Private Enum SearchResult
    Present
    NotPresent
    PresentComplete
End Enum

Private Function CheckNodeName(ChildList As MSXML2.IXMLDOMNodeList, names() As String, index As Long) As SearchResult
Dim Node As MSXML2.IXMLDOMNode
Dim attr As MSXML2.IXMLDOMAttribute
For Each Node In ChildList
    If Node.nodeName = names(index) Then
        If index = UBound(names) Then
            CheckNodeName = PresentComplete
            Exit Function
        Else
            If Mid(names(index + 1), 1, 1) = "@" Then
                For Each attr In Node.Attributes
                    If attr.baseName = Right(names(index + 1), Len(names(index + 1)) - 1) Then
                        If UBound(names) = index + 1 Then
                            CheckNodeName = PresentComplete
                            Exit Function
                        Else
                            CheckNodeName = Present
                        End If
                    End If
                Next
            End If
            CheckNodeName = CheckNodeName(Node.childNodes, names, index + 1)
            If CheckNodeName = PresentComplete Then
                Exit Function
            End If
        End If
    Else
        CheckNodeName = False
    End If
Next
End Function

Private Function CheckPath(doc As MSXML2.DOMDocument, path As String) As SearchResult
Dim i As Long
Dim names() As String

For i = 1 To Len(path)
    If Mid(path, i, 1) <> "\" Then
        names = Split(Right(path, Len(path) - i + 1), "\")
        Exit For
    End If
Next i

CheckPath = CheckNodeName(doc.childNodes, names, 0)

End Function

Dim doc As New MSXML2.DOMDocument
doc.Load "c:\track.gpx"
Debug.Print CheckPath(doc, "\\gpx\trk\trkseg\trkpt\ele")
Debug.Print CheckPath(doc, "\\gpx\trk\trkseg\trkpt\@lon")