One active eMap® Deluxe

Hi!

Just caught your Geocaching page. I thought I'd tell you that I have been very successful using my eMap to both place and find caches. Like many other models, it has the ability to use MapSource® Topos. This is a great feature. Although it's not WAAS compatable, it still gets me to within a few meters. In fact, even though its stated accuracy is 15 meters under ideal conditions, I've learned how to use the eMap to get me within 1 meter even in the moutains of Colorado with only four acquired satellites!

It has another advantage too. It's cheap! I bought my deluxe and upgraded the 8 MB chip just this past week to a 32 MB. It's gone with me on search and rescues, on geocaching, on geodashing, hiking, and degree confluence, as well as just plain driving. It's indepensible in the mountains on foot.

Thanks for your GPS's! I've tried most of them (list of competitors' units) and you make the best product, hands down.

Joey

"eTrex Legend™ assists in NGS benchmark recovery"

Having used multiple Garmin® GPS units in the past, including the GPS 12, GPS 12XL, GPS II® Plus-and more recently my eTrex Legend-while camping, hiking, off roading, and geocaching, I recently discovered yet another use for my Garmin GPS and I feel compelled to write and inform you of it.

I've begun locating National Geodetic Survey benchmarks in my area, first as another reason to use my eTrex Legend and now as a way to assist the NGS ( http://www.ngs.noaa.gov) in "recovering" the survey marks. Benchmark Recovery is the term used for locating and verifying whether or not these benchmarks still exist in the locations where they were placed by surveyors. This dates back to 1807 when the NGS was established by then President Thomas Jefferson to survey our nation's coastlines.

The NGS doesn't have the resources to perform periodic recovery of the many benchmarks located throughout the continental United States and, thus, relies on private companies and citizens for assistance. They are very appreciative of citizens who take it upon themselves to report the existence and/or condition of these marks. Many are found moved, destroyed, or missing, and those which are will likely never be replaced. With the help of my Garmin GPS, I feel I am doing a service to my country by helping our nation's first civilian scientific agency.

Thanks Garmin!

M. O.

"Geocaching becomes family outing"

I read about Geocaching in USA Today while I was on vacation at Long Beach, North Carolina. I was so interested, I almost went out and bought a GPS right then and there (sorry, no money!). I even looked on the internet and found out there were four sites close to where we were staying.

Once I got home, I did a lot of looking and comparing of prices, features, and what I could do besides Geocache with the GPS. I finally bought a Garmin eTrex® Legend. I have been having great fun with my family ever since then. We have been geocaching for about 2 months now. We have found 7 different caches, including our first one here (see picture). My family and I went for a long weekend in the mountains of Virginia (we live in Charlotte, NC). We decided to drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway to Roanoke, VA on our way home. We planned on finding one cache on our way, but the kids kept saying "let's find another one". Well, it turned out that we found three of our seven in that one day :-).

Geocaching has become a "family outing" for us. Just last weekend, there was a great Geocaching Picnic in a park here in Charlotte, and about 30-35 people came out. It was a great time for all. I would recommend that all families try this. We are not an outdoors type of family. In fact, before geocaching, we hardly ever went to the park or hiked at all. Now we can all hardly wait to go find the next cache. In fact, I am a counselor for the youth group at my church, and I am planning a "church" cache for the group during our mission trip in October.

Thanks,

R. G., G. G., C. G., and S. G.

Geocaching in Austin, Texas

Hello, Garmin! Perhaps I've been stuck outdoors too long (searching for caches, that is). I just read a thread from geocaching.com and heard that your site finally added a link for geocaching. Kudos to you for getting the word out and for doing such a good job on it!

We have been geocaching since December of 2000 and loving it. We were the first to hide one in Austin, Texas. I have even been interviewed two times by local newspapers. I could go on and on about several geocaching stories—too many great ones to list—but I would like to mention the following: After the second article ran in the Austin American-Statesman, it seemed like geocaching broke loose in our great city. I read many logs at geocaching.com the following day that had people rushing out to purchase a Garmin GPS and get started in this cool adventure. I always remind people that the Garmin GPS will suffice—nothing more. Perhaps I need to be your official poster person <grin>. Just wanted to let you know that I'm enjoying my newest b-day gift from my boyfriend: an eTrex Legend! He still has the eTrex —"just" the eTrex—but it still does the job. But now he has GPS envy!

Keep up the great work!

Warmest regards,

R. B.

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