best software for planning backpacking trips

I'm not aware of any but I've considered working on something (I'm a software engineer by day). I think a web app (maybe with smartphone companions) would work particularly well for this. I've spent some time thinking about it in the past and now I am thinking again.

Is there significant interest out there?

For sure, there is. I currently use a Motorola Droid X with Backcountry Navigator on trips. I would definitely be interested in something that I could use to actually plan trips.

I use google docs to compile everyone's gearlists and schedule. Its cool because everyone can edit the document. As for an actual planner program specifically for backpacking i do not know of any but would be definitely be interested.

I use various software for trip planning & workflow

Topo Maps: Garmin
Clear route designation: Photoshop
Participant Waiver: MS Word, Adobe acrobat
Organization, itinneraey & gearlists : MS Excel

it would be nice to have an all-in-one program, but I'd fear that it would be as we say "a ten of all trades, and not good enough to be a jack," if you know what I mean.

By far the most difficult thing would be trails and maps as there are countless trails and backcountry campsites out there and the only comprehensive solution in this arena would need to be backed by Nat Geo or Garmin. I'm not sure of an easy solution to this.

Gear and weights, and itineraries for a group are all considerably easier problems. People on this forum already know their gear weights and the information could be easily croud sourced. Itineraries are pretty easy but would eventually need tying in with a maps component.

A few months old….. but I'm currently working on my thesis project and wanted to see if anyone else to build upon what has already been said.

As mentioned before-

*Stages of Trip
– How far would one want to break down the trip?
– Are we taking about getting as estimate of how long it would take you to hike a certain section of a trail based upon your (examples) Weight, Stride, Speed, Duration, Past Hikes (Tracking your previous hikes to forcast times it takes to hike new trails?)

*Picking Gear
– Would an online segment be wanted? Would you like to be able to bookmark a piece of equipment that you didn't have that you know you 100% want for the next trip that will have similar conditons?

*Weight List
– I feel this could maybe match up nicely wiht the Gear Section

*Picking Trail
– Would a search based on a series of criteria be desired? ex. distance, terrain, distance from your current location?

*Organizing Groups
– Online profiles? E-Mails?

*Reserving Camp Spots
– Ran into this problem on a winter hike, hits home to me. 12 people at a 9 person cabin.

*Food / Supply Drop offs
– I feel this is appropriate for the hiker doing something along the lines of the AT or PCT.
– Knowing where towns are?

Feel free to build upon that.

Corey,

As a fellow IT lackey, absolutely. This is definitely a niche market that either has subpar packages available or nothing at all. Even just a better gear weight closet/food package with the ability to import mapped trips from other programs would be nice…