Appalachian Trail Conservancy (“ATC”) Data Book Photo Contest
OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES (“Official Rules”)
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER THE CONTEST OR TO WIN A PRIZE. PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
These Official Rules apply to the ATC Data Book Photo Contest (the “Contest”). Each individual who enters this Contest (“Entrant” or “you”) agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and the ATC ATC Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, you are not eligible to enter or win.
1. ENTRANT ELIGIBILITY
The Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States. You must be eighteen (18) years of age or older on the date you submit your Entry (as defined below). Void outside the US, in Puerto Rico, and wherever prohibited by law. The Contest is sponsored by ATC and will be promoted by ATC and its publishing and distribution partner, Mountaineers Books (“Mountaineers”). Employees, officers, and directors of ATC, Mountaineers and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, agents, distributors, advertising, promotion, and production agencies, and members of each of their respective immediate families (parents, spouse, children, siblings) or individuals residing in their households (whether or not related) are not eligible to enter the Contest or to win the Prize (as defined below). Administration of the Contest and enforcement of these Official Rules is entirely within the sole discretion of ATC.
2. HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST
Entry Period: The entry period begins at 6:00 AM ET on August 19, 2026, and ends at 11:59 PM ET on September 18, 2026 (the “Entry Period”).
Entry Method: Entrants must submit one (1) original photograph taken of or along the Appalachian Trail (the “Photograph”), along with a completed submission form (together with the Photograph, the “Entry”). Limit three (3) Entries per Entrant. Entries should be submitted through the Contest landing page on ATC’s website.
Photograph Parameters: Photographs must be submitted in either JPG or TIFF format. Photographs must be high resolution images of no less than 350 dpi (or approximately 2020 x 2800 pixels) when sized at 5.5 inches by 7.5 inches. Photographs should be taken using natural light, with no cropping, color adjustment or editing. Use of filters is discouraged. Photographs should depict natural trail scenes (which may include shelters) and may include human subjects only so long as such subjects are positioned on the horizon or in the middle distance. All Photographs must be taken in compliance with the Leave No Trace principles as described on the ATC website. Use of artificial intelligence to create, edit, retouch or otherwise alter a Photograph is strictly prohibited.
By entering this Contest, Entrant represents and warrants that he or she is the person who took the Photograph and is the rightful owner of the Photograph. If the Photograph contains a human subject, Entrant represents and warrants that he or she has received permission to use such person’s name, image and likeness in connection with the Photograph. Additionally, if the Photograph depicts a minor (defined herein as a person under the age of 18), Entrant represents and warrants that he or she is that minor’s parent and/or legal guardian, or otherwise has the express permission of such minor’s parent and/or legal guardian.
Photographs must not:
- Infringe upon, violate or misappropriate—or contain material that infringes upon, violates or misappropriates—any applicable laws, rules, regulations or third-party rights, including, but not limited to: (1) copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other intellectual property or proprietary rights; (2) rights of privacy or publicity; or (3) any confidentiality obligations;
- Contain subject matter that is, or could be considered, in ATC’s sole discretion, obscene, pornographic, violent, defamatory, libelous, discriminatory (based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical disability, sexual orientation or age), illegal, offensive, threatening, profane, hateful, degrading, harassing, or otherwise unlawful, tortious or objectionable; or
- Contain any disparaging, defamatory or derogatory references to any other person.
ATC may, in its sole discretion, disqualify any Entrant whose Photograph does not comply with the above requirements.
General Entry Conditions: Individuals who use more than one email address or otherwise attempt to submit multiple Entries will be disqualified. Entries submitted outside of the Entry Period will not be considered. ATC is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, or incomplete Entries; technical failures of any kind; interrupted or unavailable network or server connections; computer hardware or software errors; or damage to an Entrant’s computer system arising from participation in the Contest.
Tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest, including but not limited to the use of any device to automate the entry process, is prohibited, and any Entries deemed by ATC, in its sole discretion, to have been submitted in this manner will be void. In the event a dispute regarding the identity of the individual who actually submitted an Entry cannot be resolved to ATC’s satisfaction, the affected Entry will be deemed ineligible. ATC assumes no responsibility or liability for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, theft or destruction, or unauthorized access to, or alteration of Entries.
3. PRIZE
Number of winners: There will be one (1) winner selected (the “Winner”).
Prize: The Winner will receive Two Hundred and Fifty U.S. Dollars (USD $250) (the “Prize”). In addition, the Winner’s Photograph will be featured on the cover of ATC’s 2028 Appalachian Trail Data Book (the “Data Book”).
Prize Fulfillment: The Prize will be mailed or distributed electronically within thirty (30) days of Winner confirmation.
Prize Conditions: The Prize is not assignable or transferable. No substitution is permitted except if the Prize is unavailable, in which case a Prize of equal or greater value will be awarded. The Prize is offered “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied. The Winner shall be responsible for payment of all applicable taxes on receipt of the Prize.
4. WINNER SELECTION
Following the close of the Entry Period, ATC will select up to ten (10) Photographs from the eligible Entries; provided, however, that no more than one Photograph may be selected per Entrant. Photographs will be evaluated based upon the following criteria (the “Judging Criteria”):
- Originality of the Photograph;
- Composition of the subject matter;
- Technical image quality; and
- Thematic relevance of the Photograph to the Data Book and to the target market of Appalachian Trail visitors.
On September 23, 2026, ATC will submit the top 10 Photographs to Mountaineers, who shall apply the Judging Criteria to select the top three (3) Photographs no later than September 30, 2026.
On October 8, 2026, ATC will share the top 3 Photographs on the Contest landing page of ATC’s website for a public vote. Visitors to ATC’s website can vote for the winning Photograph between 12:00 PM ET on October 8, 2026, and 11:59 PM ET on October 22, 2026. In order to vote, website visitors must provide a valid email address.
The Entrant whose Photograph receives the most votes by 11:59 PM ET on October 22, 2026, shall be the Winner of the Contest.
5. WINNER NOTIFICATION
ATC will notify the Winner via email within ten (10) days of selection. ATC shall have no liability for any Winner notification that is lost, intercepted or not received by the Winner for any reason. If, despite reasonable efforts, the Winner does not respond within three (3) days of the notification attempt, declines the Prize for any reason prior to award, or if the Prize or Prize notification is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable to the Winner, the Winner will forfeit his or her Prize and an alternate Winner may be selected. If the Winner is found to be ineligible, if he or she has not complied with these Official Rules, or if he or she otherwise engages in behavior that, as determined by the ATC in its sole discretion, is obnoxious, threatening, or illegal or that is intended to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person, the Winner will be disqualified, and an alternate Winner may be selected. If a Winner forfeits or is disqualified and an alternate Winner is selected, such alternate Winner shall be the Entrant whose Photograph received the next highest number of votes. If there is still no confirmed Winner after any such alternate selection has been made, the Prize may not be awarded.
The Winner may be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, and/or a Publicity Release. The Winner must email ATC at the specified email address with the requested information within five (5) days of receiving the request. Failure to respond or an inadequate response, as determined by ATC in its sole discretion, may result in disqualification and the selection of an alternative Winner.
Following the Winner’s submission of all required documentation to Mountaineers Books, ATC will announce the Winner on ATC’s website and social media.
6. PUBLICITY
Except where prohibited by law, Entry into the Contest and acceptance of the Prize constitute permission for ATC and Mountaineers to use the Winner’s name, hometown, likenesses, image, videos, photographs, and statements for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity (including online posting) in any and all media now or hereafter known throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation to, notification of or permission from the Winner.
6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
By submitting an Entry, you hereby grant and assign to ATC all intellectual property rights in, to and arising from your Entry and your involvement in the Contest, including, without limitation, the copyright in your Photograph and all other tangible embodiments thereof, in any form and in any media now or hereafter known throughout the world (the “Entry IP”). You represent and warrant that: (i) you have the right, power and authority to grant the foregoing rights; and (ii) all Entry IP will be your original work and the use thereof will not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or any other rights of any third party. You acknowledge that ATC shall be free to license or assign the Entry IP to ATC’s affiliates and to third parties.
7. GENERAL CONDITIONS
By participating in the Contest and submitting an Entry, Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of ATC, which shall be final.
ATC reserves the right to modify the Contest or disqualify an Entrant if fraud, misconduct, or technical failures destroy the integrity of the Contest as determined by ATC in its sole discretion. ATC also reserves the right to cancel or amend the Contest and these Official Rules without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the ATC’s control. ATC further reserves the right to cancel the Contest or change any element thereof, with or without notice, at any time.
ATC is not responsible for any virus contracted by an Entrant’s computer through participation in a Contest, for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by computer or Internet malfunction or interference, tampering, manipulation, weather or natural disaster, acts of war, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest. ATC assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect or delay in operation; or for failed computer, satellite, telephone, wireless or cable transmissions, lines or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed or misdirected transmissions, technical error, theft or destruction or unauthorized access. ATC is not responsible for other errors or difficulties of any kind whether human, electronic, computer, network, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing of Entries, the notification of the Winner, or in any Contest-related materials. ATC is not responsible for lost, interrupted or inaccessible or unavailable network, server, wireless service, Internet Service Provider, website, or other connections or any combination thereof.
ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR TO UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF A CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, ATC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES OR OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTEMPT, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
8. WAIVER, RELEASE, AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
By submitting an Entry, you fully and unconditionally agree to release, discharge and waive any and all claims, actions and causes of action against, and to hold harmless, ATC, Mountaineers, and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, contractors, consultants, legal counsel, and advertising, public relations, promotional, fulfillment and marketing agencies (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any and all liability, claims or actions of any kind whatsoever for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind to any persons, including death, bodily injury and property, relating to or arising, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the Prize, or from the participation in the Contest or in any Contest-related activity.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY ENTRANT BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN AWARDS FOR, AND ENTRANTS HEREBY WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO CLAIM, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ATTORNEYS’ FEES. IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY RELEASED PARTY BE LIABLE TO ANY ENTRANT OR WINNER FOR DAMAGES THAT EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE PRIZE AWARDED TO ANY INDIVIDUAL ENTRANT IN THIS CONTEST. ATC’S FAILURE TO ENFORCE ANY PROVISION IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES WILL NOT BE DEEMED A WAIVER OF ANY TYPE OR ACTION IN ANY WAY.
8. INDEMNIFICATION
By entering the Contest, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any and all claims, actions, suits or proceedings, as well as any and all losses, liabilities, damages, penalties, fines, judgments, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, including any incurred in enforcement of this indemnity) arising out of or accruing from: (i) any false or misleading statement or representation made by you in connection with the Contest; (ii) any non-compliance by you with these Official Rules; (ii) claims brought by persons or entities arising from or related to your participation in or involvement with the Contest, including without limitation, any allegations that your Photograph infringes, violates or misappropriates the intellectual property or proprietary rights of any third-party; (iv) any use or misuse of the Prize; (v) or any error in the collection, processing, or retention of any Entry information in relation to your Entry and participation in the Contest. ATC reserves the right to take exclusive control and defend any such claim otherwise subject to indemnification by you, in which event you will cooperate fully with ATC in asserting any available defenses.
9. CHOICE OF LAW
The Contest shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the State of West Virginia without regard to conflict of law provisions. By entering the Contest, you agree that any disputes, claims, causes of action or controversies arising out of or in connection with that Contest shall be resolved on an individual basis by the State or Federal courts located in the Northern District of West Virginia, which shall have sole jurisdiction of any controversy regarding or arising from the Contest or these Official Rules. Further, you acknowledge and agree that you may only assert claims on your own behalf and not on behalf of any other person or entity arising from or in connection with the Contest or these Official Rules.
10. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of these Official Rules is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction or appointed arbitrator, such determination shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision herein.
11. CONTEST SPONSOR
ATC, with an address of 799 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-0807, is the sole sponsor of the Contest. Entry in the Contest does not constitute entry into any other promotion or contest. This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, YouTube or any other social media website that advertises this Contest.
12. PRIVACY POLICY AND NAME OF WINNERS
Any personally identifiable information collected during the Contest will be collected and used by ATC for purposes of the proper administration and fulfillment of the Contest as described in these Official Rules, in accordance with the ATC’s Privacy Policy and otherwise as allowed by law and these Official Rules. By submitting your Entry, you agree that ATC may include your name and city/state in its promotional and advertising materials if you are selected as the Winner. The name of the Winner will be available upon confirmation of Prize acceptance and completed affidavit, as applicable.