The Cholita Climbers of Bolivia Scale Mountains in Skirts

Cholitas” are Bolivian women of indigenous heritage known for their colorful dresses, round tops, and ornate earrings. In La Paz, Bolivia, the world's tallest capital, 11 Cholitas are on a mission to overcome sexism and discriminatory attitudes, while climbing mountains in their traditional garb. Led by Jimena Lidia Huaylas, Cholita Climbers were once alpine chefs. But since December 2015, they have been climbing the country's snowy peaks as climbers. Fused by a love of mountains and a sense of challenge, Cholita climbers won't stop there to achieve the sense of freedom that comes with climbing great heights.