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While I'm disappointed by the delay as well, at least Garmin is working on it. What other GPS vendor has announced any intention of supporting Mac? I am still expecting Mac compatibility, and I will stick with Garmin because of that. Well, for other reasons too, but if they are actively working on Mac software, that's a point in their favor as far as I'm concerned.

I don't see this. In looking at a couple different Canadian Benchmarks, I only see two logging options: "Visited" and "Write Note." Personally, I don't care where they are, whether it's Geocaching or Waymarking. I do like the logging options and the search options currently available on Geocaching. It doesn't appear to me that the Waymarking site is as refined yet in its search capabilities, and options for downloading coordinates. Maybe I just need to use it more.

Thanks for the info, Maingray. That makes sense. It looks like v.7 was divided up just about by state. When I just went and viewed the map for City Select, it had dividing lines. I'll check back when they have their web page updated and look at the map segments for v.8. This probably answers my question about the urban areas, now that I see what the outlines look like on the City Select viewer too.

Thanks for this info...it's good to know. Since I have never purchased/used a mapsource product in the past, maybe someone here can answer a couple of questions. I assume the listed map segments include the city listed and surrounding areas, so that for example if my state has five segments listed by city, downloading those five segments would get me the maps for the entire state? I tried to figure this out by looking at the Garmin map viewer. The site linked above said the map coverage was outlined in yellow. In looking at my area, the whole thing appears yellow, but there are no borders. The exception is that in more "urban" areas, there are brown chunks. When "show coverage area" is unchecked, they appear gray. I hope these areas are included in the "yellow" coverage areas. It would be somewhat useless if they were not. Thanks in advance for any insight into this.

That's a big disappointment. It would be nice to know if their cartography products are designed such that if they're unlocked and uploaded on a PC, they could be used with a Mac version of Mapsource when it's released. I put off purchasing City Select and/or TOPO because I was waiting for the Mac version. But if the maps are basically just pictures on a DVD, there's no reason they couldn't be compatible. It would be nice to know. I'd buy City Navigator now, then the Mac Mapsource when it's released.

Sure. Simply multiply the decimal portion by 60 to get decimal minutes. Or you can convert coordinates online here.

I posted two photos above, but I have now found two additional benchmarks that will be destroyed by construction this summer. M-DOT is resurfacing US-41 along this stretch, and at the same time cutting some rock outcroppings further back from the edge of the highway for safety reasons. Some of these rock outcroppings are home to the following marks: Reset marks have been monumented for the following: RK0457 Designation: N 329 RK0458 Designation: L 329 Reset marks pictured already above: RK0460 Designation: K 329 RK0464 Designation: F 329 I will also be watching: RK0459 (Designation M 329) RK0463 (Designation H 329) Both are located within the same construction zone, but reset marks have not apparently been set, and these two marks may survive.

Robert, Thanks for the info here. I had not tried it, because I had missed the part about talking to devices. When I came across it previously, I thought it was simply a file converter. I actually used it once (Windows version) because either a previous version of Mapsource didn't support .loc files or (more likely) I just didn't figure out how to import them properly. Looking at your screen shots, some of the filters would be nice occasionally. I'll download it when I get home and give it a try when I get time.

Having a Mac application would be much better. I actually looked into using Virtual PC, but seem to recall concluding that VPC7 would not work properly for GPS. I don't remember the details. There are a few programs you can try. Mac SimpleGPS is used by some, though I've never used it. It may be a good place to start, because I think it's free. I use MacGPS Pro and like it. You'll find comments about it if you go back a couple of pages and look for Mac topics. They also offer TOPO maps on DVD by state. The maps are very good, and nice for overlaying track logs, routes and waypoints. You can use them to plot waypoints or create routes on your computer and transfer them to your GPS. Of course, since they're not Garmin maps, you can't upload the maps themselves. If your GPS is a regular Vista (i.e. not a Vista C) you'll also need a USB to serial adapter. They can also be found at the MacGPS Pro site, or probably purchased from any number of sources.

I agree. And I think what you meant (GoBlue) by a "regular" compas was a standard magnetic compass. If you're familiar with using one and don't mind carrying an extra piece of gear, the electronic compass may not be necessary. In practice, it's a good idea to carry one anyway, even if only for backup. The "regular" compass Thrak refers to is the compass on the GPS unit. When moving, there is a compass screen that will orient in the direction of travel, based on your movement & GPS readings. However, when not moving, it is useless. This is where the electronic compass makes a difference. However, as Thrak said, it is harder on the batteries. When I purchased mine, I decided the altimeter & electronic compass weren't worth the extra money. FWIW, I got the 60C, and love it. Were I buying today, the SirfIII chip and removable media would be nice features to have.

Auto routing is the capability by which your GPSr can take your known present location and an address you input and calculate turn by turn directions to get to your destination. The basemap that came with your GPS has only major highways, so is virtually useless in this regard. You'll need to specify which unit you have, but for Garmin, City Navigator or City Select provide street level auto routing.

Again, thanks all for the assistance. Just to follow up as promised... I emailed Deb with before and after pictures from the site, and she has logged it as destroyed as of 4/27/06. I don't know when it got entered into the datasheet...I was kind of expecting an email back, but just went and checked it this morning. I read another post this AM (don't recall seeing it before) that usually there is no return email unless the station is NOT destroyed, so now I'll know not to wait for return emails.

I went in over the bridge--climbed up to the grade and walked across the bridge to the mark. On the way back, I managed to get down to the old WC grade without sliding too far on the pellets and got the mark in the footing. Some places are easier than others...if there's traditional ballast mixed in, it makes for better footing. On the South side of the WC grade, the hill up to the LS&I is mostly just pellets, so it's more sliding than walking.

Thanks for the advice. I got to thinking that this might be the case. Oh well...it's been fun finding the resets while out looking for the original marks. I do appreciate the info on how things work up here. Oh, and thanks for the help there on RK0123! I had printed the NGS datasheet on that one, and found it with the help of the painted BM. You probably also saw my note with the DNF log on RK0120 Didn't realize when I was searching that this was you. Sounds like a fun few days, except for the not founds. With the start of summer, I'll be making some runs now every week up to Michigamme, so will be trying to find some of the marks up in the Champion, Michigamme & Three Lakes areas.

Over the weekend I found a second "RESET" disc set earlier this year. Both are in a construction zone, and the original discs are still intact. However, they are located very near the edge of the highway, and will likely be destroyed as M-DOT clears back some rock outcroppings that are a bit close. They (whoever "they" are) obviously know the discs will (or at least may) be destroyed by the construction, since the reset discs have already been monumented. In a situation like this, is there paperwork already in the works, or will there be, to have the old marks officially marked destroyed, or replaced in the database with the RESET marks? I have photographed both areas, and was considering trying to get the marks logged as destroyed with before and after pictures, once they actually are destroyed. However, it occurred to me that with the reset marks already in place, the procedure may already be underway. I don't want to duplicate the effort and add unnecessary paperwork if this is already being done.

Found another 2006 Reset mark. This one (the original) is in the same construction zone as the one I posted above, and likely to be destroyed this summer. Reset for RK0464

Here is a somewhat recent thread with some suggestions on interfacing with Mac. You'll see a post from me with a note about MacGPS Pro, by James Associates. Overall it works well, with the caveat noted in my post about multiple uploads/downloads to/from the GPS. It is not free, but it DOES work directly with the USB interface. I use it with my Garmin 60C. Another very nice feature is the ability to purchase topos by state, or for specific national parks. You can use them on your computer--very nice for overlaying track logs, but of course can't load the maps into the GPS. You can use the topos to set waypoints & routes and upload them (the waypoints & routes) to the GPS. I was also hesitant to try another Mac program (don't recall which) because it looked like it was either not supported, or not being updated regularly. I have not used any of the other programs listed, but they appear to work for others.

Deb, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. Andy

I think you'll have the same difficulty with either. I have the Glisson case and the buttons are a problem sometimes. Not so much the buttons, but sometimes the rocker switch gets a little funky. You try to push it one way and with the case, another direction gets pushed too. Pick the one that's cheaper or you like better, I guess.

Now that's very interesting. I didn't realize that, but it makes some sense. Like intentionally mis-spelling your name while subscribing to something to track mailing list sales. An error on basemaps as mentioned is common--they are very crude. I don't have the city select or topo yet, but on the basemap, most highways run parallel to where the GPS tracks.

That's an even more difficult situation than usual. Good catch on that one. I found one that I need to go out and photograph and have marked destroyed. It's about 30 miles from me, and is a lookout tower. USPSQ noted in a "not found" log in 2001 that the tower has been dismantled. The description notes that the station is the apex of the metal cabin atop the tower. It was logged as found on geocaching, and the log even notes that the tower was dismantled about 20 years ago. Another local intersection station that has been incorrectly logged is an air traffic control tower. The described tower was destroyed 6 years ago, as a new one has been built in another location. The logger includes a picture in the log of a communications type tower with a beacon at the top--not something that could be confused for a control tower. Another mark to get destroyed. The control tower "still" exists, but close to a mile from the site of the one described. Another USPSQ report in 2004 shows "not found" (correctly) with a note that the tower has been demolished. This should be easy to get marked destroyed.

I've had similar problems with the program crashing...always while trying to transfer data one way or the other. My basic experience has been that the program will do one transfer just fine, whether it be routes, tracks, waypoints...then freeze or crash during the next. The best way I've found to work around this is to have everything you need transferred saved first. Transfer one thing (this can be a file with multiple waypoints) then restart the program and power cycle the GPSr before doing another transfer. I know, you shouldn't have to do it, but it takes care of freezes. I don't know why the program does this. I keep hoping it will be addressed in an update, but so far not. Other than this annoyance, I think it's a great program. Andy

Jim, Happy to be able to help. I'm really liking MacGPS Pro, but I'm still waiting (patiently at times) for Garmin to release their Mac software.

Jim, You are correct on transferring the maps. MacGPS Pro works quite well with topos on the computer, but you can't load the maps to the GPS. I am looking forward to the Garmin software for Mac, but will likely still use MacGPS Pro to view Topo maps with or without waypoints, tracklogs, etc. MacGPS Pro will automatically stitch the maps together for you. Make sure to have it set to not show the borders (it's in one of the menus--probably "view" but I'm at work right now on a PC). Then, when you want the adjacent map, just click in the area you want with the leftmost tool. I think it's called the "map tool" and just looks like a cross. The program will display the window with the coordinates, then choose "Find USGS Topo" from I believe the edit menu, and it will open the map for that quad. You can open as many maps as you need, adjacent or not. It will place them correctly in reference to each other, whether they are adjacent or not. I do this frequently when going back and looking at track logs. Hope this helps. Andy P.S. If you want, you can also print out an overview of your map with waypoints if you wish. Get the area you want to print visible in the window, then use Grab to caputre a screenshot of the window. Open the tiff in Preview & print, and you've got a map for yourself. Not sure how much detail you'd be able to use with a 35 mile run, but maybe a few smaller sections...

LOL Good job digging up that photo Paul! I was scratching my head on how you came up with that until I went and looked at the log for BT2255.