Detailed and accurate maps are essential for quality adventure running and orienteering races and programs. They are also a very useful and important tool for search and rescue and emergency services in the community. With this in mind Golden Horseshoe Orienteering (GHO) has initiated a large investment and revision of the many maps covering the entire Dundas Valley Conservation area.  Surveying and cartography of the central region of the Dundas Valley was started late last autumn by two Scottish mappers. A Swedish mapper, Erik Sundberg, is currently expanding the surveying this spring.

Erik Sundberg (Sweden) surveying in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area using GPS technology.

Erik is using a handheld GPS system to assist with his surveying of the Sulphur Springs map (see photo upper left).  The last time the Sulphur Springs map was updated was in 1991 and at that time the map was the first orienteering map in Ontario to be drawn using a computer (OCAD software).  So perhaps it is fitting that nearly two decades later this new GPS surveying technology is being used at Sulphur Springs.

"We don't have terrain like this in Sweden", says Sundberg  "but this terrain is very nice" he adds.  When Sundberg arrived three weeks ago there was 10-20 cm of snow on the ground but with the exception of a large weekend rain storm he has had excellent weather to survey and he is making great progress on the surveying.  Sundberg was available to survey in Hamilton this spring because there is still a lot of snow in the forests in his native Sweden where he makes a living making orienteering maps. But the Dundas Valley terrain has its own challenges.  "There is a lot of detail on the hillsides... and they are very steep too", he stated.

GHO has focussed most of its mapping efforts in the communities of Halton, Barrie and Caledon over the last ten years and the maps in Hamilton and the Dundas Valley in particular were in serious need of updates.  "We need to get the Dundas Valley maps competition ready for this autumn's Golden Leaf Orienteering Festival" says Mike Waddington, a course planner for the autumn races. "One of the races this autumn is a World Ranking Event and there are international mapping standards we need to adhere too and besides an accurate map  not only makes for a fairer race but also makes for a safer Dundas Valley.  We want our adventure runners to have an enjoyable experience but we also want our maps to be the best tool available for any emergency effort that may occur in the Valley" he adds. A quick comparison of the old and the new shows the dramatic change in map quality.

In addition to making the maps 'competition ready', GHO is also  checking the location of the over 225 'location posts' throughtout the Dundas Valley. These  'location posts' include a four digit identification number that Golden Horseshoe Orienteering designed and set-up a few years ago in partnership with the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) for use by  search and rescue personnel.  Using the new GPS technology the modern maps will be able to uploaded to some handheld GPS devices and iPhones. "We think that this will be a great aid for potential search and rescue efforts" says Waddington, "and we have plans to utilize the new maps and this new technology in education programs with the HCA", he adds.