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Huck Social Safety Tips

Huck is here to help you meet and connect with other outdoor enthusiasts, but your safety is our highest priority.  We want you to be able to trust in each other’s skill level and feel safe when you meet through our app so you can enjoy the outdoor activities you love.

Exploring the outdoors comes with some inherent risk, but so does meeting someone new online and offline. So, we hope that you read and follow the following safety tips and guidelines when you meet other users on our app.

Being Safe Online

Keep Your Personal Information Private

Never give personal information to people you haven’t met in person. Don’t share your home or work address, account numbers for credit cards or banking, social security numbers, or your login IDs and passwords. And keep conversations on the Huck app. It’s common for scammers to try to move conversations to email, text, or phone.

Note: Huck will never send you an email asking for your username and password information. Any such communication should be reported to Huck immediately at support@huckadventures.com.

Use a Unique Profile Photo

For your profile photo, use a photo you haven’t used on other social media sites. Images can be found using a reverse image search on Google, and that makes it easy for scammers to find you on other social media platforms.

Never Send Money

Do not respond to requests for money from someone you haven’t met or for you to purchase items to be shipped overseas as a favor, no matter how compelling the request may be. Do not wire money to anyone, especially overseas, because there are no protections in place for you as the sender. Please report any such requests to us immediately at support@huckadventures.com  

Report Suspicious Users

If someone makes you uncomfortable, is sending you harassing messages, or is acting suspicious, you should report them at support@huckadventures.com. Your report will be anonymous.

Also, anyone who violates our Terms of Use should be reported. Examples of violations include:

  • Minors (under the age of 18) using the platform
  • Defaming, stalking, bullying, harassing, or threatening other users
  • Impersonating other people or organizations and creating fake profiles
  • Promoting violence, degradation, subjugation, discrimination or hatred aginst individuals or other groups
  • Sending violent, nude, partially nude, or sexually suggestive photos
  • Persons sending spam or solicitation, such as attempts to sell products or services

In-Person Safety

Meet in a Group

There’s safety in numbers. Take advantage of organized events on the app to meet someone for the first time or use the app to message and organize a group of users to get together.

Tell a Friend Before You Go

Tell a friend where you are going, who you are going with, and when they can expect to hear from you afterwards. Take a screenshot of their profile and send it to them. If plans for your meeting location change, then notify your friend.

Meet in a Public Place

Avoid meeting someone for the first time on a secluded trail or location. Also, don’t meet up at your home or office. Instead, choose a busy outdoor location, a gym, or other public place where there will be lots of people.

Arrange Your Own Transportation

Be in control of your own transportation so you are able to leave when you want. Don’t get into a vehicle with someone you don’t know or trust. Have rideshare apps on your phone and have your phone fully charged.

Stay Sober

Consumption of alcohol or recreational drugs can impair your judgement and may put you or the person you are meeting up with in danger. Also be aware of your drink to prevent anyone altering them with synthetic substances.

Trust Your Gut

Trust your gut if you feel uncomfortable and leave. Your safety is more important than worrying about feeling rude. You also can report them to Huck at support@huckadventures.com.

Sources:

Rape, Abuse and Incest National Hotline (www.rainn.org)

Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov)

8 Tips for Driving I-70 in the Winter

If you’re heading to a Colorado ski resort via I-70 this winter, the road conditions can put a serious damper on your ski plans.  

Between the winter weather, mountain roads, occasionally heavy traffic and frequent road closures, you’ve got to plan ahead. Here are our tips for tackling it safely.

1. Follow Traction Laws

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has very specific laws for driving I-70 during winter. To start, there’s the Traction Law), which states that “motorists must have either snow tires, tires with the mud/snow (M+S) designation, or a four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicle.”

Not sure if your ride qualifies? Look for the M+S or M&S on the sides of your tires. They won’t guarantee that you won’t get stuck, but they’re required by law.

2. Know the Passenger Vehicle Chain Law

In particularly rough winter conditions, CDOT has taken it one step further with the Passenger Vehicle Chain Law.

This law requires that all passenger vehicles driving on I-70 “have chains or an alternative traction device (like AutoSock),” but only when winter conditions are particularly severe. Anticipating a difficult drive? You can prepare by purchasing tire chains or an AutoSock. Otherwise, you risk racking up a noncompliance fee of anywhere from $130 to $650. Check with CDOT before your trip to properly prepare for road conditions.

3. Be prepared for emergencies

This might be common sense, but you’ll want to stock your car with the basics: a shovel, jumper cables, a jack, and a spare tire, to start. And in case you end up temporarily stranded, it’s a good idea to bring bottled water, non-perishable snacks (think granola and protein bars) and extra blankets. For a full list, check out this vehicle emergency supply kit checklist from the Red Cross.

4. Check I-70 road conditions

Before you leave, you can visit the CDOT Road Conditions site for a live feed of your route and up-to-date information on delays along I-70. If you’re taking the interstate further west, the Oregon Department of Transportation offers a similar service in TripCheck.

Once you’re en route, you can even use the CDOT mobile app to check for updates along the way.

5. Take an appropriate vehicle

All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles will handle best on I-70’s mountain roads in the winter. If you’re renting a car, you’ll ideally be looking for a truck or SUV with four-wheel drive and all-season tires.

6. Weigh down your car

Packing your luggage and supplies at the back end of your car will help weigh down your back tires and prevent skidding. Not packing much luggage? Consider throwing sandbags in the trunk of your car (or bed of your truck) to prevent accidents.

7. Keep a full (or nearly full) tank

Again, keeping plenty of gas in the tank is sort of common sense. But if you’re driving on I-70 in the winter—and especially through Colorado and the Rocky Mountains—the benefits of keeping the tank full are two-fold.

To start, that full tank will help weigh down your car and give you more control on icy roads. Plus, in the event that you find yourself stuck, you’ll have plenty of fuel to keep yourself warm while you wait for help.

8. Drive conservatively

Finally, you’ll want to amplify those standard driving best practices: leave extra stopping room, avoid using your brakes on icy roads, take uphill and downhill passages slowly, and give yourself plenty of time to make your trip. If you have a long route, consider finding hotels along the way to break it up with convenient stops.

Another tip: the Eisenhower Tunnel is the highest point along I-70, with the westbound lanes following steep descents at the end of the tunnel. Even 4WD vehicles are prone to skid off the road on these downgrades, so take extra precautions around this area to drive slowly.

There you have it—our top eight tips for safe I-70 winter driving.  If you’ve driven I-70 through Colorado (especially in the winter) and have any other tips for ski season commuters, let us know! Otherwise, safe travels and happy skiing!

CWHemp.com

About the Writer:

Dylan York is an Ohio-based writer who splits her time between the Midwest and anywhere with good hiking and diving. She blogs about Latin America, budget travel, and overpacking at Everywhereish.com.