Woman's Climbing Documentary w/ Q&A: From the Ground Up

From the Ground Up: The Andean Women Remaking the Mountaineering World follows indigenous Peruvian mountaineers Yudith Mamani and Lixayda Vásquez deep into Peru's Cordillera Vilcanota range, tracing their origins in the indigenous territories of the country to the high peaks of the Andes. There, they have become formidable climbers and pursued careers in the mountains their ancestors revered as holy places, carrying with them a personal connection to the alpine as a living environment. The film offers a window into how mountaineering culture in one of the world's most storied ranges is shifting toward mentorship and community among Andean women.

This film is a production of Rachel Blair and Skyler Purwins. They shot the documentary in Peru in 2025, conducting interviews in the women's homes in rural Peru, at basecamps, and on expedition alongside them. This event is an opportunity to share the film with the PNW mountain community and to inspire others to see the mountains as living places.

Check out the trailer here

This event is free, and open to the public and members. Support the filmmakers with a donation! This is a short, 15 minute film. Come for the movie, stay for the community and meet like-minded climbers, women, and filmmakers!

Schedule
6:00 - doors open
6:30 - film starts
6:45 - Q&A with filmmakers
7:30 - coffee happy hour