
- Make an informed decision on potential alternatives based on the features on the map, should conditions or injury require you to re-route.
How does this list make you feel?
- Confident in your skills. That’s perfect.
- A little nervous. We’d suggest you get out and practise before you participate.
- Wondering what we’re talking about. You need to take a navigation course before you apply for a place – and then get out and practise, practise, practise!
- Got a TGOC place and now worried about your navigation skills? It’s best to be honest. Contact the Coordinators and discuss your situation while there is time to learn and practise. They and your Vetter may also give advice on what skills you need for your proposed route.
What maps to use?
For planning your route you can use various maps, but bear in mind that for walking your route we consider only Ordnance Survey and Harveys maps are suitable, and you’ll need to use Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 mapping to complete your Route Sheet. Our sponsor OMN offers free access to all Challengers for 8 months, so all Challengers have access to digital OS maps.
- Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 maps are recommended to both plan and walk your route. Your Vetter will use these maps.
- Ordnance Survey Explorer 1:25,000 maps can be useful for planning as they give more detail (e.g. field boundaries).
- Harveys 1:40,000 and 1:25,000 maps are excellent maps designed specifically for walkers but do not cover the entire Challenge area.
- Large scale maps such as road maps and Google Earth can be used when planning to get an overview but must not be relied upon during the Challenge.
- Open source mapping has improved significantly in recent years and is now used by many planning tools and platforms. However, it still has significant limitations, in particular, no facility to calculate UK grid references and not showing hazards such as crags so should only be used alongside Ordnance Survey maps during the Event.
Digital or physical?
We don’t mind what method you use as long as you are using the most up to date versions. Both have advantages and disadvantages – physical maps can get wet or blow away, digital devices can run out of battery or malfunction, and both can get lost. Whatever you choose as your primary means of navigation you need to carry a backup. If using digital maps, you should also carry either printouts or a second separate device. If using physical maps, you should carry spare copies or a digital device.
Sheet maps or printouts and digital downloads should cover sufficient territory to allow for diversions necessitated by extreme weather or injury.
There are many parts of the Challenge area where there is no mobile internet signal. If using a digital mapping app during the Event, please ensure you have downloaded all the relevant maps for use offline.
Whichever form of maps you choose, you need to be competent and practised with your primary method and have a working knowledge and some experience of your backup method. Every member of a team must carry their own maps and a physical compass and know how to interpret both in case they become separated.
Both digital and analogue systems need to be learnt and practised.
Overseas participants
We expect British participants to already be familiar with Ordnance Survey maps and grid references, but appreciate both may be unfamiliar to overseas participants. If you need some help click the buttons below.