In a sport of many shoulds and should nots, rules and taboos, the climbing Cholitas of Bolivia could care less what you think. The reason may lie in the word “cholita” itself. It’s originally a derogatory term stemming from the Spanish slur “cholo,” meaning mixed race or Indigenous with defamatory canine undertones. But the Indigenous Aymara women of Bolivia have chosen to reclaim and rebrand the slur. Today, there are skateboarding cholitas, fighting cholitas (wrestlers), and climbing cholitas.
Several years ago, I saw a picture of these women ice climbing in their traditional dress, their bold colors striking against the bluish white of frozen water. Climbing with crampons in a wide pleated skirt seemed like a massive challenge, though they appeared unbothered by their non-technical clothing. Considering my own challenges poking holes in the hems of the ski pants I first climbed in before acquiring gaiters or ice climbing pants, I was duly impressed. And I had questions.
MAYA SILVER 