[Too Much Exposure?]

I think it's a bad idea to over promote this activity and an even worst idea to take it into the schools. Kids today are disrespectful at best.

 

As a homeschooler, I disagree. Gecocaching is part of our curriculum and my three kids (8,7, and 5) have a blast. They are also very respectable of the caches. I think the key is to start education at an early age. And not to forget the all important lesson of respect with whatever is taught. But no matter how much respect is "spoken of", it is better learned through example. That's what falls on us as adults to do.

 

The part in bold changes your situation quite a bit. Yes I know I made a blanket statement but everything has it's exceptions.

 

So you're implying that my child, who attends public school, is disrespectful? That's disrespectful.

 

Oh, by the way, the neuter singular possessive pronoun is "its," not "it's." "It's" is a contraction for "it is." I learned that in public school, thank you very much. In what kind of school did you fail to learn it?

 

(Yes, "spelling flames" are usually lame, but thanks to you, we're talking about the relative value of different kinds of education. Everything has its exceptions! )

 

[Holiday Weekend Sales?]

REI has the Garmin 60 CSx on sale, plus the mfr has a $50 rebate. Amounts to $100 off.

[Anyone update their 60csx to v3.5 software?]

I upgraded about a week ago. No problems so far

[1st time buyer: Delorme Earthmate Pn20 vs. Garmin 60csx vs. others...]

IMHO, you don't need the NG topo software for a Garmin 60 CSx, although you might want to use the NG software to print backup paper topos in case your GPSr fails.

 

 

I've used the Garmin topo sets (US Topo 2008, National Park Topo) for trail navigation for about four months now (in California, Georgia, Illinois, and Wisconsin), and I haven't had any problems. I've seen some criticism that the Garmin topos don't show trails, but that hasn't been an issue for me. I get most of my trails online as GPX files, or I create them myself in Google Earth using trail map overlays. Either way, the trail downloads directly to the GPSr. I haven't yet come across a significant missing topographical feature or inaccuracy while using the Garmin topos on the trail.

[Why I don't bushwhack in August]

 

Article here

[Shape files]

Try GPS Babel software--it may convert them.

[Hunting GPS choice]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the OP's question, but why not simply trace the fence lines as paths in Google Earth and convert from KML to GPX using GPSBabel? They should show up in the mapping program as tracks, and shouldn't require a change of GPSr.

[Garmin 60csx and Palm Tungsten]

You can't transfer directly from the GPSr to the Palm. You need to upload from one to a PC, then download to the other. The best way to manage data is to download GPX, either from GC.com directly, or from your GSAK database. The GPX file will have coordinates, description, logs, and so on. Then, download the GPX to your GPSr, which will load the coordinates from the GPX file. Finally, download the same GPX file to CacheMate. It will load everything from the GPX file.

 

 

If you don't use GSAK (I don't), you can use a pocket query to bulk-download caches. Or, if you are selective (I am), you can bookmark the caches you want to hunt, then PQ the bookmark list.

[Explorist 500 vs Garmin?]

Garmin has a great reputation for customer service, which my experience bears out. I recommend them without hesitation.

[Keeping gear and GPS handy]

Google 'camera stabilizer' and you should get some sites that offer neoprene belly straps for digital cameras. They are basically belts that hold your camera steady while you are walking, so that it doesn't swing back and forth. The belt slides off the camera when you're ready to shoot a picture. So, you hcan have your camera at the ready without having it swinging about. Very handy if you use a digital SLR.

[Trekking poles or hiking stick]

Another vote for trekking poles (we use Lekis). We use them all over the US and Europe. They are particularly good for rock scrambling and hiking of any wet surface. My poles have kept me from tripping and falling more times than I care to remember.

[Garmin 60CSx map problem]

I'll second the recommendation to recalibrate the compass. I generally have to recalibrate mine every time I turn it on, or I get the sort of problems you're describing. It's about the only thing I don't like about the unit.

[Garmin GPSMAP60csx vs. Vista HCx]

I've been looking at buying a new GPS unit (my current model is the etrex legend). I've been looking at the GPSMAP60csx, which I can buy for $300 on amazon.com, but I just compared it to the Vista HCx on Garmin's website. I can currently buy the Vista HCx for $243.37 on Amazon.

 

It appears to me the ONLY difference between the two units is that the 60csx has tide software, and the Vista is lighter and has better battery performance. I was wondering if anyone was familiar with the differences between these two products. I know they both are the higher accuracy models, but the 60cxs makes a big deal about this SiRF chipset, which the Vista doesn't mention. I would like the ability to use my GPS under treecover, in buildings, etc.

 

Is the 60csx woth the extra $50 and shorter battery life (does it outperform the Vista)?

 

Thanks.

 

The 60CSX is a bit more rugged than the Vista, but a bit larger and bulkier. It won't fit in a shirt pocket the way a Vista will. The 60 CSX will take an external antenna, which can be handy under particularly challenging conditions.

 

You really can't go wrong with either unit. If it came down to a new Vista HCX or a used Garmin 60 CSX from eBay, I'd probably go with the Vista, just to eliminate the risk of buying a stolen receiver.

 

 

 

Garmin has a $50 rebate on the 60 CSx right now

[Lottery ticket winner in geocache]

I wouldn't put a lottery ticket in a cache. What if it was a big winner? I'd never forgive myself for giving it away and every time I saw the winner at an event gloating and lighting Cuban cigars with $100 bills I'd be so jealous.

 

The odds are roughly the same as the cacher getting hit by lightning while hunting the cache. You wouldn't let that stop you from placing a cache, would you?

[Geocaching Cover Ups]

Lemme see--"I lost a contact lens", "I lost my car keys here yesterday", "I'm checking for a North Korean Tree Beetle infestation".

 

Someone once asked me what the GPSr was. I told them it was a car key locater. If you have a door-locking key fob, it can locate your car keys within twenty feet by homing in on the signal that the key fob uses to lock your doors. "They sell 'em on eBay. I bought one because I am constantly losing my car keys." Did it with a perfectly straight face. Person gave me a very funny look and walked away, scratching their head.

[Problem Deleting PQs that use routes]

I have been experiencing problems making and deleting PQs that are along routes. Actually they are not on routes per say, but are specifically made KML files that have coordinates calculated to describe squares around the center of of my caching interest.

 

When I created the PQs I got an error page, so I remade them and wound up with three identical entries. I ran one and it emailed the PQ to me but when I try to edit the extra, GC.com returns an error message declaring "Queue empty" so I cannot delete or change them. At the same time, PQs made from actual Google Earth routes have been working fine.

 

Any ideas on what the problem is or how to be able to delete the extra PQs?

 

It's a know problem. GS tech support doesn't have a workaround, but they say they're working on it.

[GPX file question?]

Hello fellow cachers,

I bought a Palm IIIxe so I can go paperless. I figured out how to download a pocket query to my GPSr (Garmin Vista HCx) but I noticed I have 2 GPX files from the pocket query. One is named 1302135 and the other is named 1302135-wpts...

 

I am going to download cachemate and CMconvert and was wondering which file to use or do I need to click on both of these files?

 

Does anyone have a link to simple straightforward easy instructions on how to do all this and get the caches on my palm?

 

Thanks so much for any help!

 

Bob

 

No--ignore the waypoints file. CacheMate only needs the other one (1302135 .gpx). Download the same file to your GPSr.

[60CSX pointer keeps turning]

I use the electronic compass on my 60 CSx. Occasionally, it behaves the way you describe. When it does, I simply recalibrate the compass, and that solves the problem.

[No good trail maps for Garmin?]

There are a couple of other alternatives.

 

We use our Garmin for hiking, some in National Parks, but most out. There are a number of web sites that post GPX tracks for commonly-used trails. Backpacker.com, TrailRegistry.com LocalHikes.com most immediately come to mind.

 

And when that fails, we've been able to locate trail maps online (usually in PDF or jpg format), which we load into Google Earth as overlays. That allows us to use GE's Path tool to create a route, which we then save as a GPX file.

 

So even though Garmin's topos don't have a lot of trails, we've found it pretty easy to add them from GPX files.

Yeah, I've seen that option as well, but adding trails one at a time from tracklogs is even more painful than one park at a time. This seems to beg for a community effort. If everyone added their tracklogs as polyline routable trails, we could come up with some data in a hurry.

 

I'll second that! It's a shame there isn't something like Groundspeak for hikers.

[Going paperless]

We purchased a Z22 on ebay for 56 bucks shipped. If all that you are going to use it for is Geocaching, then I would recomend this unit. We have it loaded with cachemate and everything works fine. It is color and not that difficult to use. If you want to use the PDA for other things then I can't help much.

 

I did find this thread for you here

 

I second that. We have a Z22 that we use just for geocaching. Only complaint is that the screen isn't readable in bright sunlight. but that's a problem with most PDAs.

[Compass on the 60CSx]

This can be cleared by switching off and on again but the compass cal then seems to be gone and a "garmin waltz" is required

You know you can just rotate the GPS don't you?

 

I used to simply rotate the GPSr, but switched over to the Garmin two-step, because it is much easier to keep the GPSr level while rotating. That has a significant effect on the quality of the calibration.

[Map and Compass]

Cool! We always carry a map and compass when hiking. Sometimes, it's fun to plot our polisition and course using those, instead of the GPSr. But it can be difficult in Chicagoland, where everything is flat!

[Hiking in Yellostone]

Let me add another reply to my own thread!

 

We're about to go, and we decided on two hikes. The first is Mystic Falls, a short three-mile loop with moderate elevation. The second hike is in the 'Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone'. It's a large canyon with two sets of falls at its head. There are trails on the north and south side of the canyon near the falls.

 

I found both trails on Garmin's US National Parks Topos.

[Good hiking sunglasses]

I lost my hiking sunglasses, and I am looking for a new pair. I don't want to spend a huge amount of money, as I don't baby them on the trail, but they should be good quality. They should also be wraparound, not allow much direct light from any angle, black frames, decent size. Any recommendations? I would prefer to buy them from a brick & mortar where I could try them on first. I have an REI and Any Mountain nearby.

 

I am asking instead of just buying ones that fit because one of the pairs I bought in the past fell apart after a week in Saudi Arabia from exposure to sun (plastic literally disintegrated). I do hike frequently in hot, sunny weather, so the temperature might not be that much different.

 

Any recommendations will be appreciated.

 

I just bought my wife a pair of ploarized wraparounds at the local REI. Came of the budget rack--with case, came to $25. She loves them.

[Google Earth and hiking maps]

Just tried it. I like it. Now if I could only find online maps of the local (here in Western Massachusetts) M-M Trails, Robert Frost Trail, and AT. I guess I could scan them out of books.

 

Are there websites where people share their tracks of trails?

 

Yes--Backpacker.com, TrailRegistry.com, LocalHikes.com, and many others. Google 'GPX hike', and you should get a bunch of hits.