Let’s put it out there – those of us working at Challenge Control are big fans of GPS trackers.
We encourage all Challengers, especially those walking solo, to carry a GPS tracker during their crossing. It isn’t a requirement as there are some downsides, which we appreciate, but why wouldn’t you want the facility to call for help if you are rendered immobile by illness or injury?
We’ll go into details about trackers and how they can be used on the Challenge later on this page but firstly, especially for the doubters amongst you, take a look at Caburn’s story.
What kind of trackers are available and what do GPS trackers do that a phone or Person Locator Beacon can’t?
GPS trackers are devices that use satellite positioning to determine movement and geographic location (geotracking). They do not rely on the mobile telephone network and work where there is no mobile signal.
- They have an emergency button which, when activated, will alert the emergency services.
- They can be used manually to send your location to others at a time of your choice, or in tracking mode where signals are sent at regular intervals.
- Most trackers include the facility to send text-type messages (pre-set or created at the time) to contacts, and some (e.g. the Garmin InReach) have the facility for two-way communication, which is useful if you are behind schedule to allay concerns with Challenge Control and your friends/relatives.
- Some will provide other information such as weather forecasts.
- The most common makes are Garmin and SPOT, with the Garmin Inreach being the most popular device used on the TGO Challenge.
Personal Locator Beacons are emergency devices that broadcast a distress signal on a specific radio frequency.
- Useful for alerting Search and Rescue services in an emergency.
- They are not reliant on a mobile phone signal.
- No means of sending a specific message or tracking your progress.
Mobile phone apps – there are a myriad of apps available to perform things like track your location, plot your track against on a map, show your heading etc.
- With GPS enabled it can help you locate where you are via digital mapping apps.
- With the exception of recent iPhone models, you cannot share your location with your contacts or the emergency services unless you have mobile internet.
- In remote areas you will not have a mobile signal so will not be able to summon help easily if it is needed.
- Maps need to be downloaded to the phone, not rely upon a mobile phone signal to access mapping.
Downsides of GPS trackers
When you think of what a tracker device offers you, why wouldn’t you carry one? Well there are a few disadvantages, which is why we consider it a matter of personal choice rather than a requirement:
- Expense – the devices aren’t cheap to buy and you then need a subscription to use it.
- Reliance on summoning help – detractors argue that they may encourage people to take risks or use the emergency button unnecessarily rather than relying on their own capabilities. That isn’t our experience of them being used, based on a decade or more on the Challenge. We have only had 4 emergency button activations in 10 years, all were because of severe illness, injury or an need to be rescued from a dangerous situation and at least two were potentially life saving.
- Reliability – although recent models are much more reliable than their predecessors, they can fail to function, run out of battery or the user can fail to operate it correctly or even forget to switch it on. All of which can cause anxiety for those at home following your track. It’s important to learn how to use your tracker effectively before you set out.
- Losing the sense of wilderness. We get this, but it doesn’t need to be in tracker mode and can just be used in an emergency.
Trackers and Challenge Control
We will ask for details of any tracker you will be carrying on the In Case of Emergency form which will be circulated a month or so before the start of the TGO Challenger. The form will ask for:
- Make and model.
- Your intention to use it in tracker mode, send manual beacons or just in an emergency.
- If it has a capacity for two-way communication.
- Which of your nominated emergency contacts will be monitoring your device.
- A link to your tracker map, if one is available, and associated password (if applicable).
How will Challenge Control use your GPS tracker information?
Please note – having a GPS tracker is not a replacement for the Phone-in Point (PIP) system. You still need to make these check-ins by phone or by text. Trackersare, however, a much-valued, additional layer to Challenge Control’s safety systems and are used in the following way:
- Tracking maps are not monitored routinely by Challenge Control.
- They are only looked at if you have missed a Phone-in point or Challenge Control has other reasons to be concerned about your welfare.
- If a Phone-in call has been missed, we will check your tracker before contacting your emergency contacts.
- We never raise concerns with the emergency services just because a tracker appears to stop moving, as this happens quite often and is usually associated with the tracker being misplaced, not switched on, out of battery or malfunctioning. There needs to be another factor such as a missed call to trigger a search.
- Challenge Control are happy to receive informal “Check-in” messages between formal PIPs. Most Challengers send these when camped at the end of the day. Please don’t flood us – just one message a day is fine – unless you have a problem, of course.
What to tell your friends and relatives about your tracker.
It’s important that whoever is monitoring your tracker at home knows the limitations of your device and how to contact Challenge Control if they have any concerns. Make sure they:
- Appreciate that a non-moving tracker alone is not enough for Challenge Control to initiate a call to the emergency services.
- Know the type of device you are carrying and how you will use it.
- Have access to your tracker map (if available).
- Have contact details for Challenge Control and know they can contact us if concerned..