BB1425 : The Crinkle Test

Thursday 17th July 2014

I was looking back to our visits to the Crinkles, BB0726, BB0931 and BB1029. When I read about our first visit, I fell about laughing.  It records that on a steep descent Bryan observed that it was the sort of terrain where it would be helpful to have two poles.

One to carry your bag and one to pour a drink for you!!  

Politically incorrect perhaps but it still makes me chuckle.

Another notable feature of that visit was that it was the first time that we had had to use a GPS to check where we were on the summits, having discovered in the mist a tarn that shouldn't have been there!

Today was another GPS significant outing but not quite what I had expected. I anticipated there would be a battle as Martin, Mike and I have each bought a new (or to be precise, an ex-demo) Garmin GSMAP62s whilst Bryan has bought a brand new Garmin Etrex30. However, to my surprise he had not brought it with him and was using his trusty old Etrex 10- a simple old model without mapping- just like the one I lost on BB1422 .

In consequence we were unable to resolve which was better buy and I can only do a field test report on the one model.  Readers whose eyes are about to glaze over can relax. That (mostly) comes later.

Crinkle Crags

Given the history, it seemed appropriate that the test ground was again to be the Crinkles, especially as this was the only Wainwright left for John within easy striking distance of home.  

Clouded Crinkles across the meadow

The forecast suggested it would be in rather better weather than 7 years ago. Unfortunately, the weather gods hadn't listened to the forecasters and what was supposed to be a morning of rapidly clearing mist proved to be intermittently overcast with mist patches until after lunch and in particular until after summiting the Crinkles.  Once again, the GPS would prove helpful.

We approached from the Old Dungeon Gill Hotel, up Oxendale.  At one point when some way ahead of the rest Stan and I spotted a couple in front of us.  What happened can only be described as telepathic.  All of a sudden I knew that Stan was going to change gear and charge up the hill to overtake them.  At exactly the same moment Stan experienced the same thought about me.  In consequence, without a word being said and in perfect harmony, we accelerated together, our strides in total unison..  A fine display of synchronised BOOTboying that quickly left the victims far in our wake!  Silly old men!

After the group was reunited we turned south almost to Red Tarn then picked up the Crinkles motorway.  To be fair, the newly laid stone path was not a problem on the ascent. Crinkle 1 presented no difficulties but there were mixed feelings about the Bad Step route up Crinkle 2.  Some went up the step and some went round.  

We regrouped for lunch at the summit.  

On restarting, the Garmin map ensured we didn't make the BB0726 Long Top mistake.  In now rapidly improving weather, Crinkles 3, 4 and 5 succumbed in quick succession. albeit with some tricky negotiation of the rocky terrain..  There was a fine view of Bowfell with Scafell and Scafell Pike behind.

Bowfell with Scafell and Scafell Pike behind

To descend via The Band or by Hell Gill?

Bryan and Stan were adamant that latter would prove the easier and quicker route and as we all followed there is no gainsaying

The fixed path down proved a lot more awkward and tiring than had the one up.  Now rather behind schedule. we returned to the cars and the ODG.

I was delighted to note that we had completed an impressive  25.5 miles as opposed to the predicted 8.

They are rather good, these new GPSs!

Don, Thursday 17 July 2014

PS See the review below for the explanation of the unexpected mileages- the Garmins were not at fault.  We were!

The No-Colour Supplement

Click on photo to restore colour

GPS Test: Garmin Etrex 30 versus Garmin GSMAP62s, Part 1.

Both came equipped with the OS 1:50k maps installed- these were an extra cost for the Etrex30 but were included for the 62s deal.. You can get 1:25k OS maps loaded at a price but as the screen is so small, I prefer to have an A4 print-out of the larger scale map in a waterproof cover.  The screen basically provides confirmation that you are where you think you are and are heading in the right direction.  Hopefully.

The 62s has now been replaced by the GPSMAP64s.  I thought I read somewhere that the new model had a much clearer screen thanks to a doubling of pixel density but not so according to the Garmin website.

On paper the Etrex30 seemed the better choice for our purposes until you take price into consideration.

How do they compare in action?  Today I can only comment on the 62s.

I zeroed the registers before setting off from home and switched on the device just before we started walking.  When we reached Oxendale Beck I thought I would see how far we had come, probably, I thought, a little more than a mile.  I was shocked to see that the register said 19.3.

Martin checked his and his said 15.8.  How could they both be so far out?  

We concluded that the problem was that the machines were far more sensitive than we expected and they had actually determined their location whilst inside our respective houses.  Although they were then switched off, when turned back on they thought it was a continuation of the previous "trip" and that we had flown a direct line.

The lesson is to zero the registers immediately before you are about to set off on the actual walk.

The "flight" has now been deleted from the track log for this report but another problem has come to light.  Either the footbridge across Oxendale Beck is wrongly marked on the map or the GPS went walkabout at that point.

On the top of Crinkle Crag it is very easy to set off in the wrong direction, as we did in the mist on BB0726.  Using the GPS with the 1:50k map on screen ensured that we didn't make that mistake.  Others, we think, did!

We had a discussion as to whether it was better to use it set for "North Up" or Track Up". In other words so the screen shows the map in a fixed position with north at the top whilst the location cursor arrow head shows which way you're travelling or so the screen rotates the map according to the direction in which you are travelling.  Bryan is a big Track Up fan.  I am more undecided, particularly as the text disconcertingly swings round with the map as you turn (as it would on paper) rather than remaining heads up as in a car gps. When navigating from a paper map in a car, I always work with the map North Up and think of East and West as rotations not directions.. As usual on the mountains, I think Bryan is probably right.  I wish the location cursor were somewhat smaller, however.

It remains to be seen how the two models will compare in a head to head test.  Jon at Shepherds Walks reckons the 62s to be a far superior unit, having a better screen and interface.  I suspect that it also is more sensitive to satellites (it must be clever to locate me indoors!).

My conclusion is that the decision to go for one or other of these models of these was right for me compared with the dearer (or indeed the cheaper) Garmins or SatMaps

Not having yet field tested the Etrex 30, these comments are only provisional but If you are paying list price or thereabouts, then unless you must have lots of stats on the screen at the same time or need a rather more robust or sensitive unit, I suspect the Etrex30 is the one to go for as it is cheaper, lighter and offers mostly the same functionality.

Indeed, had I not kept reminding myself that my Garmin was ex-demo (albeit in perfect condition) and, with maps included, was some £100 cheaper than the Etrex package, I think I might have found myself regretting my decision  

However,at the price I paid for the 62s, I am happy to carry the extra weight- not just of the device but also the pocket full of money saved!

Don, Thursday 17th July 2014

PS I am not impressed with the Garmin Base Camp mapping software when compared with Memory Map.

Bryan's Dream

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. On this occasion however I have a processing problem!

To discover which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing - although it may not be that up to date - see: Which Wainwright When?

For the latest totals of the mileages and heights (ditto) see: BB Log.

 Photos have been gleaned from many sources although mostly from me!
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