At 97 years old, Norman Dyhrenfurth considers himself a Swiss mountaineer and American film-maker. He was a pioneer in Hollywood and led the first Americans up Mount Everest. Pictured above with professional Swiss alpinist Stephan Siegrist, Dyhrenfurth inspired generations on both continents and forever changed American culture through his remarkable achievements. During a visit with him in Salzburg, Austria, John Heilprin explores the surprising vibrancy and health of a Swiss-American who has a world of stories and people to reflect on.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Climber remembers “impossible” ascent
This content was published on
Max Eiselin of Lucerne was 28 at the time. He had already been part of one attempt on Dhaulagiri, one of 14 peaks in the world above 8,000 metres. Eiselin told swissinfo.ch that with an idea for a better route and a bit of innovation his leadership helped six members of the expedition make it…
Heroes of Everest: Swiss stand on top of the world
This content was published on
In Switzerland, the mountaineers came to personify much more than their feat on Everest, impressive as it was. They also embodied a desire among the Swiss for a leading role in the technology boom of the post Second World War years. The climbers were seen as harbingers of a more open Switzerland – a country…
This content was published on
The Khumbu Icefall is found at 5,486 metres on the Nepali slopes of Mount Everest not far above Base Camp. It is regarded as one of the most dangerous stages of the South Col route to Everest’s summit. swissinfo.ch: How do you rate the achievement of the Swiss in 1952 from a mountaineering point of…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.