Rock and Risk

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Well earned rest Nineteenth century adventurers enjoy the view at the Eiger summit while their guides take a break. (Swiss Alpine Museum)

Dangerous rescue Mountain rescue was slow and precarious before the advent of helicopters. (Swiss Alpine Museum)

Compass The property of W.A.B. Coolidge, researcher and Alpinist (1850 -1926) who undertook around 1,750 tours of the Alps between 1865 and 1900. (Swiss Alpine Museum)

Climbing tree An early technique for getting to the next level. (Swiss Alpine Museum)

Dressed for the weather Women in the nineteenth century were also interested in climbing and hiking. Often they changed into trousers or tied up their skirts when the camera was put away. (Swiss Alpine Museum)

A desperate end Toni Kurz was one of a team of four climbers who perished attempting the Eiger North Face in 1936. Exhausted, frost-bitten and suspended from a jammed rope, he died within speaking distance of rescuers. Kurz's last words were "I can't go on". (Swiss Alpine Museum)

Heckmair leading the way Anderl Heckmair said he found the route up the mountain by instinct. He found daring passages in the huge wall that make his route a classic to this day. (Anderl Heckmair et al.: Um die Eiger-Nordwand, München 1938)

The quintessential alpine guide Peter Bohren from Grindelwald and his colleague Christian Almer led the Irishman Charles Barrington to the Eiger summit on August 11th 1858. Bohren is pictured here in 1880. (Swiss Alpine Museum)

Extreme climber On February 13 Ueli Steck from Switzerland broke his own speed record by an hour on the Eiger north face, climbing the Heckmair Route in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 33 seconds. (Kiental)

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A Swiss Alpine Museum exhibition in 2008 featured the Eiger since the first ascent 150 years ago.

Rock and Risk told the story of the many adventurers who have tackled the mountain, particularly its infamous north face.