Jeff Witt

Nearly twice as tall as Yosemite’s El Cap, Eiger towers over the town of Grindelwald, Switzerland. Eiger’s iconic reputation is well-earned, having challenged even the most seasoned alpinists. While other classic peaks of the Alps were being summited, it wasn’t until 1938 that the North Face — also known as the Death Wall — of Eiger was first ascended. Since then, it’s claimed the lives of dozens of climbers who dare to take it on. With worn out gear from the 50s still in place, climbers will find themselves battling fickle weather, lots of rock-fall, ice, snow, and ever-changing conditions in sketchy alpine terrain to reach the top. Completing this climb is a serious and demanding endeavour that takes technical knowledge and intense preparation even by today’s modern standards, more than 80 years after the first ascent. IFMGA/AMGA mountain guide Jeff Witt ticked the famous 1938 Heckmair Route off his bucket list in 2010. Join Jeff as he recounts his story, shares photos, and goes into detail about what it takes to prepare and execute a climb of this magnitude.

Do you aspire to find yourself climbing those famous peaks above Chamonix? So did Brian Monetti, a Brooklyn-based techie bit by the climbing bug ten years ago. With the help of his friend, Chamonix based IFMGA/AMGA mountain guide Jeff Witt, Brian transitioned his skills from the climbing gym to some of the biggest summits the world has to offer, including Chamonix. Brian and Jeff shared what it’s like to enter the world’s greatest alpine playground, taking a deep dive into everything Chamonix — the world-class climbing, the routes, where to stay and anything else you’d need to know to make the most out of your trip to the world renowned Cham. If you’ve ever been wondering what Chamonix has to offer, now’s the time to find out.