Cookie Policy

1. What cookies are

A cookie is a small text file that a website can place on your device (computer, phone, or tablet) when you visit. It lets the website remember something about your visit — like a preference you set — the next time you load a page or return to the site.

Related technologies work in a similar way, including local storage, which lets a website save small pieces of information directly in your browser, on your own device, without sending it back to a server. Where this policy refers to “cookies,” it generally covers these similar technologies as well, unless stated otherwise.

2. Why websites use cookies

Websites use cookies and similar technologies for a variety of reasons, such as:

• Making a site work properly and remembering basic settings
• Remembering choices you’ve made, so you don’t have to repeat them
• Understanding, in aggregate, how visitors use a site so it can be improved
• Supporting advertising, where a site displays ads (see Section 6)

The sections below explain each of these categories as they may apply to EarthTrek.

3. Essential cookies

Essential cookies or similar technologies are those needed for a website’s basic functions to work — for example, keeping a page loading correctly or maintaining security. Because they’re necessary for the Site to function, they generally can’t be switched off without affecting how the Site works.

EarthTrek’s calculators and checklist tool are designed to run without requiring an account, so our reliance on strictly essential cookies is minimal. Where any are used, they exist only to support the basic operation of the Site.

4. Preference cookies

Preference-type technologies remember choices you’ve made so the Site feels more convenient on a return visit — for example, remembering settings so you don’t have to re-enter them every time.

Aside from this local storage use on the checklist tool, EarthTrek does not currently set additional preference cookies.

5. Analytics cookies

Analytics cookies help a website understand, in aggregate, how visitors use it — for example, which pages or tools are most popular, or how visitors typically move through a site. This information is generally used to improve the Site rather than to identify any one visitor personally.

Until this section is updated to say otherwise, you should assume no analytics cookies are confirmed as active on the Site.

6. Advertising cookies, if applicable

Advertising cookies can be used to show ads that are more relevant to you, limit how often you see the same ad, or measure the performance of an advertising campaign.

If this changes in the future, this section will be updated to name the advertising partners involved, describe the cookies they use, and explain any opt-out choices available to you.

7. Third-party cookies

Third-party cookies are set by a domain other than the website you’re visiting — typically by a service the website relies on, such as an analytics or advertising provider. As noted above, EarthTrek does not currently have confirmed analytics or advertising integrations, so we do not currently knowingly set third-party cookies of this kind.

If EarthTrek adopts third-party tools that set cookies in the future, they will be described in the relevant sections above (Analytics or Advertising) along with placeholders replaced by the actual service names in use, and this policy’s “Last Updated” date will be revised accordingly.

8. How you can manage cookies

You’re generally in control of cookies through your browser settings. You can typically choose to:

• Block cookies from being set at all
• Delete cookies that have already been set
• Be notified when a website tries to set a cookie
• Allow cookies only from sites you trust

For the local storage used by the Hiking Checklist Generator, you can clear it at any time by clearing your browser’s site data for earthtrek.xyz, or by using the Reset Checklist option on that page.

Keep in mind that blocking or clearing cookies and local storage may affect certain conveniences, such as saved checklist progress, but should not prevent you from using EarthTrek’s core calculators.

9. Browser controls

Most browsers let you manage cookies through their settings menu. General guidance for common browsers:

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
• Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data

Menu names and steps change from time to time, so if these don’t match what you see, search your browser’s help documentation for “cookies” for up-to-date instructions.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time — for example, if we start using a new analytics or advertising tool, or if our use of local storage changes. When we do, we’ll revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.

We encourage you to check back occasionally, especially before relying on the specific details in Sections 5–7.

11. Contact

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy, please contact us at:

hello@earthtrek.xyz