Eiger

Eiger is a 3,967 m (13,015 ft) peak above Grindelwald in the Bernese Alps, in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland. Climbers regard it as one of the great mountains of the world, and for everyone else it is among the most recognisable skylines in the Swiss Alps.

Where is the Eiger?

The mountain stands over two valleys, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. It sits slightly north of the main Alpine watershed, close to the border with the canton of Valais. On the north side the slopes drop more than 3,000 m into those valleys, while the south side looks onto the vast glaciers of the Jungfrau-Aletsch area, the most heavily glaciated part of the Alps.

How does it relate to its neighbours?

The Eiger is the eastern end of a ridge that runs via the Mönch to the Jungfrau (4,158 m). The three summits together form a trio known in German as the Dreigestirn, a line-up that dominates the horizon above Grindelwald.

Why is the north face so famous?

The Eigerwand, or Nordwand, rises roughly 1,800 m and mixes rock with ice. It counts as the largest north face in the Alps. At its foot lies the Kleine Scheidegg pass, which links the two valleys, so visitors standing there see almost the entire vertical wall in one glance.

The face also carries a grim nickname: Mordwand, meaning "murderous wall". It stuck after many climbing attempts ended in tragedy. Alongside the Walker Spur on the Grandes Jorasses and the Matterhorn's north face, it is grouped into the so-called Alpine Triptych, and it ranks among the six great north faces of the Alps that hold special status among mountaineers.

What can a visitor see?

You do not need to be a climber to appreciate the Eiger. The best place to study the wall is around Kleine Scheidegg, where its full height towers overhead. Fine views of the massif also open from Grindelwald and from the Lauterbrunnen valley. Reaching the summit demands experience and equipment, so most visitors enjoy the mountain from the valley floor or from trails near its base.

When should you come?

Visibility matters most here. The wall is at its best on days without low cloud, when the whole face is visible to the top. Plan several days in the area to improve your chances of clear weather, since conditions in the mountains can change within hours.

Frequently asked questions

How high is the Eiger? It stands at 3,967 m (13,015 ft). Some sources round this to 3,970 m.

Which country and range is it in? Switzerland, in the Bernese Alps of the Bernese Oberland, above Grindelwald and the Lauterbrunnen valley.

Why is the north face called the Mordwand? The name comes from the many fatal attempts to climb it. The face is about 1,800 m high and combines rock and ice.

Where is the best place to view the Eiger? Around the Kleine Scheidegg pass at the foot of the face, and from the Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen valleys.