Speed record on the Eiger north face

The previous speed record on the north face of the Eiger was broken yesterday: the young Swiss alpinist Dani Arnold climbed the face solo in 2h 28', 20 minutes faster than the previous record holder Ueli Steck.

The young Swiss alpinist Dani Arnold has climbed the Eiger north face in 2h 28' solo on Wednesday 20.04.2011. He thus undercuts Ueli Steck's previous fastest time by 20 minutes and becomes the new record holder in terms of speed on the Eiger.

The 27-year-old Arnold entered the legendary wall above Grindelwald at 09.05 in the morning of April 20 at the summer entry on the first tape, climbed through it single-handed via the classic Heckmair route and stood on the summit at 11.33 am. On the way, he overtook several alpinists, including the well-known Valais climber Simon Anthamatten, whom he met at 10.44 am on the Götterquergang.

Although still little known to the public, Dani Arnold is no stranger to alpinism: last year, he attracted attention with a solo ascent of the 36 pitches of the legendary Salbit West Ridge in Uri in a time of one and a half hours, having already made a name for himself in relevant circles with onsight ascents of the mixed routes "The Flying Circus" and "Come on Baby". Also last year, together with Swiss professional alpinist Stephan Siegrist and alpine photographer Thomas Senf, he made the first winter ascent of Torre Egger in Patagonia. 

Dani Arnold was born in 1984 in the central Swiss canton of Uri and now lives in Bürglen in Uri. He discovered climbing at the age of 14; a few years later, as a teenager, he climbed the Eigerwand for the first time with colleagues. Trained as a machine mechanic, he now works partly as a mountain guide and partly as a professional alpinist.