Eiger north face

Eiger north face is the north face of Mount Eiger. It has a height of more than 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) over the sourrounding area. The summit of Eiger is 3,967 metres (13,015 ft) above sea level. Some climbing routes using the north face have lengths of over 4 kilometres (2.5 mi). They are among the most difficult, most tiring mountain climbing routes in the world. As the north face is very exposed, a constant danger of rockfall and avalanches exists. It is so well-known because so many people have attempted to climb it (and failed).

First attempt: 1935

The first people to try climbing the north face of Mount Eiger were Max Sedlmayr and Karl Mehringer, in 1935. People with telescopes watched them. When they started, the weather was good. On the second day, they climbed what is called First Band; it was rated at the maximum difficulty level of that time (VI). They reached the First Band of Ice, in the evening of the second day of climbing. They had climbed about 700 metres (2,300 ft), and about 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) were left (in height) to climb at that point. Nearly the whole of the second day they spent traversing the second ice field. The weather turned, and the sight was lost. Three days later, the weather improved, and the sight was restored. Sedlmayer and Mehringer were spotted climbing somewhat higher up. The weather turned again, and the sight was lost again.

Six days after they had started, a military plane was used to search for them, but it did not find the climbers. A team of eight climbers started a rescue mission, about four days later. They didn't find anyone.

Other climbers found one corpse, at a place now called Todesbiwak (Biwak of death). It is unclear if this was the corpse of Sedlmayr or of Mehringer. In 1976, four Czech climbers found a packet of cigarettes, with a note that Mehringer had written. It read "Biwack" and one of the names of the climbers. The note was dated August 21, 1935. (The climbers had started on August 16)

Second attempt: 1936

In the 1930s, the north faces of Eiger, Matterhorn, and Grandes Jorasses were seen as the "last problems of the Alps". Among climbers, there was a race, who would first climb these north faces. Matterhon north face was climbed in 1931, Grandes Jorasses in 1935. At about 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) Eiger north face was also the tallest of the three. In this attempt, two teams of wo people died. It is one of the best known climbings, and many movies have been made from it. Getting the corpses took more than a month.

After the tragedy, climbing the north face was forbidden for a time. When it was again allowed, it was ruled thatthere would be no duty to rescue people who climed it.

First succesful attempt: 1938

Anderl Heckmair, Heinrich Harrer, Ludwig Vörg and Fritz Kasparek were the first who were successful. At the time, they were criticized, because their style was new. Also the Nazi parti did not like some of their opinions.

Today, there are more than thiry routes to climb the north face. With good weather, it is possible to climb the mountain in a few hours (using the route Heckmair had taken). The original expedition needed more than three days.