In this the first part of our mountain navigation series, we cover the different map sources available to ID users and the scales and symbols used on them. 

MAP SOURCES

There are a wide variety of sources of maps which can be used for navigation in the United Kingdom.

Online

Online resources like Google Maps and Multimap, while great for planning roadtrips, don’t really cut it when it comes to navigating in the hills.  Although Multimap uses Ordnance Survey (OS) data, the lack of detailed topology (the way in which geographical elements are related to each other) on Google Maps makes the later a definite non-starter.

 
 

In mountain navigation you not only need to be able to see information about your immediate area but also the wider area, sometimes many miles out.  This is essential when trying to use geographical features such as surrounding peaks and distant lakes to locate yourself on the map.
This is where the online maps generally fall down.  Due to the limited area you can print out on a single sheet, a route could end up spanning multiple sheets of A4, which in driving rain and a gale could get quite confusing.

Local Peoples said that Mt. Merbaboe and Mt. Merapi were wife and husband. Merbaboe stand for “Meroe” and “baboe” these words mean woman mountain (merapi wife’s). Mt. Merbabu have many peaks, the highest ones is Kenteng Songo 3.142 masl (meter above sea level).
There are some trails, which can lead to the summit of the mountain. The most popular track is Kopeng Village from the north and Selo Village from the south.
From Semarang we can ride bus to Solo, but we must stop in Salatiga a small town between Semarang and Solo. We can continue with mini bus from Pasar Sapi to Kopeng. Kopeng is good place to relax, there are many hotels and inns, camping side and Umbul Songo waterfalls.
Songo (nine) is a big number, local people in merbaboe describe the high of the waterfall and give the name of the waterfall Umbul Songo. Umbul means spring, and umbul songo is a spring from the high. Kenteng Songo is the name of the highest peak, and this means there are many stones (kenteng).
Mt. Lawoe located 100 km in the east from Mt. Merbaboe, local peoples there, describe a huge number with the word “Sewoe” this means thousand. The high waterfall called Grojogan Sewoe, and a small village in the slope of the mountain called Cemoro Sewoe, a place with so many spar trees.