[Image: Nicolas Hojac / Facebook]
In an astonishing feat, two climbers, Nicolas Hojac from Switzerland and Philipp Brugger of Austria, have achieved a remarkable new speed climbing record after successfully conquering the treacherous north faces of three prominent mountains – the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
The trio of peaks are among the Swiss Alps’ most iconic climbs. The North Face of the Eiger, for instance, is a sheer 1800-metre limestone wall cloaked in snow and ice and has been the stage for many dramatic and historic ascents.
Even though the mountains are renowned for their challenging conditions and technical difficulty, the duo completed the iconic route in a stunning time, reducing the previous record by nearly ten hours.
The old record stood for over 20 years, showcasing the advancements in climbing techniques and strategies that have taken place since.
Hojac and Brugger have wanted to achieve the first one-day ascent of the north faces of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau several times.
In 2022, they made it through the north face of the Eiger but stopped after the Mönch because Brugger wasn’t feeling well. On further attempts, conditions or the weather were too bad.
“It was a really emotional moment for me”, says Brugger. “We’ve been wanting to take on this project together for a year now, but then I experienced a perforated bowel. I never would have thought that I would be standing on the Jungfrau with Nico one year later.”
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[Source: Red Bull]
