best GPS units for backcountry skiing

Chris, I have the non-color version of the one ClimberDave has, and like it very much, esp. the barometric altimeter...
www.rei.com/product/670219
Doesn't get very good reception under tree cover but for the most part I don't mind that; bought it mostly for b/c skiing.

Sooner or later I'd like to upgrade to one which does work in the woods tho.   And on that note,  I have a question: has anyone used the Garmin Edge 305 ....
www.rei.com/product/737840
..... for skiing/mountaineering?  If so, how well did the battery hold up in cold temps? 

A couple of mountain bikers I've spoken with use it and love it; very good forest reception.  Main reason I've been hesistant to get one is that it doesn't use alkalines, only its built-in rechargeable; supposedly lasts 12 hours, but that's at lowland temps of course.

Or basically: can anyone recommend one which has good forest reception, and an altimeter, and has good battery life in cold temps?? 



Anyway, this is my first post here in a few months ... as some of you know, I'm usually a 8-month-per-year skier.  While many of you are doing your summertime schwack-fests to get to tiny snow patches,  : I'm biking or hiking on, uh, trails, thank you very much.     But I hear there's snows in them thar hills, so here I am on TAY again...  unfortunately I'm fighting a minor cold so probably won't be going this weekend, but if not, then definitely Dec. 9.  Chris n' whoever else:  get in touch if you wanna go then!


-Ethan

Thanks for everyone's thoughtful replies, the search has been narrowed down and the Etrex HcX by Garmin is the one! Climber Dave is right, this unit rocks.

www.rei.com/product/752629

I played with it last night for awhile and has everything a ski mountaineer needs- lots of gadgets in one small convenient package.

Ready to hit the mountains, now where is that snow?!

The really nice thing is that I can download all my waypoints and routes from my computer software in a split second, and not have to punch anything in by hand.  It really saves time.

Does anybody know of a gps that can be interface this way with a macintosh?

I use a Garmin Edge 305 for both mt biking in summer and splitboard outings in winter. Battery holds up fine. It will last a full day (at least 8-10 hours) left on full time. But, I find it most useful only to turn on to set a way point then off. Turn it on again really only if I need to check altitude or need to find my way to a way point. I haven't found the best place to keep it (shirt pocket? top pocket of backpack facing sky?) to get the best reception if left on all day. Last, I really wish it had a place I could hook on a lanyard. Other than that, it's great.

And on that note, I have a question: has anyone used the Garmin Edge 305 ....
www.rei.com/product/737840
..... for skiing/mountaineering? If so, how well did the battery hold up in cold temps?

Does anybody know of a gps that can be interface this way with a macintosh?

Primate - I think the Topo software from National Geographic works with either a Mac or PC, which is what it says on the website, but maybe it doesn't download to the GPS on a Mac?  Anyway, here's a link to a similar topic from Splitboard.com

www.splitboard.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=4066

Matt