If you have been thinking about climbing a mountain higher than 6,000 meters, but you still need some push towards getting your ass off the couch, this might motivate you.
These eleven ladies, aged between 20 and 50, climbed Huayna Potosí (6,088 m) in December 2015.
They are the wives of mountain guides and have been working as carriers for food and climbing equipment up to the base camp at 5,130 m altitude and as cooks. When more and more mountaineers asked the ladies what it’s like at the top, they thought “well, guess we finally have to check that out,” convinced their husbands to take take them, and went in their regular dresses. I particularly love the simple, colorful backpacks which consist of a piece of cloth which is folded on one’s back and gets tied at a knot in front of the chest. This is how cholitas go shopping in the markets, how they carry the merchandise they sell and how they carry children. And what’s good enough for carrying a child is good enough to climb a snowy peak. No reason to buy any fancy equipment. Too bad they had to take off their traditional hats at the summit because of the strong wind.
And even if you don’t want to climb a mountain yourself, you can use this story as a response when some of your friends are showing off about having climbed the Matterhorn (4,478 m) or Kilimanjaro (5,895 m): “Yeah, I saw some chubby, old Bolivian women, they climbed much higher. They didn’t try to make a big deal out of it.”
The Happy Hermit 
Wow great Post :) i want to do this one day.
I don’t usually go on mountains where I need special equipment or a guide (also because I can’t afford it), but the views are breathtaking.
Well, maybe I will just go up one day without a guide and in my sneakers. After all, I am known for violating all mountaineering safety rules.
What an awesome post and what incredibly amazing women.
I have only been in Bolivia for a few months, but so far I would say that Bolivian women are the coolest women in the world.
Wow, that is awesome. I’ve never been but it looks and sounds wonderful.
you did one of my bucket list! nice!
Well, I personally didn’t do it. I just posted the videos and photos. But I might…
Why do you have a bucket list? Isn’t that for people who are about to die?
Pingback: Bergsteigen in Bolivien | Der reisende Reporter
lo vuelvo a decir… simple pero hermoso…excelente publicacion…gracias Andreas!
Gracias señorita!
Mis propias historias de montaña serán los siguientes. Espero.
Talking about Cholitas – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_Cholitas
Oh yes, that really proves that Bolivian women are the toughest women in the world.
I am looking forward to going to one of these fights in La Paz.
Hahaaa, and I look forward to THAT post
Pingback: The Bolivian Ladies keep Climbing | The Happy Hermit
Pingback: Climate Change is Real (my TEDx video) | The Happy Hermit