New format for Trail Conditions

[MichaelJ]

The text on the old pages referring to the new forums is red on blue, nearly unreadable on my display. I recommend a color change.

It might also be less intimidating to non members if the link on the old pages went to
http://www.vftt.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12
instead of
http://www.vftt.org/forums

 

[percious]

This is a great change for the site. Thanks for your hard work.

-percious

 

[KevCon223]

This is nice. Thank You!!

Kevin

 

[darren]

I have posted some helpful guidance on each old TC state page in case there is some confusion. I'll post it here too:

Please READ this before you complain:

1) You do not have to be a registered site member to post trail conditions

2) Registration is required to post in the discussion forums (Q&A, General Backcountry, Trips & Events etc)

3) That means nothing has changed.

4) Please read #3 again.

5) The "reply" button in the trail conditons section has been disabled, so there will not be any discussions in the trail conditons.

6) Please read #3 again.

7) The trail conditons section is still laid out the same way:

List of states
State page with list of trail condition reports
Trail condition report on a single page

8) Please read #3 again.

9) Oh, and one other thing, that means nothing has changed.

Now then, to post or read new trail conditions, please use the Trail Conditions Forums

If having to scroll down to the Trail Conditions section is causing you a repetative stress injury because it is so much work, then please bookmark a direct link to just the Trail Conditions .

- darren

 

[darren]

Helpful Links

Hopefully some of these links will help people out. If you like any of the links then click on it and when the new window open up you can bookmark the new window and then you will always have easy access to what you want.

All VFTT forums and TC's:
http://www.vftt.org/forums/

Just the trail conditions:
http://www.vftt.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12

Just New Hampshire trail conditions:
http://www.vftt.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=13

(you can bookmark any individual state or discussion forum like that)

For Registered Site Users:

Get all new posts - discussion forums and trail conditons:
http://www.vftt.org/forums/search.php?do=getnew

Get all new posts - discussion forums only, no trail conditions:
http://www.vftt.org/forums/search.php?do=getnew&exclude=13,14,15,16,17,18,19

Get new trail conditions only:
http://www.vftt.org/forums/search.php?do=getnew&exclude=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12


For non-registered site guests:
Since you are not registered, the system can not track what new posts have been made since you last visited the site. If you visit every day, you click on the "Today's Posts" link in the navigation bar at the top of the forum pages.

Hope those links help.

- darren

 

[Tom Rankin]

Hopefully some of these links will help people out. If you like any of the links then click on it and when the new window open up you can bookmark the new window and then you will always have easy access to what you want.

Also, http://www.vftt.org/forums/search.php?do=getdaily will give you the last 24 hours worth of posts.

 

[RickB.]

I second adding the date of the hike to the title.
In a period following as storm, as recently, user can see which posts are germane without having to read each.
Overall a worthwhile change; thanks!

 

[Chabela]

Hi!

I second the suggestion to add the date on the title. Maybe Darren could just change the post that explains the format to use for the posting and tell people to include the date ?

Thanks Darren for that site!

 

[JCE]

GPX attached or some way to create a GPX repository?

I agree with just about everybody, the new format is great!

One suggestion (if it hasn't been made before)....

How about posting (attaching) GPS tracks in the form of trail.gpx with the trail condition? Its fun to see the tracks of those who have done the trail - especially for bush whacks.

Having a repository of gpx tracks would be a lot of fun and beneficial to those planning a hike.

/JCE

 

[Peakbagr]

Speaking solely as a member, I sure hope its not done by the NY 'whackers.

 

[Papa Bear]

I agree with just about everybody, the new format is great!

One suggestion (if it hasn't been made before)....

How about posting (attaching) GPS tracks in the form of trail.gpx with the trail condition? Its fun to see the tracks of those who have done the trail - especially for bush whacks.

Having a repository of gpx tracks would be a lot of fun and beneficial to those planning a hike.

/JCE

I agree with Peakbagr that for bushwhacks, this is a BAD idea. The essence of whacking is to get there without causing your route to become a herd path. The worst thing I can imagine is everyone trying to follow a GPS track. I've come to accept the idea of using a GPS to determine approximately where the peak is (I've occasionally used one) - but not as a substitute to map and compass. But a track log is over the line.

This discussion may also be over the line as to being on topic (Sorry), unless Darren decides that he will allow or forbid attaching track logs.

 

[darren]

I have to agree with PapaBear and Peakbagr on this. People can always get in touch with the poster if they want the track, but I don't think it should just be there for everyone.

- darren

 

[Rick]

Just curious Darren, but are there any archives of the really old days when we were on the threaded forums on Trailspace or was it lost in the crash of '03?
I still have a link that that older site, but haven't been there in years (except just now).
It would be nice to go back and see old posts from 10-12 years ago (and see if my disposition has changed in that time )
Thanks
Rick

 

[Tom Rankin]

After 13 years, the format of the Northeast trail conditions section has finally been upgraded.

Looks like it's time to not allow images in the Trail Conditions section!

 

[darren]

Just curious Darren, but are there any archives of the really old days when we were on the threaded forums on Trailspace or was it lost in the crash of '03?

"We" were never on Trailspace. That is a totally different website. They took over the rec.climbing forum and the gear reviews when I scaled down VFTT about 8 years ago.

Here is an archive of the old Q&A forum almost 10 years ago (complete with a "dogs on the trail" thread man, that debate will never go away )

http://web.archive.org/web/19980526111904/www.lexicomm.com/whites/wwwboard/index.html


- darren

 

[evilhanz]

Several times I've come to post trip reports and seen that someone has already posted a report for that route or something very similar on the same day or day before. (in fact just now, too!) I don't want to add duplicate reports, but a few times, I've wanted to add some additional info that the original report left out. Any chance you might enable replies to trip reports for registered users?

 

[David Metsky]

Any chance you might enable replies to trip reports for registered users?

I won't speak for Darren, but I doubt it. We've got Trail Conditions set up to be simply reports not discussion. Trip Reports are open for discussions by registered users. There's no reason not to add a second trail conditions post if it adds information.

That setup seems to meet the needs of the registered users and guests so far. If there's a way we can improve that, we're open to suggestions.

 

[Peakbagr]

I too don't see a need for modifying it at this point, but as I mentioned earlier, this is a work in progress.

 

[carole]

Has there been included a way to do a search on the 'Trail Conditions'? I'm coming up empty.

 

[David Metsky]

Has there been included a way to do a search on the 'Trail Conditions'? I'm coming up empty.

Go to Search->Advanced Search and select Northeast Trail Conditions as the forum. Make sure the "Include Subfolders" box is checked.