The SPOT Personal Tracker is not only part of the required gear for the Everglades Challenge, it’s also just plain prudent for anyone like me who likes to set off into the wilds by themselves. Aside from the 911 and S.O.S features, my SPOT allows me to post my latest GPS tracks to a shared web page for anyone to see (or I can lock it down and password protect it). There are some limitations though, so here they are in a nutshell.
- The “OK” message gets used when I first get on the water, arrive at a checkpoint, stop for a long break (longer than an hour), make a major course change (if I remember), or after a storm has passed. Basically any time that somebody might wonder what’s going on or if I need to log a GPS coordinate that would otherwise get missed in normal tracking.
- It can take up to 20-30 minutes from the time that I hit the “OK” button to when it shows up on the tracking map.
- “911” sends in the calvary. It means that I am not safe but 911 and the Coast Guard have been notified.
- “Help” means that I am safe but that I need help getting out of where I am. It automatically sends an email and a text to a short list of people that have intimate knowledge of where I am and how to help me. In other words, chill—it’s all being taken care of.
- “Help” followed (up to 30 minutes later) by “OK” means that I have officially dropped out of the race. During long distance training runs, it means that I’m ready for a pre-arranged retrieve.
- SPOT automatically sends a GPS location every 10 minutes *as long as it has enough signal*. If I don’t move for a while, it might be that there is dense cover overhead. Or I may have stopped for a nap and forgot to send an “ok” first.
- SPOT is a pretty tough little bugger, made for big adventures. That said, over the years many have met their end during this race. It’s hot and wet and salty out there. It is possible that my SPOT may stop working at some point during the race (more likely due to user error) and I won’t know until I can talk to my shore contact.
- My SPOT is not my only safety equipment. In fact, it’s about my 3rd line of defense if something were to go wrong. I also carry a UHF Marine Radio and a Coast Guard approved Personal Locator Beacon for real emergencies.
Check out the SPOT website!