Making Tracks in GPS System

Remember the story of Hansel and Gretel, the kids who dropped breadcrumbs in the forest to try to find their way back home? Their story would’ve had a different ending if they had a GPS receiver because all newer GPS receivers leave electronic breadcrumbs (called tracks or trails depending on the manufacturer) while you travel. Every so often, the GPS receiver saves the coordinates of the current position to memory. This series of tracks is a track log or track history. (Because various GPS models handle tracks differently, check your user manual for specific details.)
Note these differences between tracks and waypoints:

• Names and symbols: Although tracks and waypoints are both location data points, tracks don’t have names or symbols associated with them and can’t be edited in the GPS receiver.
• Autocreation: Unlike waypoints — that you need to manually enter —tracks are automatically created whenever a GPS receiver is turned on (that is, if you have the track feature enabled).

If track logging is enabled, tracks are shown on the GPS receiver’s map page while you move, like a trail of breadcrumbs. The GPS receiver constantly collects tracks while it’s powered on, so you need to clear the current track log before you start a new trip. If you want, you can save a current track log.