Terms of Use

Last reviewed October 12, 2026

Effective date: October 12, 2026

These terms cover your use of Hollow & Headwater, an independent online journal about the environment and the outdoors. By reading or using the site, you agree to them. If you don't agree, please don't use the site.

Information, not advice

Everything we publish is for general information and education. It isn't professional, legal, medical, engineering, financial or safety advice, and it can't account for your particular situation. Before acting on anything that affects your health, your property, your money or your safety, talk to a qualified professional.

Not official guidance

Hollow & Headwater is an independent publication. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or part of any government agency – federal, state or local – and nothing on this site is official guidance. When we describe what a public agency publishes, we're explaining it, not speaking for the agency. For permits, regulations or emergencies, contact the relevant public authority directly.

Outdoor activities are at your own risk

We write about hiking, paddling, wading streams, foraging and other activities that carry real risk. Conditions change by the hour: rivers rise, trails wash out, weather turns, and plants and mushrooms are easy to misidentify. You're responsible for judging your own skills, equipment and conditions, for following the rules wherever you go, and for your own safety and that of anyone with you. Nothing we publish replaces training, local knowledge or good judgment.

Accuracy and dates

We work hard to get things right and correct mistakes when we find them, but we can't promise that every article is complete, current or free of errors. Each piece is dated, and facts, data sources and guidance may have changed since it was written.

We link to public agencies, universities and other sources we think are useful. We don't control those sites and aren't responsible for their content, availability or privacy practices. A link isn't an endorsement of everything on the other end of it.

Unless noted otherwise, the articles, images and other original material on this site belong to Hollow & Headwater and its writers and are protected by copyright. You're welcome to quote short excerpts with credit and a link back to the original article. Please don't republish full articles or reuse our images without written permission, which you can ask for through the contact form.

Acceptable use

When using the site, please don't:

  • try to gain unauthorized access to the site, its server or its editing area;
  • interfere with the site's operation, including through heavy automated scraping or attempts to overload it;
  • send spam, malware or abusive messages through the contact form;
  • use the site for anything unlawful.

We may block access for anyone who does.

Messages you send us

If you send a correction, tip or question, we may use the information in it to improve an article or write a new one. We won't publish your name or your message without asking you first.

Limitation of liability

The site is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind, to the fullest extent the law allows. To that same extent, Hollow & Headwater and its writers aren't liable for any loss, injury or damage arising from your use of the site or your reliance on its content. Some jurisdictions don't allow certain limitations, so parts of this section may not apply to you.

Changes

We may update these terms from time to time. The effective date at the top shows when they last changed, and continuing to use the site means you accept the current version.

Contact

Questions about these terms can be sent through the contact form.