As many of you know, I rode for the first time with a SPOT tracker this past weekend at the Vapor Trail. Since it was a new gadget for me (and I had a lot of time on my hands) I spent some time thinking about what carrying a unit like that means during a ride.

Just in case everyone reading doesn’t know what a SPOT is, basically it’s a ‘satellite messenger’ which has functionality to check in to a website either at a pre-set interval or when you activate it. It has a GPS built in, so part of the ‘check-in’ is a transmission of your coordinates to the website, so you can be tracked on google maps. It also has a function that can contact a pre determined set of people with your coordinates if you get in trouble, or automatically contact 911 emergency service with your coordinates if you, say, roll a boulder onto your arm or get in an otherwise life-threatening situation. It’s all satellite-based, so it works in remote areas, around most of the land masses of the world.

I think these messengers are a really great piece of technology, but I also sometimes wonder if they give people a false sense of security, and that worries me a bit. I hope that people are not letting the fact that they’re carrying one of these units actually influence their decisions of how hard to push it or what risks to take during an event like this, because I really think that’s not the point of carrying one. I think the same sort of thing has happened with Cell Phones, and the sense of security that people get from them. The cell phone ‘revolution’ that has happened over the last 10 years which brings everyone that much closer to emergency response in many different situations has led some people to get in over their heads when it comes to accepting risk, because they feel as though ‘the cavalry’ is much more accessible if they need to call in backup. There are numerous cases of people calling in on their cell phone to have an emergency pick-up off some mountain or out of a canyon or something along those lines, and when the emergency personnel show up, the people are standing on the side of a mountain wearing shorts and flip-flops or something crazy like that.

Makes you think twice about whether having cell phone access in the wilderness is a good thing.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the improved access to help in true emergency situations is a great thing, but I feel like there are certain situations that people shouldn’t be in unless they’re qualified and have the necessary experience to know how to deal with those situations. I’ve kinda had the philosophy from a fairly young age (somewhat out of necessity) that if you get yourself into a situation, you really need to be ready to get yourself out as well. Be it camping, hiking, skiing, biking, driving, climbing, or whatever you’re up to.

It follows the general mountaineering philosophy that getting to the summit is really only half the battle.

When I ride, I have enough with me to pretty much repair whatever breaks on the bike. When I used to climb a lot, I always had a bail-out strategy on long routes. When I’m out hiking I know how to get myself back home using a GPS, a map and compass, or even the sun and stars if it comes to that.

I don’t typically ride with my cell phone, and I think it’s really because I feel like I don’t need it. I know a lot of people who won’t leave the house without it because of the sense of security it gives them.

Shouldn’t we be carrying tools, first aid supplies, and more importantly, knowledge and common sense over a cell phone? We’re no longer relying on our ability to get ourselves out of a situation, but instead we rely on other people to bail us out when we’re in over our heads. The cell phone (and now the spot messenger) have influenced how risky people are on their endeavors.

The problem is that I think people feel as though a cell phone (or likewise, a spot) makes your trip safer. This is simply not true. These devices provide a safety net if something goes catastrophically wrong, but don’t make the activity inherently any safer.

That simple reason is why I’m a little torn on SPOT devices. I think a lot of people really enjoyed watching the tracker this past weekend, and I’m sure it made the race much more interactive, which I think is great. I also think that the safety net of having the “I need help” ability is great, and it’s one of the reasons I’m actually considering getting one.

On the other hand, I firmly believe that possessing one of those devices should not change your strategy or influence decisions about how far to push it during a race, a ride, a ski or a hike. The device should be firmly tucked away in a pocket, out of sight and mind, and pulled out if (and only if) a true emergency arises.

I bought an avalung a couple years back, and ski with it a good majority of the time, and I feel the same way about that device. It’s an additional layer of safety, and I’m glad I have it, but I don’t let it change the fact that I never want to have to use it. I also don’t let it change my decisions about where I’m skiing or what I’m willing to ski (based on avalanche conditions).

Due to this fact, all of a sudden a SPOT doesn’t seem like as useful an investment to me. It’s fairly expensive, and when you bundle the costs of the yearly service on top of it, it really starts to add up. I also consider that space is at a premium in my pack when I biking or skiing (which would be the 2 primary places I would use it) and wonder if that space would be better used for first aid or repair supplies versus the spot tracker. Some of that has been mitigated by the new spot unit, which is much smaller than the original, but it’s still a very real consideration. If I’m packing things tight (which I often do) is it really more useful to bring a spot or some extra first aid supplies, or a couple bars/gels, or an extra set of glove liners, or a small stove?

It also begs the question of whether an extra set of gloves or granola bars would be more useful to me in an emergency situation than that spot. I sincerely believe that my decision to push forward on a ski day or a long day on the bike would be more influenced by having enough food, water, and clothing versus having an emergency beacon of some sort with me.

So, if that’s the case, which one do I put in the pack? Seems a little less obvious now.

In the end, it’s all a tradeoff of what goes in the pack and what doesn’t, and I’m just wondering whether the SPOT is a worthy addition. I would love to hear some opinions on these devices and what people think about you personally carrying one, and also about whether you think it’s really a good thing for the majority of people to be carrying one. It’s a really interesting train of thought, that’s for sure.