Read Topographical maps like a pro

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TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS - AN INTRODUCTION

How to read contour lines and navigate like a pro

If you’ve ever stood at a track junction, staring at your map in confusion, you’re not alone. Navigating with a topographical map can feel like decoding a secret language. But once you understand the basics, you’ll unlock a treasure trove of information about the land around you and you might even fall in love with maps. In this post, I’ll walk you through the essentials of topographical maps, focusing on one of the most crucial elements: contour lines.

By the end, you’ll know how to read these maps and navigate like a seasoned adventurer.

What Is a Topographical Map?

A topographical map is like a 3D model of the terrain flattened into a 2D view. Unlike standard maps that only show roads, paths, and landmarks, topographical maps reveal the shape of the land—its hills, valleys, ridges, and flat areas. They achieve this through contour lines, which represent elevation changes and give hikers, explorers, and outdoor enthusiasts a detailed picture of the landscape.

But before diving into contour lines, let’s quickly understand what makes a topographical map different. Generally speaking most topographical maps contain the following basic components:

• Elevation data: Shows the height of the land above sea level.

• Contour lines: Indicates the slope and terrain’s steepness.

• Geographical features: Highlights key natural elements like rivers, ridges, valleys and lakes.

Whether you’re using an actual physical map OR a digital app (there are quite a few - I prefer GAIA GPS), these maps are your ticket to understanding the land better than ever.

What Are Contour Lines?

Think of contour lines like the steps of a staircase winding around a hill. Each line is a step, showing how the ground rises or falls. If you walked along a contour line, you’d be staying on the same step, never going up or down. The distance between these steps tells you how steep the hill is. Close-together lines mean the hill is steep, like a staircase with higher steps. Wide-apart lines mean the slope is gentle, like a long, sloping ramp OR shorter steps.

Here’s what you need to know about contour lines:

1. Same Elevation: All points along an individual contour line are at the same elevation. If you were to walk along a contour line in real life, you wouldn’t be going up or down. You would be walking at the same level.

2. Distance Between Lines: The spacing between contour lines indicates the steepness of the terrain. If the lines are close together, the land is steep, like climbing stairs. If the lines are far apart, the land is more gently sloped, like walking up a ramp.

3. Contour Intervals: This is the difference in elevation between two contour lines. For example, if the contour interval is 10 metres, the elevation rises (or falls) by 10 metres between each line.

How to Read Contour Lines Like a Pro

Learning to read contour lines takes practice, but it’s a game-changer once you get the hang of it. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Visualise Terrain with Spacing

The spacing of contour lines can tell you whether you’re about to hike up a gentle slope or a brutal ascent. Here’s how to interpret them:

• Close lines = Steep terrain (Red circle in above image): When contour lines are bunched up, that area represents a steep slope or cliff. The closer the lines, the steeper the terrain.

• Wide lines = Gentle terrain (Blue circle in above image): When the lines are spaced farther apart, the terrain is more gradual, like rolling hills or a gentle incline.

For example, if you see a series of closely spaced lines on your map, it’s time to mentally prepare for a tough uphill climb (Or a steep decline depending upon your direction)!

2. Understand Contour Line Shapes

The shapes of contour lines can reveal specific terrain features:

• Circles or ovals (blue circle in below image): Contour lines that form circular shapes represent hills or depressions. If the circles are nested inside each other with smaller circles in the middle, you’re looking at a hill. If there are hachure marks (small inward-facing lines) on the inside, it’s a depression.

• V-shaped lines (see the ‘Cephissus Creek area’ on below image): These indicate valleys or stream beds. The point of the 'V' shows where the water would flow, with the open end pointing downhill.

• U-shaped lines (see purple circle in below image): Often seen in valleys or broad passes, these indicate more open and gentle terrain compared to the sharpness of the 'V' shape.

3. Spotting Peaks and Depressions

Hills and mountains are easy to spot on a topographical map once you understand the circular contour patterns. The innermost circle represents the peak, and as you move outward, the elevation decreases (look in the above image at ‘The Acropolis’ or ‘Mount Eros’).

Depressions or pits work the opposite way: the inner circles go lower, often marked with small hash marks on the lines.

4. Using Contour Lines for Navigation

Knowing how to read contour lines isn’t just a neat skill; it’s incredibly useful for navigation. Let’s say you’re planning a hike and see two possible routes. One route has widely spaced contour lines, and the other has tightly packed lines. You can deduce that the first option will likely be easier with a more gradual ascent, while the second will involve steep climbing.

Contour lines also help you anticipate key landscape features before you even set foot on the trail. You can spot:

• Ridges: Look for contour lines forming a long, narrow elevation with lines tapering at both ends.

• Valleys: Recognize them by 'V' shapes, often with a river or stream marked along the base.

• Saddles: The dip between two peaks, indicated by a figure-eight or hourglass shape (the U shapes described above).

Combining Contour Lines with GPS Apps

While physical topographical maps are excellent for tactile navigation, many modern hikers prefer using apps like GAIA GPS or gpx.studio. These apps allow you to view topographical maps digitally, zoom in for better detail, and track your real-time location.

But here’s a pro tip: always carry a physical map and compass as a backup. Batteries die, and GPS signals can get spotty in remote areas. A physical map never fails and it is nice to have the tactility of a hard copy map. It’s also a great thing to open up, sit around and discuss at the end of the day.

Real-World Example: Navigating Steep Terrain

Over a decade ago, during a challenging hike in Tasmania’s Frankland Range, we woke to a complete whiteout. Despite the tough conditions, we confidently navigated using our hard copy map. Carefully, we made our way through open valleys to a steep ridge line, and eventually, the weather cleared. By reading the contour lines, we pinpointed our exact positions and identified the correct ridge to follow. The terrain features, like a series of knolls, that we could see through the mist, confirmed we were on the right path. This experience underscored the power of reading contour lines: they enable informed decisions along the journey.

Conclusion: Master the Map, Master the Land

Reading contour lines on a topographical map might seem tricky at first, but it quickly becomes second nature with a bit of practice. Whether you’re using a physical map or a digital app, contour lines provide crucial information that helps you navigate the landscape, avoid tough climbs, and find the best routes.

So next time you head out for a hike, bring a topographical map and start reading the land like a pro. Take your time, pull the map out when you can and try to understand the undulations in the terrain around you with map in hand. It is also a bit of fun! With these skills in your toolkit, you’ll never get lost again—and you might just find a hidden treasure along the way.

If you want to learn more about topographical maps then click the button below. This will keep you updated about any future information or tutorial products we release in the future.

THAT’S ALL FOR THIS WEEK

Thank you for reading Mowser’s Musings. I hope you found it helpful.

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Until next week.

Stay well,

Mowser

Helping hiking enthusiasts explore the great outdoors

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