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Terms of Use

Effective date: 21 September 2026
Last Revised: 7 October 2026
Supersedes: v2 (2026-08-21)
Entity: Alpha Angle Labs, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (“RidgeReader,” “we,” “us,” or “our”)

These Terms of Use (“Terms”) are a binding legal agreement between you and RidgeReader governing your access to and use of the RidgeReader website(s), mobile applications, and related services, including all features, content, and offline data packages (collectively, the “Service”). Your access to and use of the Service is conditioned on your acceptance of these Terms.

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY, INCLUDING THE ASSUMPTION OF RISK, DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES, AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY PROVISIONS BELOW, AS THEY AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.

Key Highlights (Summary Only — Not a Substitute for the Full Terms)

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, accessing, or using the Service, creating an account, or clicking “I Agree” (where presented), you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, available at https://ridgereader.com/privacy, which is incorporated herein by reference. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not access or use the Service.

Accounts. You represent and warrant that, if you create an account, you: (a) are at least 18 years of age; (b) have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract; and (c) are not barred from using the Service under the laws of your jurisdiction of residence.

Using the Service without an account. No account is required, and the Service's terrain, mapping, and analysis features carry no age restriction. Analysis runs on your own device and no personal information is collected. If you are under 18, you may use the Service without an account but may not create one.

We place the age restriction on the account rather than on the application deliberately: the account is the ordinary feature that stores routes and other user data with us. A user may separately choose to submit a diagnostic report. Restricting the application itself would withhold safety information from younger backcountry travellers — including students in avalanche courses and ski programmes — at no privacy benefit to them.

Minors and adult responsibility. If you are a parent or legal guardian and permit a minor to use the Service, you are responsible for deciding whether to permit that use, supervising it, and ensuring the minor complies with these Terms. Users under 13 may not submit a diagnostic report, join the waitlist, or contact support without a parent or legal guardian. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot lawfully be limited. We may update these Terms from time to time as described in Section 19 (“Modifications to These Terms”). Continued use of the Service after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

2. Nature of the Service — Please Read Carefully

RidgeReader combines coordinates you supply — whether read from a photograph's embedded metadata, entered by you, or taken from your device at the moment you capture a photograph in the application — with third-party elevation data to generate slope-angle visualizations, terrain statistics, and related informational content (“Terrain Content”).

Terrain Content is generated on your own device, using terrain data packages you have downloaded in advance. Because of this, the Service requires that terrain covering your area of interest has been downloaded before analysis is possible, and downloading requires a network connection.

RidgeReader is an informational and planning aid only. It is not an avalanche forecast, a safety certification, a substitute for formal avalanche education, or a replacement for consulting your local avalanche center's current forecast.

Slope angle and terrain data are derived from third-party elevation models that may have limited resolution, gaps in coverage, measurement error, or may not reflect current snow, weather, or ground conditions. Terrain Content does not account for snowpack conditions, weather history, avalanche activity, or any other factor relevant to avalanche hazard. A slope's angle alone does not determine whether it is safe to travel on.

Routes, lines, and boundaries you draw are approximations you have created. They are not surveyed, not verified by us, and are not an assessment of avalanche hazard.

You are solely responsible for:

Supervision of minors and inexperienced users. The Service assumes a user who has completed avalanche safety education and can interpret terrain data in the context of current conditions. Where a minor uses the Service, we strongly recommend that they do so under the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, certified guide, or other qualified avalanche professional. This is a safety recommendation, independent of the account age requirement in Section 1, and applies to inexperienced adults as much as to minors.

The color scheme used to visualize slope angle in the Service is used for general informational purposes and follows a commonly used industry convention for depicting slope steepness. Use of a similar visual convention does not imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship from CalTopo, onX, or any other third-party mapping provider, and RidgeReader is not affiliated with any of them unless otherwise expressly stated.

3. Accounts and Registration

An account is optional. You may use every terrain, drawing, and analysis feature of the Service without registering. Creating an account adds one capability: routes and zones you create are stored with us so that they are available on your other devices.

Registration is completed through a third-party identity provider (currently Google). We do not issue or store a RidgeReader password. You are responsible for maintaining the security of the identity-provider account you use to sign in, and for all activity under your RidgeReader account. Notify us promptly at admin@ridgereader.com of any unauthorized use.

You agree to provide true, accurate, current, and complete information, and to maintain and promptly update it.

We may suspend or terminate your account if we reasonably believe information you provided is false, inaccurate, or incomplete, or if you violate these Terms.

Signing out does not delete the routes stored on your device. They remain available locally.

4. License Grant; Ownership

Subject to your compliance with these Terms, RidgeReader grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable license to: (a) install and use the mobile application on a personal device you own or control; (b) access and use the web application; and (c) download and store offline terrain data packages (“Offline Regions”) on your personal device(s) solely for your own personal, non-commercial backcountry trip planning.

Offline Regions are licensed, not sold, to you, and may be used only within the Service. You may not extract, redistribute, sublicense, sell, or make Offline Regions or underlying terrain data available to any third party or any other application or service.

Except for the limited license granted above, RidgeReader and its licensors retain all right, title, and interest in and to the Service, including all software, terrain visualizations, design, text, graphics, and other content we create (excluding Your Content, as defined below). All rights not expressly granted to you are reserved.

You may not: (a) reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Service, except as expressly permitted by applicable law; (b) use automated tools (bots, scrapers, crawlers) to access or extract data from the Service; (c) use the Service to build a competing product or service; or (d) remove or obscure any proprietary notices.

Rate limits. Generating terrain is computationally expensive. We enforce per-user and overall limits on terrain generation and download requests, and we may adjust those limits at any time to keep the Service available to everyone. Circumventing or attempting to circumvent these limits is a violation of Section 8.

5. Your Content

“Your Content” means the routes, lines, polygons, boundaries, zones, names, and colours you create or import within the Service, and — where you choose to store them in an account — the copies of that content held for synchronisation. You retain all ownership rights in Your Content.

Photographs and diagnostic reports. When you select a photograph for normal analysis, the application reads its embedded metadata and performs the analysis entirely on your device. The photograph is not uploaded, transmitted, hosted, or stored by us. If you choose to submit a “My result doesn’t look right” report, however, you may provide us with the photograph, its embedded metadata, a terrain-view capture, and related diagnostic information. You grant RidgeReader a limited, worldwide, royalty-free license to receive, host, store, reproduce, and review those report materials solely to diagnose the reported issue, respond to you if you provide contact information, protect the Service, and retain the report as described in the Privacy Policy. We do not use report materials for advertising, model training, or publication.

Sync license. If you sign in, you grant RidgeReader a limited, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, transmit, and reproduce Your Content solely as necessary to synchronise it between your own devices and to provide the Service to you. This license does not permit us to publicly share, sell, or use Your Content for marketing, product development, or model training without your separate, explicit consent. It ends when you delete Your Content or your account, subject to routine backup cycles.

Custom terrain regions. If you ask us to generate terrain around routes you have drawn, the coordinates of those routes are transmitted to us so that the region can be derived from them, and are used for that purpose. See our Privacy Policy at https://ridgereader.com/privacy.

You represent and warrant that: (a) you own or have the necessary rights to Your Content; and (b) Your Content does not violate any third party's rights, including privacy or intellectual property rights.

Location sensitivity. Routes you draw and photographs you select may reveal precise locations, including locations you would prefer not to disclose. You are responsible for what you create and for what you choose to store in an account. Photographs you select may contain GPS metadata. It remains on your device during normal analysis, but is sent to us if you choose to submit a diagnostic report, as described in the Privacy Policy.

We may remove Your Content at our discretion if we reasonably believe it violates these Terms or applicable law, though we have no obligation to pre-screen it.

6. Third-Party Data Sources

The Service incorporates elevation, imagery, and mapping data from third-party sources, including without limitation the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Microsoft Planetary Computer, OpenStreetMap, and Esri. Such data is provided by those third parties “as is,” and RidgeReader does not control, and is not responsible for, its accuracy, completeness, resolution, or currency.

Availability of high-resolution data varies by geographic location. Where high-resolution data is unavailable, the Service may substitute lower-resolution data, which produces less precise terrain statistics and renderings. The Service will attempt to indicate the resolution or source of data used where feasible, but you should not assume terrain data reflects the most current ground conditions.

Certain features, including map tiles and place-name search, are requested by your browser directly from third-party providers. Your use of those features is subject to those providers' own terms and privacy practices, as described in our Privacy Policy.

7. Subscriptions, Fees, and Cancellation

No paid tier is currently offered. This Section governs paid plans if and when they are introduced, and takes effect only at that time.

Certain features of the Service (for example, expanded offline region downloads or premium terrain analysis) may require payment of a subscription fee (“Premium Features”). Free features may be limited and are subject to change at our discretion.

Auto-renewal. If you subscribe to a paid plan, your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the renewal date. Uninstalling the app does not cancel your subscription.

App Store purchases. If you purchase a subscription through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, that purchase, its billing, and its cancellation are governed by the applicable app store's terms, and RidgeReader does not have the ability to process refunds or cancellations on your behalf for such purchases. Contact the applicable app store's support for their process.

Direct purchases. If you subscribe directly through our website, you may cancel auto-renewal at any time through your account settings or by emailing admin@ridgereader.com. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the then-current billing period; we do not provide prorated refunds except as required by law or as we otherwise state in a refund policy published at the time the paid tier launches.

We reserve the right to change subscription fees at any time. We will provide at least 30 days' notice before any fee increase takes effect for existing subscribers.

8. Acceptable Use

In connection with the Service, you agree not to:

Violation of this Section may result in suspension or termination of your account and access to the Service.

9. Assumption of Risk

BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL, SKIING, SNOWBOARDING, SNOWMOBILING, AND RELATED ACTIVITIES INVOLVE INHERENT AND SIGNIFICANT RISKS, INCLUDING THE RISK OF AVALANCHE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND VOLUNTARILY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS.

You acknowledge that: (a) the Service does not eliminate, and is not designed to eliminate, avalanche or other backcountry risk; (b) terrain and slope data may contain errors or omissions; (c) reliance on the Service in place of current forecasts, professional guidance, or your own field observations is done entirely at your own risk; and (d) RidgeReader is not liable for any property damage, bodily injury, or death arising from or related to your access to, use of, or inability to use the Service, or your reliance on any Terrain Content, except to the extent caused by our gross negligence or willful misconduct.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you release, waive, and discharge RidgeReader, its officers, employees, and licensors from any and all claims arising from your use of the Service in connection with backcountry travel or recreation.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE SERVICE AND ALL TERRAIN CONTENT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

RidgeReader does not warrant that: (a) the Service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; (b) Terrain Content will be accurate, complete, or current; or (c) defects will be corrected. DO NOT USE THE SERVICE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR ANY GO/NO-GO DECISION IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN.

We do not warrant that synchronised content will be available, complete, or free from loss. You are responsible for your own records of any route you cannot afford to lose.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so some of the above exclusions may not apply to you.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ALPHA ANGLE LABS, LLC SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF (OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE) THE SERVICE, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ALPHA ANGLE LABS, LLC'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) FIFTY U.S. DOLLARS ($50), OR (B) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO ALPHA ANGLE LABS, LLC FOR THE SERVICE IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

This limitation does not apply to liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or death or personal injury caused by our gross negligence, where such limitation is prohibited by law.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless RidgeReader and its officers, employees, and licensors from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your access to or use of the Service; (b) Your Content; (c) your violation of these Terms; or (d) your violation of any rights of a third party, including your decisions made in backcountry terrain.

13. Location, Camera, and Device Data

The Service requests access to your device's location services and camera to provide core functionality, including capturing photographs with position and orientation, and centring the map on your location. You may decline these permissions; analysing a photograph you already have does not require them, but features that depend on your live position will not function.

Because slope analysis runs on your device, granting camera or location permission does not transmit your photographs or your position to us. See our Privacy Policy at https://ridgereader.com/privacy for details on what is and is not transmitted.

14. Offline Regions and Device Storage

The Service allows you to download regional terrain data packages for offline use, stored locally on your device. Downloading requires a network connection; terrain must be obtained before you travel beyond coverage. You are responsible for managing your device's available storage. We do not guarantee that offline data remains current — terrain data can become outdated, and downloaded packages do not reflect real-time conditions, forecasts, or recent terrain changes.

Offline Regions are not synchronised between devices. A route stored in your account will appear on another device, but the terrain it refers to must be downloaded separately on that device.

We may update, discontinue, or require you to re-download Offline Regions from time to time; older versions may cease to function.

15. Third-Party Links and Materials

The Service may reference or link to third-party avalanche centers, forecast providers, mapping services, or other resources. We do not control and are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or availability of any third-party sites or services. Your use of any linked third-party service is governed by that provider's own terms.

16. Modifications to the Service

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service (or any part of it) at any time, with or without notice. We are not liable to you or any third party for any such modification, suspension, or discontinuance, except that if we discontinue a paid subscription feature you have already paid for, we will provide a prorated refund for the unused portion, where required by law.

17. Term and Termination

These Terms remain in effect until terminated. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, with or without cause or notice, including if we believe you have violated these Terms. You may stop using the Service and delete your account at any time within the Service. If you cannot use that option, contact admin@ridgereader.com.

Deleting your account deletes the copies of Your Content stored with us. Copies already present on your own devices remain there under your control.

Sections that by their nature should survive termination — including Sections 4 (as to accrued rights), 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20, and 21 — will survive.

18. Copyright Complaints

If you believe material available through the Service infringes your copyright, please send a notice to our designated agent with: (a) a physical or electronic signature of the rights holder or authorized representative; (b) identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed; (c) identification of the allegedly infringing material and its location within the Service; (d) your contact information; (e) a statement of good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized; and (f) a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the notice is accurate and that you are authorized to act on the rights holder's behalf.

Copyright Agent: Peter Wilson, Alpha Angle Labs, LLC, 1500 N Grant St, Suite #11862, Denver, CO 80203, USA, Phone: 937-751-0615, peter@ridgereader.com

19. Modifications to These Terms

We may amend these Terms at any time. We will provide notice of material changes by posting the updated Terms within the Service, updating the “Last Revised” date, and/or notifying you by email or in-app notice. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any update constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree, you must stop using the Service.

20. Governing Law; Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. The state and federal courts located in the State of Colorado shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute, and you consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts.

21. General Provisions

Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and RidgeReader regarding the Service and supersede all prior agreements.

Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

No Waiver. Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be deemed a waiver of that right or provision.

Assignment. You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms without restriction.

Force Majeure. We are not liable for delays or failures in the Service resulting from causes beyond our reasonable control.

Export Control. You agree to comply with all applicable export control laws and regulations in your use of the Service.

Geographic Scope. The Service is offered for use in the United States. Our terrain generation and terrain file storage are operated from the United States; account information and synced routes are stored in Canada. See our Privacy Policy for details. We make no representation that the Service, or any Terrain Content, is appropriate, accurate, or available for use in other locations. Elevation coverage outside the United States is limited or absent. If you access the Service from outside the United States, you do so on your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local law.

App Store Terms. If you access the Service via a mobile application downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, additional terms required by those platforms are incorporated by reference, and the applicable platform is a third-party beneficiary of these Terms solely with respect to your license to use the app.

22. Contact Information

Questions, concerns, or notices regarding these Terms or the Service should be directed to:

Alpha Angle Labs, LLC
1500 N Grant St, Suite #11862, Denver, CO 80203, USA
admin@ridgereader.com