Europe Caching without Garmin Maps?

[+triturtle]

I'm heading to Germany and Nederlands in the fall and want to do some geocaching while I'm there. I am not interested in spending $299 for Garmin's City Navigator Europe software. It is just too expensive for a one-time use.

 

Can I download caches onto my Garmin eTrex Legend CSx without having any local maps? I figure if I can at least see the caches on a blank yellow screen then I can do some caching even though it may make things more difficult.

[+fratermus]

That'll work fine.

 

You may also want to do a search on garmin basemaps to see what might be out there in the wild. The uploadable basemaps are primitive but better than nothing.

[+Nachtraaf]

Remember there is still a huge number of geocachers who don't use the latest models of GPSr, which means they don't have map capabilities on their device. This will never mean they will find less caches than others...

 

Go for it.

 

Greetings,

Hans

[BoostJunkie]

You might want to mark your starting point and turn on tracking, so you don't get lost in the Black Forest without a map if you get in deep. That way you can always back track out.

[+Hynr]

And take your calculator along as well as your walking shoes. Many German geocachers seem to LOVE math puzzles and spazierengehen.

[+oeichler]

And take your calculator along as well as your walking shoes. Many German geocachers seem to LOVE math puzzles and spazierengehen.

 

actually if you need walking shoes we would say "wandern" (hiking). But in general I can confirm that statement

 

oliver

[rws]

Make your own basic maps for upload to your GPSr. Plot the geocache(s) on Google Earth then trace roads and other map features from where you are staying to the geocache using the guide below. It's real easy and you can make your map as detailed or simple as you want.

 

GoogleMaps to Custom Garmin Map

[rws]

Make your own basic maps for upload to your GPSr. Plot the geocache(s) on Google Earth then trace roads and other map features from where you are staying to the geocache using the guide below. It's real easy and you can make your map as detailed or simple as you want.

 

GoogleMaps to Custom Garmin Map

 

Here's a real simple map traced (in red) on Google Earth (Frankfurt Germany area) and made into a Garmin map. A route is traced from Hotel to cache along with a few major highways, towns and a river. With a map on your GPS you can now drive on a highway right to a cache. You could add whatever detail you want.

 

Google trace

 

Screenshot of map on Garmin GPS

Edited July 27, 2007 by rws

[+triturtle]

WOW - thanks everybody for all the great information! As soon as I posted my question, I realized that some GPSr units don't have maps. I guess I am spoiled.

 

Now... how to get Garmin to put out a MAC OS X version of mapsource so I don't have to run WIN XP via bootcamp on my macbook?!?!?!