Snow-blind Climber Rescued with the Help of GPS Tracking

7 Jan 2013

GPS tracking technology, like LiveView GPS Tracking devices, helps a snow-blind climber get rescued from a glacier on Mt. Aspiring in Australia.

The mountain climber, a 27-year old Canadian man, was climbing Mt. Aspiring and nearing the Bonar Glacier when he was finally rescued. He was fortunate enough to be equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) tracking device, which was being monitored by his father. The man’s father watched the GPS tracker closely throughout the climbing excursion, but got worried when there was no movement for more than five hours. He alerted the local Wanaka police but due to bad weather, could not be rescued until the following morning.

At noon on the day he was rescued, the climber pressed the “help” button on the GPS device. His movements on the tracker showed the climber moving back and forth as if he was lost and unable to find his way out. The GPS pointed to a location at the end of the Bonar Glacier on Mt. Aspirins, near Mt. French. After getting lost from bad weather conditions, the climber ended up digging a snow cave — which caused snow blindness from the reflection of the sun.

What is Snow Blindness?

Snow blindness, also called photokeratitis, is an eye condition that occurs after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. It is extremely painful and comes from improper protection of the eyes in the midst of UV ray exposure. The condition causes moderate to severe pain as well as watery eyes. When the sunlight reflects from snow and ice, the UV rays can be extremely harsh and lead to snow blindness without snow goggles and other protective eyewear. Once the snow blindness injury source is eliminated, healing occurs quite rapidly, typically with one to three days. Treatment includes anaesthetic eye drops, oral pain medication, cool, wet compresses over the eyes, and isolation in a dark room.

According to Emma Fleming, a member of the Land Search and Rescue team and Wanaka senior constable, said he would not have been able to find his way out due to the snow blindness, confusion, and current weather conditions.

“He had become stranded in bad weather and couldn’t negotiate his way down initially because he was lost but then subsequently, having dug himself a snow cave, he became snow-blind. So there was no way he was going to be able to get himself out.” Fleming told reporters.

The Canadian climber heard the helicopter and stayed put, knowing help had arrived. The search and rescue team used a technique called “snatch and grab” to lift him from the snow cave and get him to safety. He was brought to the Wanaka Medical Centre where he was treated for snow blindness and dehydration.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.