The French brand and the Grindelwald Guides team up once again to tackle new high-altitude challenges and write a new chapter in mountaineering history. In the world of mountaineering, there’s no compromise. It’s with this philosophy that Outdoor Switzerland AG, through its renowned Grindelwald Mountain Guides, and Millet Mountain Group have consolidated a partnership that has lasted over ten years, combining excellence in technical equipment and mountain expertise.
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In addition to the Grindelwald mountain guides, the leading outdoor brand also supplies its equipment to the Chamonix and Matterhorn Guides, thus reconstituting the Alpine trilogy and continuing to be the official supplier of the three most renowned companies in the Alps. This common thread evokes the extraordinary feats of Christophe Profit, who in 1987 completed the epic solo ascent of the three great north faces of the Alps: the Grandes Jorasses, the Eiger, and the Matterhorn, in less than 42 hours. This epic feat inspired Millet’s “Trilogy” collection, a symbol of dedication to mountaineering and its legendary peaks.
The deep passion for the mountains, which has united these two partners for over a decade, inspired an exceptional and spectacular decision: the signing of the new “jubilee contract” did not take place at a table, but directly on the North Face of the Eiger, guaranteeing spectacularity and unparalleled authenticity.
“Working alongside the Grindelwald guides is much more than a partnership; it’s a story of ethics and passion. And also of humility, facing the mountain that lifts us higher,” commented Romain Millet, great-grandson of company founder René Millet and CEO of Millet Mountain Group.
A bond without compromise
“At Millet, we are family with those who experience the mountains every day. This living and authentic connection with the guides and mountaineers gives meaning to everything we create,” he continued.
“Grindelwald’s mountain guides must be able to rely on uncompromising mountain clothing. Few brands in the mountain sports sector combine these characteristics with cutting-edge design like Millet. For almost 10 years, Outdoor and the Grindelwald mountain guides have been tackling the world’s mountains wearing Millet clothing. We are proud that this shared journey continues,” says Johann Kaufmann, mountain guide and CEO of the Outdoor Group.
Millet’s history is deeply intertwined with that of high-level mountaineering. As early as 1950, Louis Lachenal and Maurice Herzog reached the summit of Annapurna (8,091 m), the first eight-thousander ever climbed, equipped with a Millet backpack. This legacy of expertise and innovation in mountaineering equipment endures, and Millet continues to produce cutting-edge technical apparel.
Grindelwald’s mountain guide tradition is equally rich in history. As early as the 19th century, these guides were globally renowned. One example is Ulrich Kaufmann, who in 1882, with his English guests, narrowly missed the first ascent of the challenging Mount Cook in New Zealand by just 200 meters, a pioneering feat for the time.
