KEENE, N.Y. (AP) — In the male-dominated sport of rock climbing, few women are working as professional guides.

Although there are many resident climbers and at least nine guide services in or near the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, only two women work as full-time guides there during the summer and winter seasons.

Although some men do not want to climb with a woman who is better than they are, Emilie Drinkwater said that most of her clients did not seem to care about gender and that some even thought women would use better judgment and more caution.

“I am a conservative climber,” Drinkwater said. “I am totally afraid of falling. I avoid it as much as I can.”