Editorial Policy

This page describes how Trailhead Day Hikes researches, writes, and updates its articles — and what the site will not claim. The site's promise is that the method is the same on every page, and that limits are stated on the page, not hidden.

How pages are researched

Every article is written from a 7-point source packet before drafting. The packet contains: (1) the reader question, (2) the writer's viewpoint, (3) official sources (with URL + date checked), (4) product details (sample values labeled), (5) limits, (6) the desired outcome, and (7) what the writer will not do. The packet is the basis for the article — not improvisation.

Primary sources are agency pages (National Park Service, US Forest Service, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics), manufacturer spec pages for the products mentioned, and the Mountaineers' Freedom of the Hills for the Ten Essentials framework (sample attribution — verify on the day of writing). Third-party affiliate-directory sites are not cited as primary sources; their data is often stale.

What the site will not claim

• Hands-on testing of products the writer has not personally tested. Recommendations are research-driven; a hands-on review is named as a hands-on review and is named on the page.
• Credentials the writer does not have. The writer is not a credentialed outdoors instructor, wilderness first responder, or professional gear tester.
• Star ratings invented for the article. If the article recommends something, the recommendation is reasoned; if the article compares, the comparison is reasoned; ratings are not invented.
• Testimonials from people who are not real. Reader quotes are real and dated; if there isn't one, the article doesn't pretend.
• Route-specific safety advice. Safety-critical questions route to local rangers, guide services, or outfitters. The site does not improvise answers to questions that need a credentialed source.
• Income projections or earnings claims. The site does not project revenue, traffic, or commission; the operating-system files in operations/ are tracking tools, not promises.

Affiliate programs and the disclosure rule

The site's affiliate programs, network affiliations, and required program-specific wording are listed on the disclosure page. On every article, an inline affiliate disclosure sits immediately before the first product recommendation — never in the footer only. The site's disclosure rule is: plain-language sentence first, program-required wording next to it (not instead), and visible on every page where a product is recommended.

Program terms change. On the date the buyer acts on any program (applies, gets approved, updates terms), the buyer re-reads the program's official terms page and records the date in the corresponding card in operations/offers.md and on the disclosure page. Last reviewed for each program: {{PROGRAM_TERMS_CHECK_1}} (placeholder — fill on approval).

When pages get updated

Articles are reviewed on a schedule (see the operations/pages.md page). Product categories with high price/spec churn (boots, packs, jackets) are reviewed more often; the Ten Essentials framework is reviewed yearly. Dates on each article reflect the last review.

How to report an error

If a product spec, price, or recommendation is wrong or out of date, send the page URL and the correct information to the contact email listed on the about page. The site fixes errors and updates the page's date stamps; the page's edit history is visible in the source packet.

What this site will not do — at a glance

• No fabricated metrics, testimonials, experiences, or citations.
• No paid placements, sponsored reviews, or free product in exchange for coverage.
• No bidding on brand names in paid search.
• No income projections presented as fact.
• No publishing affiliate content without a disclosure immediately before the first recommendation.
• No submitting applications in the buyer's name (the agent prepares; the buyer clicks).

This policy page was last reviewed on sample date — replace on launch.