You can use the software that came with the GPS to extract the tracks, but you can also use
http://www.easygps.com/ . Free and works good.
Once you get it setup to see your GPS, click on the "Receive" button and make sure only "Tracks" is checked. This will go out and grab all of the track segments from GPS. It can be a bit of a pain if you have a lot of track segments to figure out what is what.
What I do is click on one of the tracks, which will highlight it on the map (identify the location/date), copy the track (Ctrl-C), click on the "New" button and then paste (Ctrl-V) the track into the new window. I then save this individual track as something meanful like "22_May_2008_KBOI_to_KEUL_wDave.gpx". Do the same with the rest of the tracks.
It makes it easier to clear your tracks before you fly. Then you will only have one track on the GPS. If this is the case you will only have to "Receive" from GPS and then save.
Once you get the GPX files saved it is time to go to
GPS Visualizer (as Tim said). Other than loading the GPX file, there are a couple of options I change.
- Track Opacity: ~60%
- Colorize By: Speed
- Altitude Mode: Extruded <--- this will give you the wall!
Click the "Create KML file" button. Once it is done, it will give you a link to the file, which you can click on. Do a "right click - save as" to save the KML (.kmz) file to your computer. Open up in Google Earth and fly around.
You can share the KML file or take JPEG snapshots once in Google Earth.
I use a Garmin Etrex Vista C for data logging. I just chuck in the back of the plane clipped onto my flight bag. It is WAAS enabled with a built in barometric altimeter.
Sample:
http://jimcullum.googlepages.com/10-May-08-solo2keul.jpg
Great fun/educational especially for the student. Can't cheat on those turns around the point when you have the GPS logging your "circles".
Have fun.
Jim.