The upcoming hikes thread

ASL wrote: I don't know what the site rules are but we could also use the forum to introduce members and co-ordinate/ schedule hikes?

VE's rules are to promote the Berg and to facilitate and encourage interaction and co-operation among the community of those who go there...so sounds fine to me.

The idea of this kind of a thread has been touched on before and I think by the response here it would be a good thing to get going. There already is a broad "Notice Board" category on the forum that caters, amongst other things, for those wanting to advertise or join a trip. However I'm looking for specific input here from members in how they would like to use this site to achieve all of this. This includes how relevant threads are to be managed, and even if any new features/software would be beneficial. There is some sort of event/calendar software that would plug into the existing software, and VE's Facebook page can also be used for event creation.

I am hearing three different ideas/wishes in this thread so far:
1. A general "who is doing what, when" list for the sake of interest
2. A place to advertise trips or to say you are looking for a trip
3. A place to plan and co-ordinate the trips
How does everyone want this to be managed specifically? All in one thread? Split up into two or three threads (1 and 2 could go together)? Its easy to create more categories as needed. If people want to use the forum to plan and co-ordinate a specific trip, then we would periodically just archive these posts sometime after the event has happened. Ive noted the idea about mailing lists...will have to think about that one a bit. Using the forum might just be easier.

Another question I have: is this idea focused on the Berg specifically, or should it oriented more around the users of this forum and thus be open for trips into other areas too?

For me everything in one thread would work, but that's cos I'm on here almost daily so I can follow what's going on. For someone popping on once a week or so it might be a bit too much.

If threads are split I can see them going off at a tangent & ending up discussing things belonging in the other threads. As for your point 3, I would think that once members have expressed their interest in a hike the planning can take place off the forum via email or something. So I think 1 & 2 can be in the same thread

Could the user's location be displayed under their username instead of having to go into profiles, would make seeing who is in your area a lot easier