Rollcharts
What is a Rollchart Holder
A "Rollchart
Holder" is a small plastic box with a clear plastic cover, (some of these
covers have a magnifying lens built into them). They have a couple of knobs
on the side that rolls the rollchart forward or backward under the clear
cover. They also have a means of clamping onto your handlebars. It holds
a roll of paper that looks like a small roll of adding machine paper with
symbols, comments, and mileage readings printed on it. At the start of
this roll, there is usually a legend 
that
explains what the symbols stand for.
The chart usually
comes on a flat piece of paper that you cut into strips. Then tape the
strips together lengthwise to make a long strip. You roll this long strip
into your "Rollchart Holder" so that as you roll the upper knob the strip
moves up and you can read the next line.
How
to read a Rollchart
A rollchart
has a legend at the start that explains what the symbols stand for. Some
examples of symbols might be:
| 2T |
Two Track |
| Grv |
Gravel Road |
| Blk |
Blacktop Road |
| Tr X |
Trail Crossing |
| RR X |
Railroad Crossing |
Next would come
a starting point listed as:
This would mean,
go to the end of the parking lot drive, stop, reset your odometer to 0.0,
and turn left.
Next might come:
When viewing a symbol,
you would always be coming in from the bottom of the symbol. The symbol
shows a crossroad at which you would make a left turn on to a gravel road,
(symbol GV). If your odometer reads mileage exactly the same as the person's
who laid out the rollchart, your odometer should read 1.50 miles when you
reach the corner . That is the reason rollcharts have resets every few
miles, It puts both odometers back to zero, and reading the same mileage.
A example of
a reset might be:
The last two lines
indicate that you should make a right turn on to a angling blacktop road
at 4.30 miles, and that you should stop and reset your odometer to 0.00
miles.
That's the basics
of using a rollchart. Some will use several more symbols, and the corner
graphics may be in much more detail (
)
might mean a five corner with a railroad track running diagonally thru
it, and you are looking for a 2 track to your left after crossing the crossroad
& the railroad tracks. It would depend on the legend for the rollchart
that you are following.
Even though
you are using a rollchart, it is always a good idea to carry a road map,
and to keep track of where you are on the map. That way, if you have to
leave the route, or get lost from it, you can find your way back to camp/parking
area.
I would suggest
on your first trip using a rollchart, that you go with someone who has
experience use rollcharts. But then getting lost--er, taking the scenic
route is how you find those really neat grassy two tracks to explore.
Have
Fun Exploring!
If you have any questions or suggestions please send
a E-Mail to:
asmall@mail.riverview.net
or call:
(231)-689-6520
Last Updated: 12/21/1999