GPS Ghost tracks

I have been baffled by the ghost tracks that I find on my GPS when I am out hiking.
What I mean is that occasionally the GPS leaves a track that I could have not possibly walked or climbed.
The only thing I can figure is when the GPS is only receiving 2D signals and then changing to a truer proximity 3D tracking the difference is left on the screen as a path walked.
In the pictures below the red line is the path I travelled, but the white lines (GPS tracks) show that I was occasionally all over the place.
The sky was wide open and in no trees, so I do not understand why this is happening?
Anyone else experience these anomalies?
Sure takes some of the trust out of the GPS, back to the trusty old compass.
Joe
Here are a couple of examples:
The 1st picture is in uphill walk and the 2nd is downhill skiing.

This is perfectly normal. Recreational GPS units (Garmin, etc) are only accurate to 100-200 feet so these are just signal anomalies. Whether you spend $100 for a Garmin or $2500 for a sub-meter Magellan you will experience this. There are times during the day when the distribution of satellites isn't optimal and this can contribute to errors such as what you've illustrated (even with open sky & no canopy).

Mapping and survey grade GPS receivers often incorporate "real time" correction using a technology such as WAAS or something else. The highest accuracy is achieved by taking multiple observations at the same location and by post processing your field data against a base station that's also collecting information at the same time.

I get this as well, definitely more so in denser canopy areas. Luckily it's easy to use the Garmin software to go into track and delete the wayward points which are typically pretty obvious.

Now for the real clever ones amongst us, we need to find out where Joedabaker's tracks are on the map he attached and then plunder his secret stash!

Now for the real clever ones amongst us, we need to find out where Joedabaker's tracks are on the map he attached and then plunder his secret stash!

Scotty-
You know you are always invited along to personally find out where I stumble and slog around the hills.
Although the pictures of the two maps are two miles apart, they were unintentionally placed perfectly to look as though the are one continuous run to throw off any sharp trackers like you.
Let's go climbs some hills- I have some plans!
Joe