OT - GPS maps

Recently bought the Garmin 60Csx handheld GPS. Now I'm starting to research maps to purchase but would like to get some opinions/advice from the experts in the field which is why I'm posting here. My one MAIN requirement is that the maps are at a scale of 1:24k or better.

Has anyone used the maps from www.abovethetimber.com? Also, any thoughts on the Garmin Topo Southwest maps? Any others out there that are compatible?

Any info/help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Hey Tony,

I have this exact model, had it since it first came out. I love it, and has all that I need. I use these maps, and they are your requirement. I like both of them, including sw.

http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/us/maps/onthetrailmaps

I also combine my gps, with regular topo maps of the area, regular compass. Then use google earth to fine tune certain things with all that.

hope that helps

I also have this model Garmin GPS. I have been using these mapsets for years. I integrate these into my Garmin MapSource Topo DVD's Not to worry about the download...they are clean.
http://www.miscjunk.org/mj/mp_main.html

I also use the MiscJunk maps. Never had a problem with accuracy and the price is right...

Thanks for posting this information...and Rick you have one cool blog....glad I discovered it. Joe Rogers

I have the Garmin SW set. It is excellent as is the basecamp software.

Thanks for the link Rick. I'll definitely try it out. I'm not crazy about paying Garmin's inflated prices for our (USGS) maps that they get for free and don't add any significant additional data. For those that aren't aware, we (the USGS) recently went live with our National Map website: http://nationalmap.gov/. You can download the topo maps that are currently out there for free. I contacted Garmin to see if they were compatible and the response was yes, but only on certain GPS units (of course not the unit I bought) and you have to do some pretty labor intensive converting before loading. If anyone wants Garmin's response on which GPS units and how to get the data loaded that is available for free from the USGS National Map website, let me know.

Try this: http://nationalmap.gov/

That's great news for us map junkies, Tony. I think Scott just got lightheaded.