Apparently not, as Jenny Lavarda, who's been showing great form this year, has made the first female, and 3rd over all, ascent of "Manolo" Zanolla's extreme MP Solo per vecchi guerrieri, hardest pitch in the 8c+/9a range, at Vette Feltrine in the Italian Dolomites. In at least one sense you could say she fits the profile. Old, she's not, but a soldier, at least employed by the Italian armed forces, she is. This is one of the most extraordinary climbing feats by a woman ever! Fantastic!