Any thoughts about where we could find the longest straight stretch of mapped terrain in Australia. Perhaps Bendigo?
If we were to look for unmapped terrain that would make a passable o map, obviously you could go out into the outback and find hundreds of kms of open space, but it wouldn't be very exciting. The Great Dividing Range is too steep and thick to find a useable 35km straight stretch. There's some long lines of rock in NSW, but I'd guess not 35km in a line and above ground. Flinders Ranges could be possible perhaps?
A few years back we found a 24km straight line from the old Castlemaine Goldfields map south to Porcupine Ridge - with one small bit in the town of Chewton which isn't on a foot-O map but is on an MTBO map.
I think it is quite far if you go east from world’s end near Whyte- yarcowie. I don’t think there is a paved road for a long time.
The
Great Western Woodlands is twice the size of Tasmania. A lot of it would be flat and boring, but there are significant granite and banded ironstone areas, and a lot of old gold mining.
I know Scotland isn't as big as OZ, but there is a lovely 9km (or so) line almost due E-W on the Glen Tanar, Birsemore, Balfour maps (as used for days 1-3 of Scottish 6-Days 2017).
https://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#4... then following 2 days as well...
The contiguous Bendigo maps form an arc around Bendigo, so a straight line would not get anywhere near the 32 kilometres being discussed on AP elsewhere. If someone completes mapping the Whipstick/Kamerooka Forest there is a potential 25 kilometre straight line there.
No, not volunteering.
From the north side of Castlemaine going south would provide a good line. There are perhaps a couple of spots with open, but it goes to within a few km of he western highway. Most of it is already mapped
Here is the route Blair mentioned
That's the one. The only part that's not on a foot-O map is the strip of a few hundred metres between the road and the railway line in Chewton, and that's on an MTBO map.
We've just worked out that we could probably get a 44km straight line at Woodhill, might be a couple of small bits that need filling and 1 very old map of the motorcross park but otherwise all on proper O maps in proper terrain. Could even extend out to 46km if the desired mapping at the top goes ahead
As per OA's updated insurance policy, people travelling on foot aren't allowed on MTBO maps. Something along those lines anyway.
I'm keen for that next time I'm around Jimbo
Curve Ball,
@Fly'n I always suggested to ONZ when they ask about holding NZ Rogaine Champs that Woodhill could be made to work, I suspected it was long enough but didn't know it was that long and mapped, bloody perfect.
I'd fly up to run dead straight for 46km, got to be more fun than 200km round a 400m track.
A 24 hour rogaine in Woodhill would be a pretty good test of concentration as well as endurance.
Jimbo, Blair once we're out of quarantine I'd love to come down and run the Castlemaine 24k with you guys. I suggest we do it as intervals. 3 x 8km with 23 hours recovery between reps :-)
Would the Woodhill rogaine have 2.5m contours?
@Fly'n: If your rogainers are like the ones I have organised for, they don't like accurate maps that take the skill out of guesswork. The map was 11km end to end of orienteering mapping.