Courtesy of Bing. A ravine and a draw are both terrain features that are formed by two parallel ridges or spurs with low ground in between them. The area of low ground itself is the draw, and it is defined by the spurs surrounding it 1. A ravine is almost any small watercourse, and it is similar to a valley on a smaller scale. However, while valleys are by nature parallel to a ridgeline, a ravine is perpendicular to the ridge and rises with the surrounding ground, disappearing up-slope. It is usually etched in a hillside by water flow, is usually dry, but many contain an ephemeral stream or loose rocks from eroded rockfall 12. In summary, a ravine is a small watercourse that is perpendicular to the ridge and rises with the surrounding ground, while a draw is a terrain feature formed by two parallel ridges or spurs with low ground in between them 12.

My impression of a draw has alway been that you might find a place from which to "draw" water. It is simply a noun formed from the verb; to draw.

I went to see a feature film at the cinema but they threw me out for trying to touch the screen! Great video and instruction as always. Cheers

You're a delightful teacher...I appreciate the info you share and your sense of humor.

As usual , a great ,clear and easy to understand description .

After becoming "locationally challenged" on some well travelled area of the Western Pennines. The day started off all clear then the un forecasted rain and mist set in.All my usual points of reference were lost in a 100m visabilty damp haze. Two hours of pushing my mountain bike across knee deep peat bogs made me buy an OS map and compass.And you are teaching me how to use them. Thanks chief.

I admire your common sense explanations on all your videos so that I and the rest of the audience have a working knowledge of land navigation. Thank you.

Regarding the "draw", think of a drawer, or drawing a bowstring. They all have the same root: to pull. It's an area where the ground looks like something has been pulled across it... drawing it down.. ;)

As usual there's now something new to think about. Thank you, Sir.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, I always learn so much from your talks.

My first thought when you said draw was a line from the song "Ghost riders in the sky." "When all at once a mighty herd of red eyed cows he saw, plowing through the ragged skies and up the cloudy DRAW." Another informative and helpful video.

Draw: I think it is from the use of the verb to draw where it is to get, take, or receive as from a source. It is a drainage from the surrounding area or source

Interesting and useful video as always. I like the requirement to be able to physically 'touch' (or perhaps, "observe") a map feature, so I am slightly discomforted by contour lines. Whilst a valuable/vital mapping feature, I think most people would struggle to distinguish between one contour line and another in a terrain, unless the specific line in question contained a very unique 'feature' (haha, pun not really intended). Yes, I guess you might be able to identify a specific point on a specific contour by taking very accurate bearings, but you could also do that with a Viewpoint symbol which you dismissed! Best regards 🙂

Than you for a comprehensible and detailed explanation of terms.. Cheers.

The Oxford English Dictionary says the American 'draw' originates from 1864, although I couldn't find any more information. To me--having grown up using it--it seems pretty straight forward: Draws are places where rain is shed and drawn or drained off mountains and hills. Reentrant sounds overly technical to my ears :p

Sure you can touch contour lines, I've seen plenty of folks trip on contour lines and grid lines over the years.😄

I love this video well explained in simple terms I love the fist description

7.50 Sounds like a Raven to me Great series by the way.

Brilliant video. Loved it. Can’t disagree with anything you said. 👍

@TheMapReadingCompany

7 ай бұрын

Cheers Dave

Draw, we draw a breath. To pull in.

@TheMapReadingCompany

12 күн бұрын

Thank you

A Viewpoint is a personal Point of View 😉

For me, a feature is something “out of the ordinary”. If you are a hill and there other hills that are similar to the one I’m on, I would not consider that a feature. A feature needs to stand out when compared to the rest of the terrain in my immediate area.

Another great video thanks. Tell me though, when plotting a route on an os map the night before how do you keep the route for the next day if you're not using a phone app? Surely writing on the map isn't an option or is it a case of reading the map on the day and plotting your route on the move? I'm booked on the silver in April in the peaks with you so expect a million questions ha ha!

@TheMapReadingCompany

7 ай бұрын

Most people have an idea of a basic plan before they set off - it would be a little strange not to. If you want to plan it the night before that’s fine. This will allow you to find out if there are any dangers along the route, do you have enough time to complete the walk, have you got the right equipment for the expected terrain, etc, etc. I tend to plan a route very generally e.g. I’ll start here then go to here via this place. I’ll look to see if there is enough time, etc, etc. Maybe even take a few map bearings, etc. But I’ll still check everything just prior to setting off on each leg (section of the trip). Writing on a map if fine if: it's your map, it's in pencil, etc.

We use the term “Draw”here in the southwest US but I have no idea WHY that term is used.

Do you have any tips for navigation in a heavily forested area? With heavy forest, just looking around you will not see much and triangulating a position almost impossible (you may not see one feature, let alone two).

@TheMapReadingCompany

5 ай бұрын

I have just made a video on the topic: kzread.info/dash/bejne/naikt6qIpMfXcps.html

👍

Well you know I learned my map reading off the Ladybird book :) Still does not guarantee I can't get lost as you know OS maps have a habit of not showing the latest "features" like when there is a new kid on the block such as HS2. They used to show the route of planned motorways but no such a thing for the great white elephant of the century. My dad must have learned his map reading in the military but I can recall he used to take the family on hikes in Wales and the Lake District using no better than the Bartholemews 1/2 inch maps, oy vey!

Isn't a re-entrant just a gully?

@TheMapReadingCompany

7 ай бұрын

Hi Steven, not really. A gully (to me anyway) is the out cut between two spurs or buttresses - have a look at a picture of the north face of Nevis and you’ll see loads of gullies. A reentrant tends to be caused by water collecting in an area then eroding the ground as it runs down to join a stream-head