See Dick and Jane hike. See the storm approach. See Dick and Jane go off trail. See Dick tumble over a cliff. See SPOT come to the rescue. If you love hiking off-the-beaten-path, enjoy solo hiking, or have someone at home who worries when a little late getting back from a trip, then you too might want to have a SPOT of your very own.

SPOT is a new gadget for outdoor adventurers. It’s a GPS satellite messenger that allows you to press a button that will send a message to selected friends and family members. The message tells them that you are okay and gives your GPS coordinates. It can also be used to track your progress on an extended trip.

Should things be heading south, you can send a message asking for help. The SPOT satellite personal tracker tells selected friends and family members that you are okay, but you need assistance. Perhaps a porcupine has chewed your brake line and suddenly that long downhill road off the mountain is impossible. Maybe you misjudged the size of that mudhole, or forgot to top up the gas tank. Whatever the problem, you can let someone know of your predicament with exact GPS coordinates to reach you.

In case of a bona fide emergency, you can press the “911” button. A call goes out to the GEOS International Emergency Response Center, giving them the message that this in an emergency along with your GPS coordinates. This information is passed on to emergency responders in your vicinity.

SPOT works outside of regular cellular range and – just in time for the holidays – is available for $50 off the list price. For the holidays, you can find the SPOT satellite personal tracker unit selling for under $120. It will cost around $100 to activate and get one year of service. When compared to the price of a satellite phone (the only other option for contact when outside of cell range), this is a pretty cheap security blanket.

Whether you buy one for yourself or that special someone on your Christmas list, I think SPOT is one more tool (on top of map, compass, knowledge, planning and common sense) that hikers might want to invest in.