Privacy Policy for One Steady Step
At One Steady Step, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website at onesteadystep.com. Please read this policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal data.
Information We Collect
Personal Data
When you interact with One Steady Step, we may collect certain personally identifiable information that you voluntarily provide to us. This may include:
Name and email address when you subscribe to our newsletter or contact us
Comments and feedback you submit on trail reports or gear reviews
Correspondence records if you reach out to us with questions about routes or equipment
Any other information you choose to provide when engaging with our content
Automatically Collected Information
When you visit onesteadystep.com, we automatically collect certain technical information about your device and browsing behavior, including:
IP address and general geographic location
Browser type and version
Operating system and device information
Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation patterns
Referring website or source that directed you to our site
Date and time stamps of your visits
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
One Steady Step uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze site traffic. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences and understand how you use our website. We use both session cookies (which expire when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (which remain on your device for a set period).
The types of cookies we use include:
Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly
Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with onesteadystep.com by collecting anonymous usage data
Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and choices to provide a personalized experience
You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. However, disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of our website.
Analytics Services
We use third-party analytics services, such as Google Analytics, to collect and analyze information about how visitors use One Steady Step. These services use cookies and similar technologies to track your interactions with our site and generate reports on website activity. The information collected is typically anonymized and aggregated, helping us improve our trail content and user experience.
How We Use Your Information
One Steady Step uses the collected information for the following purposes:
To deliver and improve our trail reports, gear reviews, and hiking content
To respond to your inquiries, comments, and feedback about routes or equipment
To send you newsletters, updates, and information about new trail content (only if you've subscribed)
To analyze website traffic and user behavior to enhance the onesteadystep.com experience
To detect, prevent, and address technical issues or security concerns
To understand which trail regions, gear topics, and content types resonate most with our community
To comply with legal obligations and protect our rights
We are committed to using your information only for legitimate purposes related to providing quality hiking and backpacking content to our readers.
Third-Party Sharing and Disclosure
One Steady Step does not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
Service Providers
We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating onesteadystep.com, conducting our business, or serving our users. These providers may include:
Web hosting and infrastructure services
Email newsletter platforms
Analytics and performance monitoring tools
Content delivery networks
These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the specific services they provide to One Steady Step.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities, such as to comply with a subpoena, court order, or legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of One Steady Step, our users, or others.
Business Transfers
In the event that One Steady Step is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. The specific retention period depends on the nature of the information and the purpose for which it was collected:
Newsletter subscription data is retained until you unsubscribe
Contact form inquiries are typically retained for up to two years
Analytics data is generally retained in aggregated form for up to 26 months
Comments and user-generated content may be retained indefinitely as part of our trail archive
When personal information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention policies.
Your Rights and Choices
As a visitor to onesteadystep.com, you have certain rights regarding your personal information:
Access and Correction
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to request corrections if the information is inaccurate or incomplete. Contact us using the information provided at the end of this policy to make such requests.
Deletion
You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions. For example, we may need to retain certain information to comply with legal obligations or resolve disputes. To request deletion, please contact One Steady Step directly.
Opt-Out of Communications
If you have subscribed to our newsletter or email updates, you can opt out at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any email we send, or by contacting us directly. Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still send you administrative messages related to your inquiries or account.
Cookie Management
You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. Keep in mind that some features of onesteadystep.com may not function properly if you disable cookies.
Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you do not want your online activity tracked. Currently, there is no universally accepted standard for how to respond to DNT signals, and One Steady Step does not currently respond to DNT browser signals.
Children's Privacy
One Steady Step is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Our content about hiking, backpacking, and trail running is intended for experienced outdoor enthusiasts, typically adults. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information as quickly as possible. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.
International Data Transfers
One Steady Step is based in the United States, and your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country of residence.
By using onesteadystep.com, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries as described in this Privacy Policy. We take appropriate measures to ensure that your personal information remains protected in accordance with this policy, regardless of where it is processed.
Security Measures
We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect it from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
Secure socket layer (SSL) encryption for data transmission
Regular security assessments and updates to our systems
Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
Secure storage and backup procedures
However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any passwords or account credentials you may use on onesteadystep.com.
Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to external websites, such as gear manufacturer sites, trail organizations, or mapping services. One Steady Step is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external websites you visit through links on onesteadystep.com. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected by One Steady Step.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will update the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy and post the revised version on onesteadystep.com.
If we make material changes that significantly affect your rights or how we use your personal information, we will provide additional notice, such as through a prominent announcement on our website or via email to newsletter subscribers. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
Your continued use of One Steady Step after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact One Steady Step:
Website: onesteadystep.com
We will make every effort to respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe. Your privacy matters to us, and we are committed to addressing any concerns you may have about how we handle your personal information.
Thank you for trusting One Steady Step as your source for trail beta, gear insights, and the honest realities of long days in the mountains.