The issue of Backpacker Magazine comes up every so often, and last did about a month or so ago. Some may recall that the editor of Backpacker, Jon Dorn, joined VFTT, and replied. Here was his reply:
Reply from Backpacker
Jon Dorn from Backpacker here. Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I read your posts with interest -- and occasionally some angst, to be sure. It's great to see so much passion about the sport of backpacking and about Backpacker, even if a good number of the comments are critical. Please know that we take all feedback from readers very seriously.
In fact, it was feedback from subscribers that led us to introduce the regional editions. We constantly hear from Backpacker readers that they want us to give them more hikes within a few hours of where they live. The first thing we did, earlier this year, was introduce the Waypoints cards, which added about a dozen hikes all across the country to the magazine. Then we added the regional editions, each with its own set of Waypoints cards, so the hikes get a lot closer to home for readers in those areas. It's important to note that we did all of this without taking away any of the existing pages of the magazine, so you still get stories like the North Cascades adventure guide in the February issue and the Grand Canyon guide in the December issue. The Waypoints were a straight-up addition and enhancement.
We know that the regional content -- which right now just amounts to a sheet of 6 Waypoints hikes for each of 6 regions -- is still a work in progress. We're hoping to expand the local information we can provide, again without sacrificing the big trips and national park stories everyone loves. I hope you'll all keep reading to see how we do on this front.
There was one post that suggested this is an advertising gambit. That is entirely incorrect. These additions are all about responding to reader requests. As you can see from the current issue, there is no regional advertising. In fact, this move required a big investment from our parent company, Rodale, which saw an opportunity to serve the hiking market a better magazine.
That's all -- hope you'll keep reading and critiquing Backpacker. And please feel free to send any comments to me directly at [email protected]. [later corrected to [email protected]]
Jon Dorn
I share many of the concerns expressed by others about the magazine. In spite of its shortcomings, I don't think there is any magazine that attempts to cover backpacking in the way that Backpacker Magazine does (if there is one, please post). It was the opinion of some of the posters at the time that Jon Dorn scored high marks by being willing to listen, apparently sincerely, to comments both positive and negative. Rather than complaining amongst ourselves (doesn't get us anywhere), it might be better to shoot Jon Dorn an email (
[email protected]) with polite, constructive criticism. If enough people from a "community" (VFTT) of experienced hikers do this, I would guess that it would at least carry more weight than a single random critique. Taking Jon Dorn at his word, I have every confidence that he will listen to what people, at least as a group, have to say, recognizing that a magazine cannot be all things to all people, and that VFTT represents a small minority of the hiking community. From a publishing standpoint (and I have absolutely zippo knowledge of the industry), I'm sure there are issues they must consider that the public is not aware of. But they can't deny the input of their readership, whether positive or negative.
