Our story
“Ultra is a culture, it’s the one we chose to live.”
Deep in New Caledonia
We are Axelle & Guillaume the founders of Wise.
When we met in 2015, we were both living in New Caledonia.
Axelle was racking up medals on the local trail circuit. Guillaume explored unexplored trails on the island using old IGN maps and satellite photos.
And so, at the bend of a path in the north of the island, our paths crossed.
The Solukhumbu Trail
For our first coffee, Axelle shared with me her dream: to run alongside the legend Dawa Sherpa on the Solokhumbu Trail - a 310 km - 20,000 D+ roaming adventure in the Everest Valley.
3 years later, we were there, and this adventure changed us forever.
A sacred lake and a wish
At 4,000m above sea level, far from the known trails that lead to Mount Everest Base Camp, Dawa led us to the edge of a sacred lake to make a wish. Legend has it that you borrow a pebble from its shore and return it to it once your wish has been granted. The wish we made that day strangely resembled Wise and it will soon be time for us to return what this lake has lent us.
The only footprint you leave is that of your steps...
The path we take says a lot about who we are.
We attach great importance to the scope of our actions, because we are aware and want to be responsible for the legacy we leave.
We seek balance, harmony and the alternative path. The one that only explorers and pioneers take.
Wise embodies all of this to us.