"On March 22, disaster struck. While ascending fixed lines high on the wall, Harlin was hauling himself upward when the rope-frayed from constant abrasion against sharp rock-suddenly snapped. He fell to his death about 2,000 feet from the summit, plunging down 3,000 feet-an instant and catastrophic end that shocked both teams and the wider climbing world following the ascent."
"The Eiger North Face, often nicknamed the 'Mordwand' or 'Murder Wall,' had already claimed dozens of lives by that point, its reputation cemented by tragedies in the 1930s that captured global attention."
On March 22, 1966, John Harlin died while attempting to establish a new route on the Eiger's North Face. Known for its danger, the North Face had claimed many lives. Harlin's team used a siege-style approach, facing extreme conditions. Initially competitive with a German team, they united for survival. Harlin fell 2,000 feet when a frayed rope snapped. Despite his death, the climbers chose to continue their ascent just days later, demonstrating resilience in the face of tragedy.
Read at SnowBrains
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