Four mountaineers climb North Face of the Eiger in live broadcast

After months of preparation and training, Swiss television on Thursday launched its round-the-clock live broadcast of four mountaineers climbing the North Face of the Eiger.

After months of preparation and training, Swiss television on Thursday launched its round-the-clock live broadcast of four mountaineers climbing the North Face of the Eiger.

The rock climbers, grouped in two teams, are tackling the classic Heckmair route. There will be one overnight bivouac and both teams hope to reach the top of mountain on the second day.

Overall, the live coverage on Swiss television and the Internet (check out the “Eiger special” site on this home page) is to last 30 hours and the four climbers will comment on their ascent themselves.

Some of the live pictures will come from small cameras mounted on the climbers’ helmets while others will be provided by a series of fixed position cameras on the rock face.

The project was originally scheduled last year but had to be cancelled because of bad weather.

This time, the climbers, mountain guides from the nearby resort of Grindelwald and the helicopter pilots agreed to go ahead with the venture, Swiss television said.

From staff and wire reports.