The short version: I don't collect your information
Privacy policy
Last updated: October 2026
This policy covers the Mountainguide apps and this website, mountainguide.com. They are made and run by Joe McKay in Banff, Alberta.
The apps have no accounts, no sign-up, no advertising and no tracking. I do not sell or share your information, because I do not have it.
Your location
The app asks for your location while you are using it. It uses it to show where you are on the map, to tell you when you reach a stop on a tour, and to sort places by which is closest.
Your location stays on your phone. It is not saved, and it is not sent to me. You can turn location off in your phone settings at any time. The app will still open, but tours and nearest-first lists will not work properly.
Services the app talks to
A few features need outside services. They receive only what they need to do the job:
- Maps. The map is provided by Apple Maps on iPhone and Google Maps on Android. Those companies handle map requests under their own privacy policies.
- Directions. When you ask for a route to a place, the start and end points are sent to a routing service to work out the route. Nothing that identifies you is sent with them.
- Weather. The app requests the forecast for Banff, Canmore or Lake Louise from a weather service. The request does not include your exact location.
- Links. If you tap a phone number, a website or "open in Maps", your phone hands you over to that app or site, which has its own policy.
Purchases
The app is free. The one-time unlock for e-bike tours, hikes and recommended runs is paid through the Apple App Store or Google Play. Apple or Google handles the payment. I never see your card details. I am only told that the unlock was bought, so the app can open the content and restore it if you change phones.
This website
This website does not use cookies or analytics. It remembers whether you last chose the summer or winter view by saving that one word in your own browser. The fonts are loaded from Google Fonts, so Google receives a standard request from your browser when a page loads.
If you email me
If you write to me, or ask to be told when an app launches, I keep your email address only to reply and to send that one notice. I do not add you to any other list, and I will delete your address if you ask.
Children
The apps and website are for a general audience and do not knowingly collect information from children.
Changes
If the apps change in a way that affects your privacy, I will update this page and change the date at the top.
Contact
Questions about privacy, or anything else: mountainguide.com@me.com