Rising Above Sexual Violence

If a dangerous disease was afflicting more than half of all women, you might expect an all-out, nationwide effort to fight it. But right now, many people still don't even realize there is a sexual violence epidemic in the US. The CDC reports that more than half of all women experience some form of sexual violence, and nearly 1 in 3 men do as well. Fortunately, there are determined efforts to fight this epidemic and make it part of the past. Here at Blackwood, we're committed to supporting these efforts, and helping to create a safer future for all of us.  Recently, we got the chance to do this while also taking part in one of our favorite activities: climbing.

A Troubling Trend

In 2024, professional climber Charlie Barrett was sentenced to life in prison for a series of sexual assaults in Yosemite Valley. But his conviction didn’t close a chapter—it cracked the book wide open.

Soon, other stories emerged. Former USA Climbing coaches. Respected gym staff. Even A-list professionals. Survivors began naming their abusers, and a devastating truth came into focus: Barrett’s case was not an outlier—it was a mirror. It reflected a deeper, systemic issue within the climbing world, where people were more vulnerable to violence than many might expect, abuse was more common than anyone wanted to admit, and silence was often the rule.

Barrett’s violence spanned decades, with multiple victims and a long history of domestic abuse and sexual assault. When survivors finally spoke out, many were met not with support—but with backlash, disbelief, or just silence. It became painfully clear that the climbing community’s failure to act had allowed harmful syndrome to take hold and grow, unchecked and unspoken.

Out of that silence, Never Solo was born.

Teaming Up to Bring Change

Rooted in the work of The Center, a Northern California nonprofit, Never Solo exists to change the culture—starting with belief. Its mission is simple but powerful: to elevate survivors, helping them gain a foothold and confront the silence. Because while going solo may be the ultimate test of nerves and skill in climbing, it's not something anyone should be doing when it comes to facing sexual violence. By holding space for healing and educating the community, Never Solo hopes to build a safer, more accountable climbing community. 

We believe safety, support, and belonging should never be out of reach. And we know men, in particular, have a vital role to play in ending the cycle. 

So when we heard about the very first Never Solo Climb-A-Thon and Summit Celebration being held in Sacramento, we knew we had to take part. Featuring scores of climbers logging hundreds of vertical miles over several weeks, it culminated on June 14th, with an event featuring legendary climber Lynn Hill — a  hero and icon in the global climbing community.

The Legend of Lynn Hill

Lynn Hill was the first person—man or woman—to free climb The Nose, a notoriously difficult section of the epic rock face of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. Despite several attempts by some of the world's best climbers, it would be 10 years before anyone could match her feat. Hill used her skills as a former gymnast to turn her smaller stature into an advantage, using intermediate holds that others didn't see and conquering difficult sections with creative sets of complex moves that other climbers might never even conceive of, let alone attempt. 

 As a trailblazing woman in a sport dominated by men, she overcame disbelief and discrimination on her way to breaking records and winning multiple world titles. Along with advancing the sport of climbing to new heights by pushing the limits of what was possible, she also became a noted author and a champion of women's rights during her long and distinguished career. So who better to lead the way at the first Free Solo Climb-a-Thon fundraiser?

A Day of Advice, Inspiration and Support

Hill was on hand throughout the event, leading a clinic and offering hands-on tips and advice to climbers of multiple skill levels. Then later, during a lively reception at Touchstone Brewing Company, she delivered a powerful keynote address in support of survivors, and advocating for the future of a safer climbing world.

We were proud to have our banner waving as a sponsor at what we hope was the first of many Never Solo events that will be held across the country. That's because we believe our work shouldn't be limited to providing clean, sophisticated grooming products that help to uplift men in their day-to-day lives. We believe we should be helping to level up the way all of us show up in the world, every day.

Because like any difficult climb, the climb towards better style, a better life, a better world, starts with a series of small efforts. It also goes faster and safer when we lift each other up along the way. With more openness, understanding, and commitment to constant improvement, who knows? Maybe we can all reach the top together.

Then we'll finally look back down, remember how hard the climb was, and celebrate just how far we've all come.   

We start by believing.

Help support the efforts of Never Solo by donating here