Put some info on that front page photo so people know what it is. If there's info there, it didn't show in my browser. (The hike for anyone unfamiliar is The Narrows in Zion National Park, Utah.)
Maybe also suggestions or random features on the front page? That could lead in to the discover page.
Run through "top hikes" sites for ideas on what to add yourself and build up your content. I was a bit surprised not to find more; you could build a starting list and then knock off adding 10-20 each night for a week and get your numbers up.
I've also found some arbitrary rankings or suggestions can be a good way to find the most special experiences. If photos are the only method of discovery, everyone ends up in Monument Valley and miss Arches when it should be the other way around.
This site (http://besthike.com/) is ugly but isn't a terrible way to get ideas of new hikes to research. I've found a few through that site which I've really enjoyed (TMB, Huashan, TLG, etc).
If I would have known I'd hit the front page of HN, I would have added more content :) But I agree, there is plenty of good information already out there. For photos, I can probably find Creative Commons versions on flickr. I've already asked about a few and people are surprisingly generous.
And good point about The Narrows. I should have that info on there.
"If I would have known I'd hit the front page of HN, I would have added more content"
You did submit it, so not much of an excuse! ;)
No downside to adding loads more content, whether for a Show HN or for the general well-being of the site regardless of HN. Go for it. Would be great to have more photo-oriented hiking sites out there.
Hiking top down is the ideal, but as any description also says, you can head to the busy bottom end and hike up as far as you want. We did it with a discarded stick for support and barefoot. Barefoot hurts, so take wetsuit booties or get your sneakers wet. Doing it without a hiking pole or walking stick is much more difficult and slow. You can generally avoid getting more than knee deep depending on the season, but there can be some surprises - my wife hadn't checked ahead and ended up chest deep at one point. That was funny.
Maybe also suggestions or random features on the front page? That could lead in to the discover page.
Run through "top hikes" sites for ideas on what to add yourself and build up your content. I was a bit surprised not to find more; you could build a starting list and then knock off adding 10-20 each night for a week and get your numbers up.
I've also found some arbitrary rankings or suggestions can be a good way to find the most special experiences. If photos are the only method of discovery, everyone ends up in Monument Valley and miss Arches when it should be the other way around.
This site (http://besthike.com/) is ugly but isn't a terrible way to get ideas of new hikes to research. I've found a few through that site which I've really enjoyed (TMB, Huashan, TLG, etc).