Meet Lise Wortley, the Woman Who Hiked Mont Blanc in Vintage Bloomers

So far, she’s battled the weather in the cold and damp Scottish Highlands and trekked through Iran’s Valley of the Assassins, among other adventures. In doing so, she’s highlighting not just fantastic women overlooked by history, but also the importance of bringing more women into the world of extreme outdoor adventure.

Photo: Lise Wortley

And Wortley puts her money where her mouth is, so to speak. In 2023, she competed on the UK version of Alone, (a massively popular show on The History Channel adapted for the UK) in which participants have to survive in extreme parts of the world by themselves, with minimal supplies. The person who survives the longest without tapping out wins. It’s the only adventure she didn’t chronicle on her Instagram channel, which normally highlights her adventures, her advocacy, and her partners and support staff that make her recreated adventures possible. She currently lives in London, but travels around the planet with the Woman with Altitude project.

Matador Network recently had the chance to connect with Lise about her excursions, her work, and what’s next on her groundbreaking to-do list.

Some answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Photo: Lise Wortley

Matador: How did you get started doing this? What did you do before you started these adventures?

Wortley: I read a book by a woman explorer when I was 16, and always had a dream to follow in her footsteps. After a tricky time with my mental health in my 20’s, I finally felt better and decided to act on the idea I had when I was younger and follow in her footsteps. Since then, the project has just grown, and I’ve found so many more incredible women who went on groundbreaking adventures, but were overlooked compared to their male counterparts. Before I started these adventures, I did the same job as I do now: working in travel PR.

Matador: In the early days of these adventures, where did your funding come from? How did you get the support, access, and attention you needed to make them happen?

Wortley: I funded the first trip mostly myself from savings, and I now, I work with incredible brands like Passenger Clothing and Explore Worldwide who are passionate about the project and supporting women in adventure. Although social media has many downsides, I’ve found it a really useful tool to connect and get these women’s stories the attention they deserve. Not only does it help with funding, but I’ve also built this incredible community of people who are so supportive and want to learn more about these forgotten women.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lise Wortley (@woman_with_altitude)

Matador: How many adventures have you recreated? About how much time goes into the planning and research versus the execution?

Wortley: I’ve done five trips now, and I plan and organize them all myself, from funding to finding guides, organizing a film crew, logistics, clothing research, creating the outfits, and more. They take months to organize. For example, my last Mont Blanc trip took about eight months of organizing for a week-long trip.

Matador: How do you get media attention/sponsorship for your adventures? How do you ensure some kind of good comes from each effort?

Wortley: Interestingly, although I work in PR, a lot of the media attention has just naturally come to the project, especially from women. I think once people realize these women are not only missing from history, but also that women are still missing from the adventure conversation today, they want to help spread the message. I have previously raised money for women’s charities that relate to the areas of the world I visit, but I also ensure my team is all women, to help support women who work in travel, the outdoors, and adventure. For example, I always find a female mountain guide, even when this is incredibly difficult, and I always use women who film in the adventure space, as, again, this is a very male-dominated industry.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lise Wortley (@woman_with_altitude)

Matador: What’s your dream adventure, if you could recreate any experience?

Wortley: I would love to follow in the footsteps of pirate queen Grace O’ Malley, who was one of the only women clan leaders in Ireland in the 1500s. The monks tried to write her out of history, but a famous meeting was recorded where she sailed her gulley boat from West Ireland to London and it kept her story alive. I would love to get a boat and fill it with women, all dressed as 1500s pirates!

Matador: What has been your favorite adventure to date? Why?

Wortley: It’s hard to choose, but I think following the footsteps of Freya Stark in Iran’s Alborz Mountains has to be up there. It was such a wonderful country and the scenery was completely mind blowing. Following Nan Shepherd’s footsteps in Scotland was also a favorite as it was the first time I had properly been alone in the wild, and I learnt so much about how nature can calm our minds.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lise Wortley (@woman_with_altitude)

Matador: I always root for the women on Alone because they’re so underrepresented. Why do you think that is, when it comes to wilderness experiences?

Wortley: I think it’s a bit like the exploration space where young girls don’t see themselves represented, so they don’t always feel like it’s an option for them. It was crazy when I was trying to learn all my bushcraft for Alone: the space is so male dominated. Even just looking at YouTube videos on how to build a shelter it’s pretty much all men (with a few badass women, of course).

I think we also need to get away from the macho “you have to be tough,” “It’s all about getting to the summit,” “no pain, no gain” vibes that a lot of influencers in this space give off. I find it very frustrating. You can have an adventure, or camp outside for a night, that doesn’t have to be extreme. It can be whatever you want it to be. That way, more people will find their way into the outdoor space.