With the increasing availability of GPS's,  in cell phones as well as in dedicated GPSs, GPS use is becoming more common although still not widespread.  So although a GPS is not needed, those with a unit will find a range of resources available which can add interest to the mountain experience.  (Navigation is only one of many GPS uses, and not necessarily the most important!).  Those interested may like to read more about the use of GPS units and some cautions. 

Map References: A letter from [A] to [Z] is used to identify all routes.  This shorthand notation is used to identify the routes marked on the maps (both printed and electronic) and those in the GPS, in order to avoid clutter. The [ ] brackets are used to make the route marker stand out on the maps and in the GPS display.   Note: To display these route symbols in Mapsource or in a GPS, the file Garmin Custom Waypoint Symbols needs to be downloaded and unpacked into the My Garmin folder.  

Maps: Two kinds of maps provided, one for those who don't have a GPS or mapping software, and one for those who do have a GPS and/or mapping software.  The former are in either Adobe pdf or jpg (picture) files which can be downloaded and printed.   Those who have mapping software may prefer to downland the GPS tracks and make their own maps. It also hoped to soon have the capability to download Garmin img files which can be loaded into Mapsource and a GPS unit as a transparent overlay. (See below on how to do this yourself...)

Open Source Maps (OSM): OSM Street Maps provide a potentially useful resource as additional tracks can be added easily, especially if combined with a transparent contour set such as that available from MadMappers.  Note The solid TMNP boundaries obscure any contours that are added (from Africa Topo for example) in Garmin Mapsourse and in a GPS, but display correctly using Garmin Basecamp.  A solution is under investigation.... any help or suggestions gratefully received! (The OSM maps are also available in Garmin format from http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl)

Track and route marking: A major problem with Garmin Mapsource (a common standard mapping and GPS software) is that it has very limited track drawing capability. A solid black line or ugly thick coloured lines are all it can manage. The successor to Mapsource, Basecamp, is better, but still limited. Although tools exist to draw better maps, they are complex or expensive... or both.  Recently (2010) a neat package has been released called gpx2img which converts gpx (or Gamin gdb) files into a transparent Garmin img file which can be loaded into Mapsource or Basecamp and a GPS.  At the same time, the style of a track can be changed so that dashed and dotted lines can be used.  (Lines could also be coloured but these do not transfer well across different print, screen and GPS media, so simple black lines seem better, especially as colour printers are not in common use.)

The following notation is used: 

Map	Description	Likely grades
	Jeep track or major path e.g pipe track	0
	Defined path	0, 1 and 2
	Scrambling route or off-path	2, 3, 4 and 5

	Jeep track, contour path
	Walk
	Easy scramble
	Moderate scramble
	Difficult scramble
	Rock climb

Marking of grading on maps:  The grade in a circle is used on maps to mark the grade in situ.  These will also be visible in a GPS unit. This has overcome a major concern that, by marking scrambling routes on a map, a user may assume it is an easy path.  Making the grade directly visible reduces this risk.  Long routes can also be marked at a number of points, or the approach can be marked with a different grade if this links up with another route, etc.  All in all this has proved very useful and solved a number of problems. NB To display the grade markers in Mapsource or in a GPS, the file Garmin Custom Waypoint Symbols needs to be downloaded and unpacked into the My Garmin folder. 

Note: The conversion of maps to use this notation is in progress (as of April 2011) and will take some time.... any volunteers? 

You can also create your own maps using gpx2img and use the TYP file available here to convert tracks to the dashed and dotted formats. (It is not automatic - some manual editing is required, but it is easy.)  One small current problem with gpx2img is that it adds labels to all waypoints and tracks.  The developer has undertaken to release a new version "soon" (May 2011?)  that adds a flag to turn these on and off.  Not a problem on a small area, but results in a lot of clutter on a big area like all of TM. (It is only in Mapsource that this is a problem - in the GPS labels can be turned on or off.)

To display the map produced by gps2img together with any other Mapsource map (for example to overlay the tracks on the SA Topographical) a second step is needed.  MapSetToolKit is one tool for doing this. (See also Free Geography Tools and Maps 'n Trails for more information.) Looks a bit intimidating, but it manages all the complex stuff remarkably easily. MapSetToolKit is also an excellent tool for managing mapsets in Mapsource which is otherwise a "black box". 

PS A side benefit of using the [A], [B], etc notation is that the GPS track names stay nicely sorted "geographically" in both the GPS and Mapsource.  They otherwise end up being sorted alphabetically which was unnatural.  It is also a major help for organising all the data that underpins Mountain Meanders.