This is how the tracking system works

March 20, 2024

Reading time: approx. 2 minutes

Mount Everest exerts an unprecedented fascination on people. But climbing the highest peak in the world can also end tragically. Now every mountaineer should carry a reflector the size of a piece of chewing gum – this should help in the search for missing people.

Soon everyone starting their expedition in Nepal will have to carry a small reflector with them. This means that in the event of an emergency, location can be initiated, which enables rescue.

The reflector, now mandatory for mountaineers in Nepal, is a small, passive tracking system made by the Swedish company Recco was developed. Unlike active tracking devices, the Recco reflector, which is often incorporated into clothing, does not require batteries or active signal transmission. Instead, it reflects radar waves emitted by special search devices that rescue teams use.

This is how the tracking system on Everest works

The tracking system consists of two main components: the detector carried by rescue teams and the passive reflector carried by climbers. The reflector itself is small and lightweight, about the size of a piece of chewing gum, and is often sewn into athletic clothing or equipment.

When a climber goes missing or needs help, rescue teams use special detectors that emit radar waves. These waves penetrate snow, rock and other materials and are reflected by the Recco reflector. The detectors receive the signals and can display the exact position of the reflector. This makes it possible to quickly locate mountaineers even under masses of snow or in other difficult situations.

The use of passive positioning systems such as the Recco reflector has already proven successful in other situations, particularly for avalanche victims in ski resorts.