What Features Would You Like?

[ERIC]

Many of you visit other forums, and probably have ideas for improvement here at HST. I can't promise anything, but if I have an idea of what the masses are after, at least I know what I can focus on to implement into this site. In this thread, please post some ideas for what could be added to this forum to make it better.

[freestone]

I would like to see a discussion forum about Sierra etiquette. All visitors to the High Sierra are faced with the same basic hygienic problem of how, when and wear to wash, clean, and relieve themselves. Okay, I know this is not high on an average reader's interest list, and for many, it would be downright gross, but I think to save the ecosystem and be considerate to fellow visitors, we need to be doing it right, and put it up for discussion and comments. There are many myths and truths floating around about this subject, for example, "Did I get sick because I didn't filter my water, or did my partner forget to wash his hands the entire trip" ? or "Who has the right of way, me, going uphill, or they,going downhill ". Highsierratopix.com is an informative web destination with lots of devoted visitors. That makes it a perfect place to pick up tips and how to make our adventure to the high country better, lighter and safer.

[Hetchy]

Hey, We,all wash our hands here! TTruly, ten years ago when a female Yosemite employee told me she did not use Toilet paper.. I was shocked.. since I have begun to understand the basis for her foresighted reasons.. (just visit Rancheria fal;s in HetchHecthy.. you'll see).
I must say tha we ALL have come a long way from burning d-cell batteries in the fire and burying TP a quarter inch deep .. yet there is room for improvement in ALL our camps.
I am glad you brought up the subject and though it is not the favorite of most it is neccesary to our mutual,safe,continued enjoyment of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Wag Bags are not so far away from even the basic overnighter, and I see a future where NO trace truly means NO TRACE.. looming on the horizon.
This will not go over well with many.. in fact there will be a near revolt.
But what is truly revolting is the overuse of trailheads and spreading of undecomposed human waste further afield and particularly the used toilet paper that accumulates in the interstices of our beloved Wilderness.
There is a better way.. let us work towards that goal.

[ERIC]

Good suggestion, freestone. I'm not sure the subject is deep enough to warrant an entire forum for its discussion, but if you post a thread entitled "Backcountry Etiquette" (or something like that) in The Campfire, I'll be happy to make the thread a sticky so it has a permanent home at the top of the forum string.

[markskor]

Would be nice to have an easy access, HST, in-house, map feature, something akin to the old Topozone...somewhere to help pin point locations.
Miss having an easy access, yet manipulative Topo... said it better than 1000 words fail to do.

[ERIC]

Would be nice to have an easy access, HST, in-house, map feature, something akin to the old Topozone...somewhere to help pin point locations.
Miss having an easy access, yet manipulative Topo... said it better than 1000 words fail to do.

That's probably a bit beyond my abilities. Lots of custom scripting - which is probably why there really isn't much in the way of a replacement for Topozone out there. Sorry, Mark.

[copeg]

Some of the general information, which may or may not address freestone's ideas, were in the original header section of hst (one example: http://www.highsierratopix.com/411_food_storage.html). An Etiquette section could be added there. Since the transition to the new forum layout and version though, there does seem to be a bit of a disconnect between the main 'portal' page (http://www.highsierratopix.com) and community forum page (http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/) - for example I can't reach the 411_food_storage page from the forums directly.
Eric, as for the map idea, a simple google map type interface could easily be added with terrain and topo. It may not be ideal, but could suffice. I did this on my website (http://www.naturefocused.com/maps/map.php) and am familiar with the api, so something like this could be added and I'd be willing to help.

[ERIC]

Some of the general information, which may or may not address freestone's ideas, were in the original header section of hst (one example: http://www.highsierratopix.com/411_food_storage.html). An Etiquette section could be added there. Since the transition to the new forum layout and version though, there does seem to be a bit of a disconnect between the main 'portal' page (http://www.highsierratopix.com) and community forum page (http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/) - for example I can't reach the 411_food_storage page from the forums directly.
Eric, as for the map idea, a simple google map type interface could easily be added with terrain and topo. It may not be ideal, but could suffice. I did this on my website (http://www.naturefocused.com/maps/map.php) and am familiar with the api, so something like this could be added and I'd be willing to help.

Thanks for the offer, Greg.
I'm aware of the Google api and how to do that. But I think what Mark is asking is specific to topo maps (I could be wrong). What Topozone offered and what Google offers are two different animals IMO.
You're right about the disconnect on the main site vs. forums. That's my bad. I've been trying to find the time to redesign and connect the two - a part of that, though not an excuse, is waiting on the new forum version to come out. What's crappy about version 3 is the lack of crossover with the templates from version to version. You spend a bunch of time modifying and customizing the templates and look of your site, and then a new version under the phpBB 3 generation is released with improved security features - but the template you just dedicated a bunch of time to doesn't jive with the new version. Quite frustrating, but phpBB seems to be getting a handle on it with the later versions. So I have hope.

[BSquared]

Just something very simple: I'd really like it if it were the default for links to open in a new tab or window, rather than replacing the HST window. I know you said something about this a while ago, but I can't seem to find it. I can certainly right-click (if I remember), but I'm guessing that most people would like a second window, rather than a replacement window.

-B²

[copeg]

Eric, this came upon in another post...howz about a custom bbcode for image sizes. For example, if the images currently get clipped at 550 width, and a user wants to post a photo at 800 pixel with, the user can enter the image dimensions within the img tag to 'pseudo-resize' the image dimensions to fit within the board limit. It should be easy to add a custom code in the mod panel, I can try it if you'd like (didn't want to mess with things without permission and discussion of course ).