Routing using pre-exisiting tracks.

Former Member over 11 years ago

Hi,

I'm a hiker currently walking a long-distance trail in Australia and have just purchased a GPSMAP62s. The trail I am walking has a pre-existing .GPX file which I've downloaded and installed to Base Camp successfully.

My goal is to be able to navigate from camp site to camp site along the track generated by the .gpx file (basically a typical hike following a pre-worn track with campsites dispersed along the track). What I don't want to do is direct waypoint to waypoint navigation as it simply won't follow the track or give me correct distance information. I've found the 'Create route for track' feature in base camp. It creates a very rough track that has minimal shaping points, which is basically a poor representation of the actual track. In order to sharpen it up I have to add hundreds of shaping points myself so that the route correctly overlays the track, this is really time consuming and my thoughts are there must be a better way?

My question is, is there a way to create a route that follows the track perfectly whilst only showing the distance to the main waypoint (campsites)?

I've noticed in the GPSMAP62s there is a navigate by track feature.. I haven't been able to test this feature out, I assume it will follow the track correctly? But I'm unsure of if it will display the distance to the campsites as it will only be focused on following the track.

I hope I've explained that well enough.

Thanks,
Rueffy.

0 SUSSAMB over 11 years ago

What is the pre-existing gpx file? If it's a track all you need do is place it in the GPX folder of your 62 and then follow the track.

If it's a route then it's going to depend, amongst other things, on which map the route was created on, which maps you have loaded in Basecamp and which you have loaded on your GPS. At this stage I wouldn't even contemplate trying to get it all set up correctly IF your pre-existing file is a track, as the simplest thing is to just follow the track.

There's information on 'navigate by track' feature here http://garmin.blogs.com/softwareupdates/2009/12/getting-more-out-of-track-navigation.html and here http://gpstracklog.com/2010/07/navigating-tracks-on-the-new-garmin-handhelds.html

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Would it be possible to create a route like I mentioned before (using many shaping points) but then not have the GPS unit show the shaping points, only the actual waypoints? The screen is intensely cluttered with all the shaping points on the track.

Have you tried sending your camp waypoints and the Track to your GPSMAP62s from BaseCamp. Then open the Track Manager, go to the TRACKS, select your saved Track and then press GO. You will get a magenta line representing your Track but it will not show all of the track points. You can setup Data Fields to display your Distance to Destination.

If you split your Track in BaseCamp at each of your Camp Waypoints you will have a Track for each Day to navigate and each days Track will give you the Distance to Camp (Destination).