Ever since we unveiled our next-generation outdoor handhelds, Garmin bloggers (and our secret
geocaching stashers) have been placing limited-edition Oregon
and Colorado geocoins in caches across the U.S. and around the world. A message inserted with every stashed coin asks the discoverer to share the story behind the search. And after more than two years in hiding, many of these treasures are still out there just waiting to be
found!! And with Garmin’s touchscreen Oregon and Dakota
units, that hunt is even easier thanks to paperless caching. So enjoy this story from Kent E. about his successful search, check out our learning center video about geocaching with an Oregon handheld and then click on the respective links for
interactive demos (Oregon and Dakota) and feature-specific tutorials (Oregon and Dakota).

I woke up this morning intent on finding/logging a few geocaches in my area. I made a quick pit-stop at a rest area along I-5 S. There I found a cache with an assortment of trackables. I’m sure they were placed here as a quick pick up for anyone leaving to go out of town. I couldn’t resist the Silver Garmin geocoin. I had to retrieve it and put it somewhere special. After owning my first GPS since Christmas ‘09, I have become a geocache addict. My Garmin has never let me down, and feels like it is indestructible. With the help from my friends/family, 2010 is the year I quit smoking cigarettes. Most of the credit goes to my eTrex. How could I possibly smoke a cigarette in some of the beautiful places this GPS has taken me. Garmin changed my life. CITO! Hike the Cascades!!

With topics ranging from Custom Maps to custom icons, and hints for features such as track navigation and track archiving, my engineering friends in outdoor recreation have been updating the Trail Tech blog to help you get the most out of your Garmin outdoor handheld. Easily accessible through the On The Trail section of Garmin.com, Trail Tech is a hands-on guide to specific features and updates, written by the same brilliant minds who design our innovative handhelds. To give you an idea of the helpful insight you can gain from Trail Tech, here are excerpts from recent posts, with direct links to each. 

Understanding Track Archiving Improvements: In the latest beta firmware, Oregon 450 and 550
devices add more utility to track archiving. They now support adjusting
the automatic archiving to occur daily or weekly. For
many, adjusting this setting will reduce tracklog clutter on the map
display. (Click here for more on track archiving)

Personalize Your Map with Custom Symbols: With the latest beta firmware
for Oregon 450 and 550, users can create entirely new or replacement
symbols for waypoints and geocaches New symbols are
grouped together in the waypoint symbol list under the “Custom” heading. (Click here for step-by-step instructions)

Getting More Out of Track Navigation: We’ve added automatic detection of high- and low-points using elevation
stored in the saved track. These points are added
to the map and listed on the active route page. If
you have significant landmarks, campsites, trailheads, restrooms, or
other points saved as waypoints, our new track navigation includes all
waypoints located along the track and lists them on the active route
page. (Click here for more on track archiving)

Creating Garmin Custom Maps in Five Easy Steps: This unique feature allows users to combine Garmin map drawing technology with georeferenced map images, effectively putting a paper map inside your Garmin GPS. (Click here for step-by-step instructions)

Stay tuned to Trail Tech for more GPS tips and tricks, and get even more enjoyment out of your adventures this spring and summer!

The same folks who crowned Garmin’s Oregon touchscreen handheld as the “All-Around Champ” in last year’s comprehensive GPS testing have more kudos for Oregon’s smaller sibling.

In Backpacker’s annual Gear Guide and Editor’s Choice Awards, Dakota 20 is listed among the best of the best in their A-Z outdoor essentials, as determined by their expert gear editors and everyman reader testers. Here’s what they had to say:

“When our Colorado tester lost his trail in deep snow, he tapped the color touchscreen and had instant (and dead-on) compass, altitude, and UTM vitals to cross-reference with his paper map. But the truly remarkable thing? This budget-minded, palm-size GPS is $100 cheaper than similar models. You can record routes and drop-and-drag GPS files onto the unit from your PC or Mac.”

To help get even more out of your Dakota, visit the interactive minisite, be sure to watch our tutorial videos and check out Garmin Connect’s online community of 20 million activities, Garmin Custom Maps’ free ability to transform paper maps into files on your device, and BirdsEye Satellite Imagery for your handheld.

The answer is a resounding YES — Garmin Connect loves Mac and PC users equally. This is true whether your device supports wireless uploads (such as Forerunner 310XT, Forerunner 405 or FR60) or uses a USB connection (Edge series, outdoor handhelds and Forerunner 205/305 models). For wireless devices, you’ll need the Mac version of Garmin ANT Agent. For USB devices, download the Mac version of Garmin Communicator Plug-in. Happy data logging to all of our Mac users out there!