75th Anniversary of the First Climb of the Eiger North Face

Switzerland’s Eiger North Face is one of the greatest north walls of the Alps. In the 1930’s the Eiger North Face was the so-called “last problem” of the Alps. To conquer this famous wall was the dream of many mountaineers from all over Europe. Over the years, the wall saw many tragedies and finally the first successful climb in 1938. Thus this year, the Jungfrau region celebrates the “75th Anniversary of the First Climb of the Eiger North Face.”

A German-Austrian rope team composed of Anderl Heckmair and Ludwig Vörg, Fritz Kasparek and Heinrich Harrer reached the summit on July 24, 1938 at 15.30. They were the first to successfully climb the North Face of the Eiger.

Shrouded in myth, the Eiger North Face has a long history stemming back to the 1930s, a decade in which nine alpinists were killed in various climbing attempts. From then on the mountain was classified as dangerous, difficult and unpredictable. This dangerous challenge alone attracted the world’s best climbers – mainly Germans, Austrians and Italians at the time – like a magnet to the Eiger. The unquenchable desire to be the first to conquer this wall – brittle, weather exposed and susceptible to rockfall – led to a number of unwise attempts in dubious climbing and weather conditions.

Part of the Bernese Alps in Switzerland, the Eiger’s summit is at 3,970 meters. It is considered the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends across the Mönch to the Jungfrau at 4,158 meters.

Throughout July 2013, the region will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the First Climb of the Eiger North Face.

New Eiger Attraction in the Grindelwald Museum
Starting Tuesday July 2, 2013 the Grindelwald museum will exhibit five of the most important events in the history of the Eiger mountain. In this newly designed exhibition visitors will relive the successes and tragedies of the Eiger. Numerous pictures, files and articles will document over 150 years of its history.

For more information on the Jungfrau region and Grindelwald, click here.