Tell us how to improve YourHikes.com

Firstly, I think the site is first rate and most likely the best site within the genre.
The point totals for “free stuff” is just fine. I would however, decrease the number of points earned for entering a hike while increasing the number of points for a trip report. This awards hikers that are getting out there and going bush whacking. This would make it harder to earn points for most hikers in the end. Pros and Cons both ways.

I’ve thought several times how nice it would be to look up hikes by zip codes or within a certain radius of a city and state. Each would work well.

Getting more post from members in the forums, that’s on the members. Maybe earn one to five points per post for participating in the forum discussions to improve participation. More is not necessarily better however.

How to articles would be great! I’d honestly like to see quarterly newsletters in email and archived form which focuses on a specific hike for different regions of the country, as well as gear reviews, and question and answer forums. Imagine if you will, a condensed version of Backpacker magazine.

In all honesty, I really like the site. I commend you on your continued work to improve it.

TTF
KSVN, Ga

Many of the hikes don’t have maps tied to them which are very helpful. Is there anything you can do about that? Joseph

Shooter,

The main reason I keep checking in on a regular basis is to see what new hikes and new posts have been added. In other words, I don’t really use the site to go back and research potential hiking areas, backpacking trips, or gear reviews, or anything like that. I’m not saying that other people don’t do that, or that it wouldn’t be a useful tool for people to be able to search hikes by zip code, it’s just that that is not my main attraction to the site. I just like reading about where people have been going, and seeing what the current chatter is at the time. Therefore, in my mind, anything you could do to increase the number of new hikes or posts being added to the site would be beneficial.

Issuing a few points for posts made to the forums, as TTF has suggested, might spur more participation on this front. However, I wouldn’t be too generous, as this might beget a bunch of non wanted whimsical posts by those people just trying to earn points.

Another suggestion that I think might help encourage some more participation from users, would be to add a section where members can write, and post, outdoor adventure stories similar to the “Trail Tales”

Just found and like your community. Some more action in the forums would be a plus – although too much action and too many slammers chased me away from another backpacking website recently. So guess you just have to work a balance here. The hikes are a great idea – photos, maps, etc. – nicely done.

You mean you haven’t made your first million from your book yet? J/K

Whatever you decide on man, please don’t make it as convaluted at the Backpacker site…geez

TTF,
KSVN, Ga

Have you considered a “add a profile map” option? I realize that they are only about 50-75% accurate, but I’d definitely take them into consideration before I hit the trail (and add a few in the process). Nice work, BirdShooter. Thanks for everything.