Terms of participation in community outings

These terms apply to the Sunday hikes and community weekends published on TrekFriendly. By ticking the box “I accept the conditions of participation”, you accept them.

1. Who organises?

Community outings are organised in a personal and voluntary capacity by Hervé Podevyn, host of the “Randonnée & Convivialité” group. They are outings among members, on a non-profit basis. The organiser is not paid and the hike itself is always free.

TrekFriendly SRL (enterprise number 1043.353.180, Clos Chanmurly 2B, 4000 Liège, Belgique) provides the registration tool: the outing page, the list of those registered, the forum, the reminders and, for weekends, online payment. TrekFriendly does not organise the outing and is not a party to the agreement between the participants and the organiser.

2. Sunday hikes: free

Registration for a Sunday hike is free. Nothing is paid on TrekFriendly. If an outing involves practical costs (meals, car-sharing), you settle them directly with the person concerned, outside TrekFriendly.

3. Weekends: your share of the cottage and the platform fee

For a weekend, you pay online, at registration:

• your share of the holiday cottage, at cost: the cost of the accommodation divided among the places. TrekFriendly collects it in the organiser’s name and on the organiser’s behalf and holds it until the accommodation is paid for;
• a €15 platform fee, VAT included, which remunerates TrekFriendly for the registration tool and the payment.

Only the cottage is paid for in this way: no transport, no meals outside the cottage, no activity. Transport and any other costs remain your responsibility and are arranged among participants.

The organiser advances the deposit and the balance to the cottage. TrekFriendly reimburses these advances to them, on presentation of the invoices. What then remains of all the shares of the cottage is returned to you, to each person in proportion to their share, after the weekend. Neither TrekFriendly nor the organiser keeps any of the cottage money.

Your registration is confirmed only once payment has been received. You receive a payment receipt.

4. Conditions for taking part

To take part, you declare that you:

• are an adult, because the outings are reserved for adults;
• are insured against accidents that may occur during a hike, for example through your health insurance fund, accident insurance or sports insurance; for a weekend, are also covered by civil liability insurance;
• take part independently and at your own responsibility, in physical condition suited to the level, distance and elevation gain announced, with no known medical contraindication.

Everyone registers for themselves, with their own account.

5. During the outing

• Come with suitable equipment: walking boots, clothing for the weather, water and food.
• Follow the organiser’s instructions, the schedule, the route and the pace of the group.
• Respect nature, private property, other users and the other participants.
• If you leave the group, tell the organiser.

The organiser may change the route or cut the outing short if safety requires it.

6. If you can no longer come

Let us know as soon as possible using the “I can’t come any more” button, found in your account and in the emails. Your place then goes to the next person on the waiting list.

• Sunday hike: there is no charge and no penalty. Registrations and withdrawals close at the meeting time.
• Weekend: up to the withdrawal deadline shown on the outing page, your share of the cottage is refunded to you. After that date, the accommodation is booked for you: your share remains due, unless another person takes over and pays for your place; it is then refunded to you. The €15 platform fee is not refunded in the event of withdrawal.

7. If the outing is cancelled or changed

The organiser may cancel an outing, in particular in bad weather. They may also change the meeting time or place. You are then notified by email.

For a Sunday hike, a cancellation gives rise to no compensation. For a weekend, your €15 platform fee is refunded to you; your share of the cottage is returned to you after the organiser has recovered from the cottage what can be recovered: only the deposits that the cottage does not return, supported by an invoice, are deducted and shared among those registered.

8. Liability

Each participant remains responsible for their choices and their behaviour. These terms neither limit nor exclude anyone’s liability beyond what the law permits. They do not deprive you of any right that the law gives you.

9. Forum and personal data

As soon as you register, you join the outing’s forum. The other participants see your first name there and whatever you choose to write there. Sharing telephone numbers is allowed there, for example to organise car-sharing.

Your first name and your profile photo appear in the outing’s list of those registered, visible to the logged-in members who have access to it. A visitor who is not logged in sees only the number of people registered.

The organiser sees your name, your email and your telephone number to organise the outing and reach you in case of the unexpected. They do not use them for other purposes. For a weekend, payment is handled by our payment service provider; the organiser does not see your bank details. The invoices and supporting documents they send to TrekFriendly are read only by TrekFriendly’s administration.

If you tick the newsletter box, you receive upcoming outings and news. You can unsubscribe at any time.

To find out more, see our Privacy Policy.

10. Photos

Group photos may be taken and shared in the Facebook group. If you do not wish to appear in them, tell the organiser at the start of the outing.

11. Governing law and contact

These terms are governed by Belgian law. For any question, write to info@trekfriendly.com.