Ouray, Colo. ? There already has been a woman in space, female chief executive, senator, race-car driver – not much opportunity for firsts as a woman these days.

For Ines Papert, a feisty, petite woman from Germany, the male-dominated world of ice climbing was where she found her firsts, and she has carved out quite a few: Mission Impossible in Italy. Tomahawk and Vertical Limit in Switzerland. These are some of the most difficult routes to climb in the world, and until Papert, only men had tried.

Now, more and more women are joining her in a sport that long has been limited to adventurous men.

Exact numbers are hard to come by, but anecdotal evidence and those involved in the sport say the number of female climbers has jumped in the last few years, perhaps tenfold. And with balance and agility more important than brute strength, women are making their mark.

Last year at the Ouray Ice Climbing Festival in this southwestern Colorado mountain town, Papert beat her male counterparts in the competition by more than three minutes. She won the female competition earlier this year.

“For me there is no question, can I do it or not. I just do it,” Papert said.

As spectators watch from the bridge in the background, a climber makes her way up the ice through Uncompahgre Gorge at the Ouray Ice Festival. As evidenced by participation in the event in January in Ouray, Colo., ice climbing is becoming more popular among women.

Melissa Rajkowski, an ice climber of eight years, says along with persistence and patience, a willingness to be humbled (“You could be doing everything right and a chunk of ice can fall and hit you in the face and make you bleed”) is a key to doing well in the sport – not necessarily a trait you’d associate with men.

“Women do better right off the bat because it’s all about detail,” said Dave Remsberg, a Boulder guide who leads climbs around the world and gets paid by gear manufacturers. “Women are more technical. They don’t just hack away like men.”

The Ouray festival is one of the highlights of the season in North America, offering mixed terrain, speed climbing competitions that attract the world’s best and dozens of hands-on clinics on everything from avalanche training to climbing expert ice. Women still were outnumbered by men at this winter’s session, but quite a few competed and took advantage of the clinics.

“Ooh, it’s so nice to see another woman out here,” Michelle Brock cheers in a slight Georgia accent to another woman approaching a group getting ready to hit the ice for the first time.

“My friends recommended ice climbing. It was time to try it,” answers Dianne Hummel of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The two chat about being the only women in the group and then turn to their crampons, the metal spikes that attach to the boot for help in clambering up the ice.

“I’m afraid I’m going to kick into the rope and cut it with my crampons. Ahhhh!” Hummel says, arms flailing as she mimics a fall.

“Did you get one of these?” Brock asks through a pink-lipsticked grin, holding up a harness belt as Hummel nods. “What do you do with it, do you think?”

A short time later, a single-file line of would-be climbers heads down a narrow path along the Uncompahgre Gorge, leaving a trail of claw-like footprints as they descend to the bottom and arrive at the “School Room.” As the name suggests, this part of the gorge is beginner friendly.

The ice in the 1.5-mile-long gorge – the result of 10 million gallons of water piped in and spilled here when the temperatures are just right – is the blue color of toothpaste. The climbers, wearing crampons attached to their boots and ice picks leashed to their wrists, peer up at their task.

Scratch, scratch, twack.

Good stick. The pick is securely in the ice.

Tap, tap, tap, crunch.

Another step up the ice.

Looking like a cat on curtains about 15 feet up, Shannon Heringer lets out a whoop.

“This is so fun,” comes cascading down from above, along with small chunks of ice.

Companies are banking on more women feeling like Heringer, and are starting to make woman-specific gear.

Garrett Kemper, a representative for climbing outfitter Black Diamond in Salt Lake City, says he’s watched over the last few years as women have soared past many men in skill level.

“Finesse overcomes the brawn,” he said.