Thought any of you 60CSx owners may find this interesting. The link below takes you to a little program that lets you mod the background on your GPS to help with readability and or to just have fun. The developer also has a similar program for the Garmin Colorado and Oregon. It is free!

Garmin 60CSX Whiz

Thanks!

Do you know where you can get a gbd or gpx file of the BW campsites?

I downloaded them from here.

You can try this gpx file which I created from data on the site Camps GPX File. Closed campsites have been removed (or atleast those in the most recent forest service data).

If you are looking to load all of the campsites on your GPS, you may want to load them as a point-of-interest rather than a waypoint. This site explains the difference between the two, http://freegeographytools.com/2008/introduction-to-garmin-gps-poi-points-of-interest-data

I've created a custom map that contains BWCA POIs. It can be loaded on a map-capable Garmin GPS unit and contains the campsites, portage trails, trail-heads (with distance in the name), entry points, and a few other interesting points (waterfalls, usfs cabins, etc.) You can download it here: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/219/

Thanks plquinn. I guess the main difference in the POI vs. waypoint is
"User-definable (in the field)"? How much of a difference is that?

Yes, you cannot update a POI in the field. If you use Garmin's POI loader (my GPSr does not support it) you could always save an updated POI as a waypoint in the field. Then update your POI database when you are back at a computer.

The main difference that I've found is that you can load many more POIs compared to waypoints. For example, the bwca-camp+port-wpt.gpx file (from snakecharmer's link) contains 3865 waypoints. All of these waypoints won't be able to fit on your GPSr, so you will have to filter out the ones you don't want (most Garmin units top out at about 1000 waypoints.) And if you max out your waypoints for your unit before you are in the field, you might have a tough time trying to figure out which ones to delete.

fyi - GPSr = global positioning system receiver

Wow...thanks for the information everyone.

I have bookmarked this topic for later reference.

plquinn,

I downloaded your files and installed the program but how do I get it to run? There are also two img files - how do I open them? I tried Garmin's mapsource.

GPX files used on Delorme Topo 8

Closer view

Just saved the GPX files to my hard drive [camp and portage waypoints, portage tracks]. Used the import function on the mapping program. Once the program has them displayed, I created a draw layer/overlay for the map. I transferred the whole BWCA map with camp portage draw layer to my PN40.
Thanks to the folks at Quiet Journey for putting this info together.

butthead PS, pardon my butting in to a Garmin post, Just want to mention that the files will work on other platforms. bh

Once you have installed the map, Mapsource should display a dropdown box that contains a list of all the maps you have installed. Here's a screen shot of the maps that I have installed.



If you want to install the map on your GPSr, there are good directions here: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-load-maps-on-my-garmin-gps-unit/
If you don't have any other maps installed (like Minnesota Lakemaster) I would recommend downloading the Minnesota Topo map

OK, now I see it in Mapsource and I see the camp sites and portages but no water but that is expected I believe.

If I am not mistaken the campsites are actually showing up as waypoints. But they do not show on the left side where maps, waypoints, tracks and routes are.

I believe I want to transfer the camp site waypoints to my Garmin 60csx, right?

The campsites (trail-heads, entry points, & misc. points) on the map are Points of Interest. They will not show up in the waypoint listing. You will want to transfer the map to your GPSr.