Placerville Newswire
  • Crime
  • Culture
No Result
View All Result
Get Started
Placerville NewsWire
  • Crime
  • Culture
No Result
View All Result
Placerville NewsWire
No Result
View All Result

El Dorado County Nonprofit “Never Solo” Shines Light on Sexual Assault in Rock Climbing Community

Local group calls for accountability and survivor support in the wake of abuse allegations shaking climbing world.

Cris Alarcon by Cris Alarcon
June 13, 2025
in News
416 31
0
El Dorado County Nonprofit “Never Solo” Shines Light on Sexual Assault in Rock Climbing Community

No Matter Who You Are - You Are Never Solo

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsappReddit

Diamond Springs, California — June 14, 2025 —

In a sport often associated with rugged individualism and trust between partners, a growing crisis of silence around abuse is being brought into focus by a local nonprofit. Never Solo, based in El Dorado County, is working to break the stigma surrounding sexual assault and domestic abuse in the rock climbing community.

You might also like

Mountain lions in El Dorado County peak at dusk and after dark, local monitoring shows

Mountain lions in El Dorado County peak at dusk and after dark, local monitoring shows

October 20, 2025
Duane Wallace steps back from South Tahoe Chamber as city leadership faces turmoil over mayor’s resignation

Duane Wallace steps back from South Tahoe Chamber as city leadership faces turmoil over mayor’s resignation

October 18, 2025

Founded by climber and advocate Ryan Martinez, Never Solo emerged after a series of allegations surfaced nationally against well-known climbers and coaches. Martinez, a longtime climber with deep roots in the Sierra Nevada climbing scene, said the organization’s mission is grounded in both personal experience and collective outrage.

“Climbing teaches us to trust, to literally put our lives in someone else’s hands,” Martinez said. “But when that trust is broken through abuse or coercion, there hasn’t been a safe place for survivors to turn—until now.”

Since its formation in 2023, Never Solo has hosted a series of survivor-led forums, partnered with advocacy groups, and launched an anonymous reporting system that allows victims to come forward without fear of retaliation. The group is also pushing for policy changes in climbing gyms and outdoor guiding companies, encouraging the adoption of mandatory abuse prevention training and standardized reporting protocols.

The climbing industry, which has long operated in informal, close-knit circles, has been slow to reckon with misconduct. Many incidents go unreported due to fear of ostracism or disbelief. According to Martinez, the normalization of hero worship and power imbalances has allowed abuse to persist unchecked.

Never Solo is currently developing an educational toolkit to distribute at regional climbing events and gyms throughout Northern California, including Placerville, Tahoe, and Sacramento. The organization also provides peer counseling and referrals for trauma-informed therapy, especially for young climbers navigating early stages of the sport.

Local supporters say the work is long overdue. “This is about culture change,” said El Dorado Hills climber Kendra Lowell. “We need to talk about safety beyond helmets and harnesses—we need emotional safety, too.”

Martinez emphasized that while Never Solo’s roots are local, their reach is growing. The group is in talks to collaborate with national climbing federations and has been featured in recent issues of Climbing and Outside magazines.

For survivors and allies alike, Never Solo is a rallying point—proof that the rope tying climbers together is stronger when it’s woven with accountability and care.

To learn more about Never Solo or access survivor resources, visit: neversolo.org

https://www.instagram.com/explore/search/keyword/?q=%23neversolo

Cris Alarcon

Cris Alarcon

Former Member: Executive Board of Directors, Treasurer, Boys & Girl Club of El Dorado County Western Slope. - Former Member: Board of Directors, Treasurer, Food Bank of El Dorado County. - Opening Team Dealer at Red Hawk Casino - Retried EDC Elections Department Inspector. - Youngest Charter Member of the Hangtown Kennel Club. - Political Strategist and Campaign Manager.

Related Stories

Mountain lions in El Dorado County peak at dusk and after dark, local monitoring shows

Mountain lions in El Dorado County peak at dusk and after dark, local monitoring shows

by Cris Alarcon
October 20, 2025

New local monitoring shows mountain-lion detections in El Dorado County cluster at dusk and after dark. Cameras capture a 1...

Duane Wallace steps back from South Tahoe Chamber as city leadership faces turmoil over mayor’s resignation

Duane Wallace steps back from South Tahoe Chamber as city leadership faces turmoil over mayor’s resignation

by Cris Alarcon
October 18, 2025

Duane Wallace has stepped away from day-to-day leadership at the South Tahoe Chamber as the city reels from Mayor Tamara...

Tamara Wallace Retains Placerville Attorney Steven C. Bailey in El Dorado County Investigation

Tamara Wallace Retains Placerville Attorney Steven C. Bailey in El Dorado County Investigation

by Cris Alarcon
October 15, 2025

Former South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace announced today she has retained former El Dorado County judge and defense attorney...

FAIR Plan Seeks 35.8% Average Rate Hike — What El Dorado County Homeowners Need to Know

FAIR Plan Seeks 35.8% Average Rate Hike — What El Dorado County Homeowners Need to Know

by Cris Alarcon
October 14, 2025

The state’s insurer of last resort wants an average 35.8% increase. If you live in El Dorado County, learn how...

Recommended

Weather Forecast: Unsettled Conditions and Rain Chances Ahead

Rain Showers Arriving in El Dorado County: Detailed Weather Forecast for the Motherlode

January 29, 2025
El Dorado County DOT Provides Updates on Diamond Springs Construction Projects

El Dorado County DOT Provides Updates on Diamond Springs Construction Projects

February 5, 2025

Popular Story

  • Feds Charge Two in Alleged Fraud Linked to California’s Homekey Program

    Feds Charge Two in Alleged Fraud Linked to California’s Homekey Program

    688 shares
    Share 275 Tweet 172
  • El Dorado County Sheriff Arrests & Activity Log: Felonies, DUIs, and Domestic Calls — Oct. 18, 2025

    680 shares
    Share 272 Tweet 170
  • El Dorado County Sheriff’s Blotter: Battery Arrest, Domestic Violence, and a Missing Person — Oct. 17, 2025

    679 shares
    Share 272 Tweet 170
  • El Dorado County Arrest Log: Drunks, Thieves, and Probation Breakers Fill the Jail — Oct. 16, 2025

    645 shares
    Share 258 Tweet 161
  • El Dorado County Sheriff Arrest Log: Drunks, Thieves, and a Fugitive on the Run – Oct. 15, 2025

    710 shares
    Share 284 Tweet 178
  • Buy JNews
  • Support Forum
  • Pre-sale Question
  • Contact Us

© 2023 Placerville Newswire Commentary is produced by the Placerville Newswire, a private service focusing on Placerville Local Area issues. All conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s). You may find us in El Dorado County Placerville, CA 95667

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Landing Page
  • Buy JNews
  • Support Forum
  • Pre-sale Question
  • Contact Us

© 2023 Placerville Newswire Commentary is produced by the Placerville Newswire, a private service focusing on Placerville Local Area issues. All conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s). You may find us in El Dorado County Placerville, CA 95667