Garmin GPS - Pacific Crest Trail

imported
#1

I have a Garmin Etrex Legend GPS handheld. Does anyone know where I can get the PCT trail downloaded or parts of the PCT downloaded?

Megatron

#2

I have used a Garmin for several years and as far as I’m aware, there is not a “map” of the trail. What you can do is to use Garmin’s software called Mapsource U.S.Topo 2008 to upload the entire trail area into your unit. I have the Vista HCx with a 2GB micro SD card and I have uplaoded almost the entire U.S. from their Mapsource Topo 2008 (I also have most of Canada uploaded). The maps are fairly detailed. To upload, you are only limited by the amount of memory your unit has.

Misqua

#3

go to www.morethanamile.com and purchase these cd roms. This is the best resource beyond Yogi’s trail guide on the pct. It has digital printable maps that can be sized according to preference and also has all major waypoints for the entire pct. It is quite tricky to figure out how to load them properly. I believe i copied them and used a program called oziexplorer to load them. However, even with my 60csx with 2 gig memory card i could only fit all of the waypoints for the california section of the trail so if you’re planning a thruhike send the software up ahead to a place with descent internet access in northern cali. I sent it to tahoe and swapped waypoints there. hope this was helpful, it took me a lot of searchin to find this resource.

canyonman

#4

and in response to misqua, the topo software is excellent , but only bits and peices of the pct are included, usually in national parks, and never marked with anything beyond “trail.” However, I would definitely recommend having this software as well. Once you add the waypoints via oziexplorer or other non garmin software(the garmin waypoint manager will not accept it) if you have the topo software already loaded to your unit, the waypoints will be added to the topo software as opposed to just basemap.

canyonman

#5

I should have added, that if you have the waypoints for the trail, you’re set, just upload them. However, like canyonman said, you may have to use the oziexplore or other methods to upload them correctly. Also, you can store them on another micro SD card and have them with you all the time. The micro SD card is the size of your little finger fingernail.

Misqua

#6

The original question asked about downloading the PCT trail on to a gps. At the Morethanamile website he has the tracks to the trail that you can download for free in several different formats. You don’t have to buy his cds to get them, but I did anyway, cause they are really good. I have a Garmin 60csx, and I was able to download the garmon format and use the mapsource program to load each section into my unit. No extra programs. The one caveat is that you have to use the filter to limit the number of points to 500 for each section, and you only have twenty different tracks on the gps and there are 22 sections in his tracks. Not a big deal… just send the software uptrail after you complete a couple of sections. Filtering the tracks won’t degrade the tracks at all since he recorded more than he needed to anyway. Waypoints are a different thing alltogether, and use up a lot of memory. I was able to upload all the topos for California, Oregon, and Washington, and still upload all 20 tracks on one 512mb sd card.

Doc Holiday