New York, May 10, 2000 - For weekend walkers tired of the same old paths, or off-road bikers looking for the next new trail, or intrepid trekkers looking for that next glorious challenge, there is now a resource that brings choice and inspiration to hikers as they plan their next outing. GORP.com (Great Outdoor Recreation Pages), the leading outdoor lifestyle portal, today announced the addition of a 3,500-trail searchable and interactive database to its site.

This new application, found at http://trailfinder.gorp.com allows GORP users to search, rate and submit trails that can be used for a variety of activities, including hiking, biking and cross-country skiing.

"Our goal is to provide people with the tools they need to get out and experience the outdoors," said Bill Greer, GORP's co-founder and Editor-in-Chief. "Our trails database provides outdoor enthusiasts with one central source for accessing trails ranging from a simple hike in your neighborhood to a bike ride across country. The best part is you do not have to have a set destination or activity level in mind. Simply enter in what is important to you and then GORP will get you out there."

By putting more information in the hands of the hiker, GORP's database supports conservation efforts by giving hikers easy access to information on lesser-known trails. Ideally, this will enable trail users to disperse more widely across wilderness areas and lessen the impact on popular, overused trails. "The hope is that hikers will choose the trail less traveled," said Greer. "Many of this country's open spaces are being overused and loosing their natural beauty. The database provides a way for people to reduce the impact on any one area."

GORP's "Trail Finder" gives people the ability to search for trails in two ways:
Just looking for ideas? Try a Simple Search - novices can use the simple search to find trails based on three criteria: location, length in miles and difficulty
Have a specific trail in mind, but can't remember all the details? Try an Advanced Search. This function is for more advanced trail experts who want to identify paths based on a wide range of criteria including: trail name, state or territory, park/forest, nearest city, difficulty, season and length

"Included in the trails section on GORP.com, users also will find tips on maintaining trails, such as how to leave no trace of your visit, as well as information on choosing the right hiking boots and other gear," said Greer."We even have information from our hiking expert, Karen Berger, on how to prevent or treat blisters if you get them."

So far, more than 3,500 U.S. trails have been catalogued mapped and uploaded to the site. With more added every day, the goal is to fully catalogue our nation's trails and expand internationally by September of this year. Trails earmarked as "Millennium Trails" by the White House Millennium Program and the US Department of Transportation will be added in the coming weeks for those who wish to experience the trails that have been given this special distinction.

In addition to being a comprehensive resource, GORP's trails database is fully interactive. Hikers now have the option to rate trails they have experienced on a variety of characteristics including the quality of the views, wildlife and bird viewing and fall foliage colors. There are also areas to rate the conditions of the trail and the quality of the fishing. Trail raters have the option of personalizing their opinion by signing their appraisal, including an email address and even uploading a picture of the area to the site.

GORP's goal is to make the trails database a full and completely authentic resource. "Our best information source is our strong community of GORP readers - people who have experienced the trails first hand," said Greer. "Our community has been eager to be involved with the resource we are building. The addition of a trails database is the first of many value-added features we plan to incorporate to reinforce our position of being a total resource for the outdoor enthusiast."

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