On 15 August 2021, the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix celebrated its 200th anniversary. The first recognised mountain guides association was found by the town council of Chamonix on 24 July 1821.
The history of the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix is a founding chapter in the history of both Alpinism and mountain guide profession. The celebrations provided an occasion to evoke the great stages of its existence and to shed light on the future of the whole profession and to better defend its prerogatives. But also to affirm an identity, a culture that shares the values of mountaineering as it was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2019.
Details on the programme of festivities can be found here. The Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix also released a commemorative book and launched a number of environmental initiatives to mark the occasion, including a study into how global warming has impacted the guiding profession.
In recognition of the celebrations, Olivier Greber, President of the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix wrote: “We would like, with all mountaineers, to make this historic event a strong platform to perpetuate the future of this unique profession.”
The UIAA was represented at the celebrations by Françoise Jaquet, Executive Board member.
