Miage Peak - Interview with Hélias Millerioux

TRUE PERSON, TRUE MODERN ADVENTURER: HÉLIAS MILLERIOUX.

Mountain guide, alpinist, skier, with an amazing curriculum which boasts ascends on 8.000m, extreme descends, expeditions all over the world and the 2018 Piolet d’Or.

Where does your passion for adventure and mountains come from?

I’ve always loved the mountains since I was a child and I used to walk with my father. I looked at the peaks trying to imagine how does it feel to be there on top. Let’s say that now I definitely know[laughs]. Jokes aside, this passion brought me to climb very challenging peaks all over the world,like the Nuptse and the Nanga Parbat and to win the Piolet d’Or, yet I’m always looking forward to the next expedition...

What’s on your mind?

Well, no safe plan at the time being. There area lot of great mountains I’ve always dreamed to climb, like the K2 or the Gasherbrum. Patagonia is on the to-do list too.Together with some close friends we’re looking for new routes to open, challenges to face together. I cannot hide that something is brewing!

Tell us about your latest project with Dolomite

I passed the last two years testing and developing the last winter mountaineering boot crafted by Dolomite: Miage Peak GTX. A winter mountaineering boot, suitable for use with crampons, perfect for every winter activities:such as climbing on easy slopes or mixed route,to more technical activities like ice climbing ordry-tooling. Personally, I pushed this boot to the limit, testing it in every condition possible and suggesting some developments according to my experience. For example, we designed a special closure system taking advantage of both laces and straps to improve the overall adjustability. We got also focused in depth on enhancing ankle flexibility, which is very crucial up there.

Looks like a very technical boot, isn’t it?

For sure it is, I would suggest Miage Peak GTX to the ones that already know how to approach mountains and to advanced climbers. But I’m sure Miage will become quite popular - just as winter mountaineering is getting too. More and more people are getting engaged in this activity and global warming is doing its part in this game. Ices are melting faster year after year especially in summer, and so winter mountaineering at high routes is becoming safer and easier.