HikeArizona.COM

I have tried tracking my hikes but I tend to get a further distance than the noted trail. For example I may hike a well known path, and my GPS will say I hiked 6 miles, but the posted official routes may say only 5 miles. My hypothesis is that this may be do to holding the GPS (want it to have an open signal), but does my arm swings during a hike really add 20% plus to the distance?

Any tips for accurate tracking on a GPS? I would like to accurately note distance traveled on my hikes.

There are a lot of variables. What are you using to record?

rickcmarsh wrote:my GPS will say I hiked 6 miles, but the posted official routes may say only 5 miles...
does my arm swings during a hike really add 20% plus to the distance?

This is a well-known problem with many Garmin GPS's
"what is the best GPS" thread
If you weed through the above thread there will a number of hints to reduce the error.

However, in short... if you have a Garmin 62 series and use the default settings the Trip Computer distance will register a consistent 19% too high a reading. The actual track recorded will be correct, it's just that the Trip Computer uses a different algorithm to compile it's incorrect mileage reading.

rickcmarsh wrote:Any tips for accurate tracking on a GPS? I would like to accurately note distance traveled on my hikes.

Upload the saved route from the GPS to HikeArizona's Route Manager and you will get a more accurate distance.

Thanks for the link to the other posting.

I am using a Garmin Etrex Vista C. I will try the upload/compare. If I know the error, then real time I can adequately measure mile 5, 10, real time rather than after the fact.