Want to Be a Hike Reporter?

If you like to hike and write, there is a good opportunity for you. And even if you hike but don't like to write, you still might like this opportunity. And if you like to write but don't like to hike, read on anyway because you might be enthused enough to give hiking a try.

What am I blabbing on about. Well, there's an opportunity. I stumbled upon localhikes.com site and found a link to hundreds of hikes near U.S. metro areas. That alone should be of interest if you're a hiker. I'm from Hawaii, so of course I was curious about what Hawaii hikes were listed. Sadly, of the dozens and dozens of trails in the Hawaiian islands, only three were: Kealia, Manoa Falls, and Laie.

Info at the site is provided by people called "hike reporters." Anyone with an interest can be become a hike reporter for localhikes.com. Here's how: [1] Fill out the Hike Reporter Application. You can find the ap by clicking on the "Reporter" link at the site's banner header at the top of page. [2] Within three days you'll receive an email with notification that you have the green light to be a hike reporter [3] at that point you'll have access to the HikeReporter Central area of the LocalHikes Site. From here, you can download the HikeReporter application. An installation CD will also be mailed to you. [4] Review the HikeReporter User Manual to learn about being a reporter and using the provided software [5] Once you have the HikeReporter software, you can begin adding your favorite hikes to the LocalHikes web site

Localhike.com lists these suggestions for hike reporters who are preparing a trail report.
• Find a hike you would like to share with other folks in your area.
• While on the hike, take some photographs with your digital camera and make a few notes of the most interesting aspects of the hike.
• Back at home, use TOPO! to create a topographic map and elevation profile of the hike
• Next, use HikeReporter to collect all the information about a hike including descriptions, photos, topo maps, etc.
• Once all the information is gathered, a single click of the mouse will put the hike on the LocalHikes web site.

For doing this work, what are the benefits to you, you might ask. Nope, you won't get paid. However, you'll get free software including National Geographic's TOPO (which costs $69 retail if you bought this on your own) as well as the HikeReporter application software that allows you to create trail reports. You will also get some publicity, with your pic, a personal web site, and a blurb about you linked to each hike you write about. What's more, you can bask in the good karma that you have created by providing helpful information to other hikers. And you very well will be likely be compelled to get out and hike more, definitely a good thing.

Sounds easy enough. Not sure if I'll be a reporter for localhikes.com but the site is worth a look.