Innovative Safety Solutions for Skiers & Snowboarders
Founded by an avid skier and engineer, Glacier Rescue Systems LLC is a small, 100% U.S.-based company who specializes in developing life-saving equipment for outdoors enthusiasts. Our flagship product, the AutoWhistle™ Tree Well Alarm, is a first-of-its kind, patent-pending personal alarm system that can automatically detect if you get trapped in a tree well and alert others that you need help - without any input from the user required. The AutoWhistle™ utilizes a 100+ dB S.O.S. alarm - similar in volume to a jackhammer - which is tuned to travel long distances through snow, effectively alerting others that you need help.
About Us
Tree Well Facts
What is a tree well?
Tree wells are hidden holes that form around the base of a tree in deep snow. If you fall in, you can get stuck and buried, often without anyone seeing, leading to suffocation. [Source: Wilderness Medicine Magazine].
Why are tree wells so dangerous?
90% of people who become stuck in a tree well cannot rescue themselves due to being flipped upside down. [Source: Wilderness Medicine Magazine].
How common are tree well fatalities?
Tree well fatalities occur every year across the world, including several in the united states. [Source: Outside Magazine].
Where do tree well fatalities occur?
Most tree well victims are skiers and snowboarders who ski on or near developed ski resorts. [Source: Idaho Climbing Guide].
20% of ski area fatalities are attributed to tree wells. [Source: Park City News].
How fast can accidents happen?
Tree well fatalities can occur in less than 15 minutes with unconsciousness occurring much sooner. [Source: Park City News].
How Does the AutoWhistle Work?
The AutoWhistle™ Tree Well Alarm works by constantly monitoring the angle of your upper body and comparing it to the direction of gravity 100 times per second. When an angle of 105 degrees or greater is detected for 12 seconds, the alarm is triggered and continues playing a 100+ dB S.O.S. tone, which can be silenced manually or by standing upright for 3+ seconds. The alarm is tuned to travel long distances through snow, effectively alerting others that you are trapped and need assistance, allowing for a faster rescue.
Because 90% of tree well incidents involve being flipped upside down, prohibiting self-rescue [Source: Wilderness Medicine Magazine], the alarm can detect the vast majority of tree well incidents, especially those that are most likely to be fatal. False alarms are minimized using logic that detects temporary and deliberate rotations such as jumps and backflips.
The AutoWhistle™ can also be used as an emergency battery backup, providing power to cell phones, satellite phones, USB-C powered headlamps, and other emergency equipment.
All of our products undergo a rigorous, multi-step testing and quality control process at our Montana facility, which includes:
Testing the physical integrity of all electrical connections.
Verifying the moisture resistance of all electronics using UV light technology.
Analyzing sensor data to verify calibration.
Subjecting the completed assembly to subzero temperatures, verifying all functions work as intended.