Sir Chris will recount his adventures on the North Face

Two of the world’s leading climbers will this week deliver an insight into one of the world’s most imposing mountains.

The North Face of the Eiger has seen many dramas and has been the centre of attention for many Alpine mountaineers for decades.

Sir Chris Bonington and Ueli Steck will host a fundraising lecture this Thursday on Triumph and Tragedy on the Eiger. Cash from the event, at the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington, London, will go to the Mountain Heritage Trust which aims to record and preserve Britain’s rich heritage in the fields of climbing, mountaineering and mountain culture.

Sir Chris has direct experience of the Nordwand, having succeeded in his own attempt on the Eiger’s face and the extraordinary media circus that accompanied the first ascent of the Eiger Direct in the winter of 1966.

In 1962 he became the first Briton, with Ian Clough, to climb the North Wall of the Eiger. He has climbed and led expeditions all over the world, notably in the Himalaya in the 1970s and 1980s, making first ascents of the South Face of Annapurna, Changabang, the South West Face of Everest, the Ogre, Kongur and many other smaller peaks. He is the author of 18 books and the recipient of numerous awards.

Ueli Steck holds the record with his solo ascent

Swiss climber Ueli Steck demonstrated his technical skill and athletic prowess with an astonishing solo ascent of the North Face via the Heckmair Route in 2hrs 47mins 33secs in 2008.

As an 18-year-old he climbed the North Face of the Eiger and the Bonatti Pillar in the Mont Blanc massif. In June 2004, he climbed the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau within 25 hours with Stephan Siegrist and recently climbed the South Face of Shishapangma solo in 10 ½ hours.

Tickets for the lecture cost £25. More details are on the Mountain Heritage Trust website. Information can also be obtained by ringing 020 8545 9030.