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.
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
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