Ferrino ambassador Alex Txikon inaugurates the Mendietxe Museoa in Basque Country

The well-known Basque mountaineer Alex Txikon has inaugurated the Mendietxe Museoa, a new Mountain Museum located in his homeland, in Azpeitia (Basque Country, Spain) just 20 km from the Cantabrian Sea.

The Mendietxe Museoa, located in a remarkable ecclesiastical building, offers visitors a fascinating journey through the history of mountaineering, presenting historical artefacts and equipment: from technical clothing to tents, from protective equipment to footwear, for a complete overview of the evolution of the equipment used by mountaineers during their explorations over the centuries.
Among the main attractions, the museum displays the equipment used by Txikon in his Himalayan expeditions, including tents and Ferrino backpacks, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the history of mountaineering. Special emphasis is given to sustainability, with a final section presenting the environmental impact of contemporary mountaineering, especially in the Himalayas.

Alex Txikon said: ‘The Mendietxe Museoa wants to be not just a museum, but an educational centre. There is still a lot of work to be do. What we have presented today we hope is the beginning of a larger project. In this first step, we have set up three spaces: a room with the historical collection, another dedicated to the animals of the world, and a third with the collection of the Lagun Onak Club of Azpeitia and my personal collection, for a journey through the great achievements of world mountaineering'.

The Mendietxe Museoa therefore proposes itself as a point of reference for mountain enthusiasts and those who wish to learn more about mountaineering and its history, while promoting a message of sustainability for future generations.

'I was happy to be present at the exciting opening day of this extraordinary museum to which Alex spent so much energy. It's an ambitious project that involves the entire Basque community of mountain lovers, who on this occasion wanted to give a collective recognition to Alex not only for his skills as an athlete, but also for his extraordinary human qualities. We are glad that in the museum you can see some important pieces of the Ferrino historical archive, including two original tents from Messner's expeditions. In addition, Alex has chosen to install, with our support, an impressive ‘Base Camp’ outside the museum, which faithfully reproduces a Himalayan base camp and has a beautiful visual impact’ - Anna Ferrino, CEO Ferrino.