We are deep in development and excited to share an update on the current scope and approach to launching our new app.
For those who haven’t heard, our vision for the app is to enable any multi-day hiker to create a personalised itinerary in one session, that is inspiring, achievable, and available to book. The Hiking Club has always been focused on helping self-guided hikers easily plan personalised journeys in the Alps - with Nick coming on board, we finally have the skills to build a trailblazing app 🙌
The Hiking Club app: The only planner designed for multi-day hiking in the Alps
In this update, I’m going to outline more details about how the app will function along with the unconventional way we plan to launch the app.
How will the app function?
We want our app to be 10x better than any existing method multi-day hikers use to plan their adventures today. We don’t want to just build a better mouse trap, we want to reinvent the wheel so anyone can easily create their own inspiring and achievable multi-day hiking trip. To achieve this ambitious goal, we came up with the following principles are guiding our app build;
Making it Map-based
Multi-day hikers love maps! It is an essential element that helps them plan, prepare, navigate and share their experiences. We’re building our app on top of a map so users can continue using this medium as the basis for all their planning decisions. Given we want our app to be a trailblazer, we’re going a step further by making a 3D map layer available to help hikers better visualise their journey.
Trail-based experiences
There are lots of map apps already available that show every trail around the world and allows users to create their own routes. There are far fewer apps (none?) that focus on showing only relevant routes, transport, and accommodation for specific trails (such as Tour du Mont Blanc, Walker’s Haute Route, and Tour of Monte Rosa). To do this requires having in-depth experience and expertise on a trail, which is much more difficult to do at scale.
We believe users must be able to trust the information we show them in our new app like they trust our products today. By making our app trail-based, we’ll highlight the relevant routes, transport, and accommodation available for their journey so they can plan with confidence.
Trail based experiences: Hikers will be able to choose the trail they want to do then see all the different route, accommodation and transport options to incorporate into their plan
Helping you Plan
Rather than just putting all the routes, accommodation, and transport onto a map and letting you figure out how to turn it into a hiking itinerary, we are building features that guide you through the planning process. In one session using our app, we want you to have created an inspiring, achievable itinerary and available to book. No more stuffing around with multiple websites, spreadsheets, and calculators to figure out a plan that works for you!
Making it Web-based
Apps can be either native to a platform like Apple or Android phones, or, web-based which allows them to be accessed from any internet browser. Based on our research, most people like to do their hike planning on their desktop/laptop but some still primarily use their tablets and mobile phones. By making our app web-based, it will be available for customers to use on their preferred device via their internet browser.
Starting with a template
Ever since we launched our itinerary builder product in 2020, we’ve had feedback that hikers would love to see an itinerary template that broadly aligns with their preferences. For example, a 10-day plan of the main Tour du Mont Blanc trail that they can personalise by choosing different routes/highlights, accommodation, and adding some transport.
We’re designing the app with this in mind so each user will input the number of days they want to hike the trail in. They will immediately see how the main trail can be most evenly broken up to achieve this, including distance, elevation change, and estimated hiking time. From there, they’ll be able to change the hiking routes to add/skip specific highlights, select specific daily destinations, and add transport so it meets their needs. Having a standard template from which to customise makes the planning process much easier and less daunting for those unfamiliar with the trail or the Alps.
Seeing accommodation availability
Based on a recent survey with customers, 90% of people took over 2 weeks to book their accommodation due to the fragmented reservation process that currently exists. Therefore, where accommodation can be booked online, we’ll pull their availability directly into the app. Hikers will be able to enter their start date and see which places have availability for each night and those which they’ll need to reach out to via email/phone to check availability. This will allow users to know instantly whether their preferred options can be booked and make any necessary adjustments to their itinerary straightaway, thus reducing the amount of time it takes to finalise their plan.
Booking your trip
We don’t plan to take on the responsibility of booking accommodation or other services via our app but will focus on making this process as easy as possible for you by having neat summaries that link to the relevant provider's preferred booking method. We’ll continue to encourage offline providers to come online, hoping that one day it will be as easy to check availability and book your hiking trip as it will be organising a city getaway.
Involving trail experts
Mountain guides have a wealth of experience and expertise which we love and respect. We have started engaging this community to bring new trails onboard and provide consultation to those who want to discuss their hiking plans in the area of the world they know best. For trails that mountain guides support on our app, they will earn a % of the package fee. Interested in getting involved? Drop me an email: brendan@thehiking.club
Navigating the trail
We don’t plan for our app to be used for navigating the trail, however, it will provide you with a kml/gpx file with your personalised itinerary that you can load into a navigation app or device of your choice. If you don’t have a preferred navigation app, we’ll recommend one to you which works perfectly with the file we’ll provide. The map file is updated for each season and will include the features our already customers love, such as water refill, toilets, food stops, and transport options (even those you haven’t selected) along the trail.
Try before you buy
Given this is a new type of planning app for multi-day hikers, we want to give everyone a chance to check it out before deciding to buy a package. Therefore, we’re going to give users full access to all the features for a limited itinerary scope. At this stage, we are planning the limitation to be the number of days - you’ll be able to create the first 2 days of an itinerary for free before needing to buy the package to complete your plan. The limitation scope is subject to change as we determine what the best user experience is to understand the capability of the app.
If you’re interested in joining a feedback group for our new app, you can do so via a dedicated channel in our The Hiking Club community.
Our unconventional App Launch
Did you know people have already used The Hiking Club products to create over 500 unique itineraries for just 3 trails in the Alps? Yes, you heard that right! By allowing hikers to choose different accommodations, routes, and transport options for their itineraries, we’ve enabled them to create truly unique and personalised experiences.
To make personalisation possible, there is a mountain of data and intelligence that sits in the background. Over the last 4 years, I’ve been building, testing, improving, and (occasionally) resolving issues on our current itinerary builder product. Now that we’re cutting over to a completely new app, it would take me months to test all the different options and combinations that I know people will choose for their hiking plans. Rather than delay the launch until this is complete, I’m going to launch the app as soon as possible with a guarantee that you’ll be able to create an accurate, personalised plan. Our unconventional launch will be in the following 3 phases;
Phase 1: Look but don’t touch (TARGET: END OF NOV 2022)
Once the app is functional and passed a satisfactory level of testing, it will be used to create all new customer itineraries. Upon purchase of a package, customers will book a free video consultation session with me (normally a paid service) to discuss their plan, and watch as I build their itinerary using the app. I’ll be monitoring for any issues or errors that occur, and if needed can override the app manually to design an itinerary.
Launch plans: We’re planning to go live with the 3 trails we support - Tour du Mont Blanc, Walker’s Haute Route (highlighted in image), and Tour of Monte Rosa
Phase 2: You’re in the driver's seat (TARGET: MID-DEC 2022)
Once I’ve been able to produce a satisfactory number of itineraries on live video calls and the design has passed user testing, I’ll let customers into the driver's seat. Upon purchase of a package, customers will book a free video consultation session with me but during that session, I will give you control of the app to build your own itinerary. If you’re having trouble using the app, I’ll advise you on what to do (and make a note of how we can improve the design). If there is an issue with the app that prevents you from building your plan, I’ll step in to produce the itinerary using admin controls.
Phase 3: It’s all yours! (target: EARLY Jan 2023)
Once a satisfactory number of people have been able to create their itineraries during video calls, we’ll launch it as a completely self-service app. This phase will be more like a traditional launch with a product you’ll be able to use in your own time with any web browser. You’ll still be able to book a consultation with me to discuss your plan, however, these will return to being a paid add-on service.
Whose excited? We are! Subscribe to our newsletter below or follow our social handles to find out when we launch phase 1.
Brendan
Author: Brendan Jones, The Hiking Club
Brendan is a pizza-making, craft beer-loving, peanut butter connoisseur that has been exploring the great outdoors since completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award in high school. He started The Hiking Club to democratise hiking and the benefits that come from spending time in nature.
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