Topo.com - Trails and Adventure

Topo.com is a site for the explorer. Supported by National Geographic which makes you immediately think of travel and photography, Topo.com is a place where users can share their trekking and outdoor experiences as well as get information, tips and advice from fellow users. The site has four components: explore, connect, download and share. The site is in its beta phase and therefore only the first two options are available at the moment. You can explore by taking a look at a United States map and seeing where other users have been. You can take a look at the trips, photos and videos which all have different colored icons on the map. You can take a look at the latest trips from the community and get ideas for your future travels or you can do a keyword search if you already know what you are interested in looking for. The connect section is a forum section where you can pos information you have found useful while traveling or ask questions and get useful advice from the community. There are posts on everything from fishing to photography. The two other features that will be available shortly are the download and share sections. In the download section you can buy maps for a destination you will be visiting. The share section is for map creators who have traced their adventure travel by GPS, or have a lot of trails to share. You can comment on everyone’s map and share ideas. Topo.com is a site for those with an adventuresome spirit, so take a look and check it out.

"You've arrived at the start of something great — a first of its kind national recreation database and social portal for outdoor enthusiasts. In just a few short weeks you will be able to download trips, detailed maps, and publish your own contributions alongside those of fellow enthusiasts and trusted organizations.

In the meantime, we encourage you to get started by making a name for yourself, literally. Register today, create your member profile, and lock down that favorite username before someone else does. Browse the forums and start a new conversation, or post a Trip Report and provide some local data on a favorite spot. For those that can't wait until May 30th, lend a hand and help us improve the desktop application by applying to become a beta tester.

Now roll up those sleeves, get connected, and get going!"

Topo.com has a great design, the National Geographic map is very attractive and the mountain background definitely sets the mood for adventure. It is great that you can see how many: explorers, trips, miles of trails, waypoints, photos, and videos have been posted on the site. The forum is a great idea, it is important that users communicate and give each other advice and share their experience and expertise. The map sharing sounds like a lot of fun and it will be a good resource for the community.

Instead of having to buy the maps it would be great if they could be shared and downloaded for free. Topo.com could have more of a community feel by adding adventure groups where users could connect due to a common interest, such as biking, rafting, etc…