Terms of Service

Last Updated: August 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, opting into SMS, or using the Backcountry Signal service, you agree to these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use the service.

2. The Service

Backcountry Signal is an SMS-based assistant: you text a question to our US phone number and an AI-generated answer is texted back. The service depends on your device being able to send and receive ordinary SMS messages and on the availability of our systems, messaging carriers, AI providers, and third-party data sources — none of which can be guaranteed, particularly in remote areas. To use the service you must be at least 18 years old (or use it under the supervision of an adult account holder) and have a US mobile number.

3. Requests and Passes

Usage is measured in requests: each message you send Backcountry Signal that we process as a question uses one request. The complete answer is included, even if it takes multiple text messages to deliver; a follow-up message is a new request. Service keywords (TEST, STATUS, HELP, COMMANDS, EXAMPLES, STOP, START, RESET), verification codes, and account notices never use a request. If we fail to send you an answer to your question — nothing goes out from our side — that request is not charged. (Once an answer has been handed to the carrier network, we can't always see whether it reached your phone, so a request is counted when the full answer is accepted for delivery.)

• Free Trial — every new account starts with 5 free requests. No payment method is required and free-trial requests do not expire.
• Trip Pass — $7.99, one time. Adds 50 requests and is active for 14 days from purchase.
• Season Pass — $34.99, one time. Adds 250 requests and is active for 12 months from purchase.

A pass's requests can be used while the pass is active; unused requests expire when the pass ends. If you buy a new pass while another is active, your remaining requests carry over and your access window is extended by the new pass's duration. Passes are for your personal account and cannot be transferred.

4. Payments — One-Time Only

Passes are one-time purchases. Nothing about the service is a subscription: no pass renews automatically, and you will never be charged again unless you deliberately make another purchase. Payments are processed by Stripe; we do not store your card details. Prices are shown at checkout and may change for future purchases, never retroactively.

5. Refunds

If a pass is unused, or something on our side kept you from using it, email support@backcountrysignal.com within 14 days of purchase and we will refund it. Refunds for partially used passes are at our reasonable discretion. Statutory rights are unaffected.

6. User Responsibility and Limitations

You acknowledge that outdoor activities carry inherent risks. Backcountry Signal uses artificial intelligence to provide general safety, survival, and backcountry guidance, drawing on live data sources where available. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, answers are automated, may be based on incomplete or outdated information, and may not fit your situation. They are not a substitute for official forecasts, avalanche advisories, land-management notices, or professional advice.

You assume full responsibility for your actions, decisions, and safety in the backcountry. Backcountry Signal and its developers shall not be held liable for injuries, damages, or losses resulting from your use of the service or reliance on the information provided.

7. Acceptable Use and Termination

Don't abuse the service: no unlawful use, no attempts to disrupt or overload it, no reselling access, and no use of the number for anything other than its intended purpose. We may suspend or close accounts that abuse the service or these terms; if we close your account without cause while a pass is active, we will refund the unused portion. You can stop messages at any time by replying STOP, and can request account deletion via privacy@backcountrysignal.com.

8. SMS Messaging

By opting in via our website, you explicitly consent to receive SMS messages from our service for two-way conversational guidance and occasional service and account notices. For details on messaging frequency, costs, and opting out, please review our SMS Terms.

9. Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect and use your data.

10. Modifications

We may update the service or these terms occasionally. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last Updated" date above, and continued use of the service constitutes acceptance of any changes. Changes never retroactively alter what you already purchased.

Business Entity

Backcountry Signal is operated by Backcountry Signal LLC, a New Mexico limited liability company.

Contact

Questions? Contact support@backcountrysignal.com.