1st direct test of Garmin 60c against Magellan STP

H.W. Stockman
Tuesday January 27, 2004

This was a short loop near my house in Las Vegas. The route went counterclockwise around a 4714' mountain (E then N), through a fairly tight canyon. The canyon route involved several tight passages between rocks, and in general, the middle of the canyon occluded the south sky from 30 to 40 degrees. Then the route went up a mountain, surveyed by the USGS as 4987', and unobstructed by taller mountains to the south.

I gave both GPSs about 30 seconds before I put on my pack and began the hike. The 60c had one glitch on start-up, and the STP had a smaller glitch; after I deleted those glitches, the 60c gave the trip as 5.22 miles, and the SporTrak Pro also gave it as 5.22 miles.

When I reached the top of the mountain, both the 60c and the STP gave the same elevation (4978', epe of ~10 feet). I stayed on the summit at least 15 minutes, during which the STP stayed stable at ~4978', and the 60c gradually drifted to ~4984' (the pack was motionless in this time). After I descended the talus slopes, I ran 1.2 miles back to my car. Both GPSs agreed on the final position of the car, to within 25', and the jostling of the run seemed to have absolutely no negative effect (except to work loose a kidney stone in me).

 This canyon was not extremely steep-sided; more tests will come, in more extreme geography.

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Garmin 60c on right shoulder, Magellan STP on left.

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Topo map of part of route. ST Pro track in blue; Garmin 60c track in red. Route was counterclockwise.

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Aerial view of part of route. I think the 60c was a bit closer, since it shows my route through the center of the stream bed.

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Entering the canyon, view WNW.

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Typical tight spot in canyon; view W.

The isolated summit where elevation test was performed. View W.

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More of the surroundings.

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Self-portrait on summit.

 

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