General Conditions of Use

1. Preamble

Snow Traces (accessible at backcountryski.app) is an informational platform dedicated to backcountry ski touring, nordic skiing, and snowshoeing. It is not a mountain guide service, nor does it provide professional route guidance of any kind.

The platform aggregates and displays community-sourced activity data, ski touring topos, mountain refuge information, and related content for informational and inspirational purposes only.

2. Acceptance

By accessing or using Snow Traces, you accept and agree to be bound by these General Conditions of Use. If you do not agree to these conditions, you must not use the platform.

3. Nature of Content

Routes, topos, GPS tracks, elevation profiles, snow condition reports, and all other information displayed on Snow Traces are:

• User-generated and community-sourced — not verified by professionals
• Subject to inaccuracies, omissions, and errors
• Potentially outdated — mountain conditions change rapidly
• Sourced from third-party platforms (Strava, Camptocamp.org, Skitour.fr, refuges.info) and may contain errors from those sources

No content on Snow Traces should be considered as professional mountaineering advice or a substitute for proper training, experience, and judgment.

4. Mountain Risks Disclaimer

Hazards include but are not limited to:

• Avalanches — the primary cause of death in backcountry skiing
• Rapidly changing weather — whiteout, storms, extreme cold, wind
• Terrain hazards — cliffs, cornices, crevasses, rock bands, ice
• Equipment failure and physical exhaustion
• Remote locations with limited or no rescue access

5. No Guarantee of Accuracy

Snow Traces makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information displayed on the platform. Specifically:

• GPS tracks may be inaccurate, incomplete, or follow dangerous paths
• Elevation data, distance, and slope calculations are approximate
• Snow condition reports reflect past observations and do not predict current or future conditions
• Avalanche danger indicators are not a substitute for checking official avalanche bulletins
• Topo descriptions may be outdated or incorrect
• Refuge information (capacity, staffing, accessibility) may not reflect current reality

6. User Responsibility

Before every outing, you must:

• Check the official avalanche bulletin for your region (e.g., Météo France BRA, SLF, AINEVA, EAWS)
• Carry and know how to use avalanche safety equipment: transceiver (DVA), shovel, and probe
• Have adequate training, physical fitness, and mountaineering experience for the planned route
• Verify current weather conditions and forecasts
• Make your own independent assessment of route safety and conditions
• Inform someone of your planned itinerary and expected return time
• Be prepared to turn back at any time if conditions deteriorate

7. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SNOW TRACES AND ITS OPERATOR(S) ACCEPT NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR ANY ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, MATERIAL DAMAGE, OR DEATH RESULTING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM THE USE OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE PLATFORM.

This includes but is not limited to liability arising from:

• Following routes, GPS tracks, or topos displayed on the platform
• Relying on snow condition reports or avalanche danger indicators
• Using downloaded GPX files for navigation
• Inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information of any kind
• Technical malfunctions, data errors, or service interruptions

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Snow Traces, its operator(s), contributors, and affiliated parties from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from your use of the platform, your outdoor activities, or your violation of these conditions.

9. Third-Party Data

Snow Traces integrates data from third-party sources including:

• Strava — activity data imported via the Strava API, subject to Strava's terms of service
• Camptocamp.org — ski touring topos used under Creative Commons BY-SA license
• Skitour.fr — ski touring topos and route data
• refuges.info — mountain refuge data used under CC BY-SA 2.0 license
• Avalanche data — sourced from data-avalanche.org, LAWIS, AINEVA, and SLF

Snow Traces is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or availability of third-party data. Each data source is governed by its own terms and licenses.

10. Modifications

These General Conditions of Use may be updated at any time without prior notice. Continued use of Snow Traces after modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated conditions. We recommend reviewing this page periodically.

11. Governing Law

These conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Switzerland. Any disputes arising from or related to the use of Snow Traces shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland.

12. Contact

For questions about these General Conditions of Use, please contact us at hello@backcountryski.app.