Roots and Summits
THE MOUNTAIN AS A SPACE OF COURAGE AND IDENTITY
The mountain has always been a place where limits are measured step by step, where courage meets endurance, and every summit tells a story. For the Cholitas Escaladoras—Aymara Indigenous women from Bolivia—the mountain represents much more: it is a space of identity, freedom, and cultural pride. With their colorful polleras and traditional shawls, they have transformed climbing into an act of empowerment, proving that tradition and modernity can coexist harmoniously at any altitude.
Originally cooks and assistants in mountaineering expeditions, they chose to take their own challenge, ascending iconic peaks such as Huayna Potosí, Illimani, and Aconcagua, and more recently reaching Mont Blanc. Each ascent tells a story of resilience and determination—of women who overcome social and cultural barriers, turning the mountain into a universal symbol of courage and inclusion.
SCARPA and GORE-TEX® Brand have chosen to walk alongside them, not only through products and technology, but by sharing profound values: a passion for the mountains, respect for nature, responsibility, and the strength of community. This collaboration is not merely technical support—it is a long-term journey to tell stories that unite diverse cultures around shared principles.
Every step the Cholitas take on the highest summits embodies the spirit of No Place Too Far: there are no boundaries when courage, identity, and passion lead the way. Their ascents demonstrate that the mountain is a place where roots and determination meet, and where performance does not erase identity—it celebrates it. SCARPA and GORE-TEX® Brand support this journey, turning every climb into a symbol of strength, inclusion, and sustainability.
Their story reminds us that the summit is not only a physical goal: it is an act of freedom, a declaration of pride, and an invitation to push beyond every limit—while keeping one’s roots firmly grounded.
