The most experienced
mountaineer in a group consisting of himself,
Ludwig Vörg,
Heinrich Harrer and
Fritz Kasparek, Heckmair led the most difficult pitches in the ascent, aided by the extensive kit (including new 12-point
crampons) that he and Vörg had purchased using sponsors' money. He ran into several problems on the North Face of the Eiger, including a slip while climbing out of the exit cracks.
Ludwig Vörg caught him by his feet, piercing his hand on Heckmair's crampons as he did so. The success brought Heckmair fame throughout the world, particularly in his native Germany. The reception included an audience with
Adolf Hitler (whom Heckmair had met before after working with
Leni Riefenstahl). Although the
Nazis used his achievement for propaganda Anderl shunned the publicity and never joined the Nazi party. After serving on the Eastern Front in
World War II, he worked as a mountain guide in his native
Bavaria, and was one of the driving forces in the formation of a professional association for mountain guides. In addition to the Eiger climb, Heckmair climbed new routes on the
Grandes Jorasses and many other
alpine mountains. He also participated in expeditions to the
Andes and the
Himalaya. He was also partially responsible for the development of the "two rope" climbing system. In 1934, he took part as a reserve of the
DSV team (
Franz Fischer,
Gustav "Gustl" Müller,
Matthias Wörndle) in the
Trofeo Mezzalama ski mountaineering competition. Heckmair started one and a half hour after the teams as single runner and overtook all the competing teams. ==Personal life==