Need Help With My Garmin 60CSx for Geocaching

When I met Mondou2 on the geocaching trail the other day, he suggested we go to some Geocaching Events for help in learning how to download geocaches and find them with the GPS on the trail. I work every weekend as a nurse 14-hour shifts, so that's not going to happen anytime soon, although I can't wait for the opportunity to meet some of our favorite geocachers!

So, I thought about asking for some help here on my blog.

I've figured out how to download geocaches from geocaching.com to the GPS, but can't figure out the specific buttons to push on the Garmin in order to bring them up and follow each one on the trail. 

We have a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx.  (Thank-you, oldest son!) There's not much in the instruction book on Geocaching. There are some YouTube videos, but it hasn't been quite exact enough for me to understand although I'm usually very computer literate and a fast learner!

After I download geocaches, how do I find them on the GPS to 'name' them so I know which are which.  IE: Page Key > Mark Key>Menu, ect...

Then, when we're on the road, how do I find them again on the GPS. What buttons do I press to get there.

Pretend you are at home downloading caches for an outing.
Show me the steps for downloading and naming them. (Or, however you do it.) (I think I know this.)
Then, on the road, please pretend you're finding the caches you want and what it will look like on my Garmin.  I need to know the keys to push in what order.

You can comment here at the word comment at the end of this posting, or send me an email from YOUR email at geocaching55@yahoo.com

If you are a geocaching member, you can find me on geocaching.com as starcatcher55 and send me an email from there.

I would be forever grateful.

Your Geocaching friend,
~Linda ... Starcatcher55

geocaching55@yahoo.com

Legends Tree and The Woodpecker

Bet you can't see the geocache.

Don't forget. This is a spoiler blog, so there are no secrets. We're assuming either you don't do geocaching in our neck of the woods, or you've already seen them and want 'the rest of the story'.

Legends Tree (GC35NMK) came out (was published) as I was leaving for a 12-hour day of nursing. It wasn't very far from our home, and I really would like to have been First to Find (FTF), but the geocachers who got there first are some very favorite geo-friends, so I felt better when they posted as FTF, and what fun they had with their friends and grandchildren tagging along.

I drove over the next day while waiting for some meds to be refilled.  At first, I couldn't find it. Either my GPs was off, or I was worried about the mailman who was eyeing me suspiciously as he delivered mail to an apartment complex close by.

There was a cold wind blowing, and I'd forgotten to bring a sweater so I got in the car and vowed not to leave until I found this one.

Suddenly, a lightbulb idea!  Hubby has been talking about being able to turn on the GPS when we're close to a geocache and then follow the coordinates listed on the iPhone. (How complicated is that?)  In desperation, I tried it.  WORKED LIKE A CHARM!

Bet you see it now!  How cool is that?
Legends tree by Granpa Tuggalong (GC35NMK)

I asked Geo 'Granpa Tuggalong' how he did that and he replied by email this:

As I thought of placing a cache in a tree, I thought, "Woodpecker". He makes his holes at such an angle that the acorn will never fall out. Instead of damaging the bark and nutritional source for the tree, I found a rotten knot just the right size. The rest is history. Glad you enjoyed it.

Now that is what I call a perfect Geocaching day...

Many great geocaches to you!
Your geocaching friend,
~Linda ... Starcatcher55

Fun at Crags View

      I'm getting my BSN in nursing online through Chamberlain College. Woo Hoo! So many years this has been my dream... I'm loving it!   But, I'm between classes this week, so geo-hubby and I headed for the 'hills' - Estes Park, CO.

It's about an hour's drive if we go the quick route, but today we took the long way and got there in about three hours.  The high mountains had their first snow, and the elk at Estes Park are in the bugling season.  Our mission today was to find the last of the shimmering fall Aspens in the Rocky Mountains!

We found the Aspens!



Oh, another goal was to find geocaches with the combined iPhone app when we had service, and our sweet little  Garmin 60CSx that we haven't quite figured out how to use yet when we don't have phone service!

We found the geocaches...

Watch 4 Wildlife by Bug Ranger (GC2AEHJ)

Almost a nano, but not quite... Too bad I walked up the hill instead of looking at the sign.

Nice shoe! The geocache is not what you see.

Crags View by Jenmjess (GC314AM)

I had hoped to get a little video of the bugling elk at Estes Park, but the busy herd was too far away today.  I found a video you can watch if you want to hear one. He gave a bugle like I've heard before at Estes Park. HERE

But, this blog is about geocaches, isn't it?

We have more fun today finding two geocaches!  Crags View had more than we expected! Leaving the car door open, and ignoring the obvious shoe-toten geocache, we met up with Princess, Your Highness and Ebony!




Princess, Your Highness, and Ebony greet us at Crags View Geocache!



I saw the visitors FIRST! I get first dibs on the apple!



See, the best grass is just out of reach.



I am Princess, and I'd like an apple, please.



I'm Ebony, and I'd like to be first, please.

Oh, thank-you, thank-you. I've been trying to reach that grass all summer!

Crags View Geocache...We added lots of swag and made it a Favorite!

Happy Trails!
Take Care on the Journey,
Starcatcher ... Linda



Email: geocaching55@yahoo.com

Marys Lake 2 at Estes Park, CO

We've never regretted for a moment our decision to pull up stakes in Columbus, OH and cross the Mississippi to another time and place. (We often miss those we left behind, though!)

Here in Denver, we're only minutes away from high mountains and always unknown sights and forces of nature. And most excitedly for me, thousands of geocaches!!!

Last week, we took an afternoon and drove up to Estes Park, CO to see what was happening with the little beggar Chipmunks at the highway entrance to Estes Park. We wondered where the elk might be grazing or just hanging out in town. Or, if the roadway through the Rocky Mountain Forest might be open. It's often closed to traffic due to high winds or a snow storm!




This elk was grazing all alone beside the highway at Estes Park.
He took a moment from his busy schedule to pose for a photo.

 I always have my iPhone app open to unexpected geocaches we might get close to, and today was no different.

After feeding the chipmunks some really special peanuts from Five Guys, and making a sweep of the town for the elusive elk, we stopped to hunt for a couple geocaches on the radar!

Marys Lake 2 was worth the climb and few minute search as we kept walking past it. 

We sat on the boulders and enjoyed the view after finding the cache.

OK. This is a spoiler blog...Here's the Marys Lake 2 cache!
Very nice one indeed. Lots of swag inside, and we left some of our favorite swag!

In case you're asking...You're right. I didn't think to get a photo of Marys Lake!  But if you're a geocacher, there are over 200 photos on the cache site GC1HN6E  Marys Lake 2.

Take Care on the Journey,
Starcacher55 & Catseye55
...Linda & James