Eastern Ridge — Shepherd Routes and Seasonal Paths

This map documents the transhumance routes of the northern shepherds — the seasonal paths used for the annual movement of flocks between the valley settlements and the high mountain pastures. The routes are shown for summer ascent and winter descent. Shelter locations, water sources, and seasonal crossing points are marked.

The map was produced in consultation with three shepherd communities of the eastern ridge. The communities cooperated with the survey. They provided information about the documented routes. They did not provide information about all routes. When asked about paths that survey officers had observed but that did not appear in the community survey data, the communities said those paths were not for the map. This response has been noted in every eastern ridge survey since Year 744.

ASHWANA CARTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM 006 — THE TRANSHUMANCE ROUTES OF THE NORTHERN SHEPHERDS · SEASONAL GRAZING ROUTES · VERÃO (ALTURAS) — INVERNO (VALES)

Cartographic note, Officer Aldric, Year 811: During the survey I observed two paths on the eastern ridge that follow lines in the terrain I cannot fully explain cartographically. They do not follow water. They do not follow the easiest gradient. They follow something else — a logic in the landscape that I can see the result of but cannot identify the cause. The shepherd who guided me on the final day said only that the paths go where they go because the ground knows where it wants people to walk. I have not found a way to represent this on a map.

CARTOGRAPHIC DIVISION — FORT KAELYEAR 811 · ANNUAL SURVEY

The ground knows where it wants people to walk. The institution has not found a way to put that on a map.

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