Privacy Policy

HikerNerd LLC ("HikerNerd," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services at hikernerd.com (the "Service").

1. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email address
• Name (first and last)
• Username
• Profile photo (optional)

Hiking Activity Data

When you use our tracking features, we collect:

• Peak ascent records (dates, peaks climbed)
• Route information and hiking notes
• Weather conditions during your hikes
• Hiking companions (names you provide)
• Photos you upload
• Reviews and ratings

Trip Planning Data

For trip planning features, we may collect:

• Planned trip dates and destinations
• Emergency contact information (optional)
• Custom route data and GPS coordinates

Technical Information

We automatically collect:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Usage patterns and feature interactions

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and maintain the Service
• Track your hiking progress and achievements
• Generate AI-powered trail conditions and recommendations
• Display leaderboards and community features (with your consent)
• Process subscription payments
• Send service-related communications
• Improve and personalize your experience
• Respond to support requests

3. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services to operate HikerNerd:

• Clerk - Authentication and user management
• Stripe - Payment processing (via Clerk Billing)
• Mapbox - Interactive maps and routing
• Digital Ocean - Hosting and file storage (photos)
• Anthropic (Claude AI) - AI-powered trail condition synthesis
• Weather APIs - Open-Meteo, National Weather Service, Mount Washington Observatory

Each of these services has its own privacy policy governing their use of your data.

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data:

• With your consent - When you opt into public profiles or leaderboards
• Service providers - Third parties that help us operate the Service
• Legal requirements - When required by law or to protect our rights
• Business transfers - In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale

5. Your Privacy Choices

You have control over your data:

• Leaderboard Opt-Out - You can choose not to appear on public leaderboards in your profile settings
• Public Profile - You control whether your profile is publicly visible
• Data Export - You can export your hiking data at any time (Trailblazer subscribers)
• Account Deletion - You can delete your account, which removes your personal data
• Email Preferences - You can manage notification settings in your profile

6. Cookies and Tracking

We use essential cookies to:

• Keep you logged in
• Remember your preferences
• Ensure security

We do not currently use third-party advertising or analytics cookies.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including:

• Encryption in transit (HTTPS)
• Secure authentication via Clerk
• Regular security reviews
• Limited employee access to personal data

8. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal purposes.

9. Children's Privacy

HikerNerd is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting a notice on the Service or sending you an email. Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us at:

HikerNerd LLC
Email: [email protected]