The Reel Deal: Women, Policy, and Autonomy

Posted byRock Rose Blog, LLCPosted inUncategorized

Part IV of V

**Content warning for rape and sexual assault**

   “A federal judge Tuesday sentenced a professional rock climber to life in prison after his conviction for aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact that occurred in 2016 at Yosemite National Park. Charles Barrett, 40, raped a woman three separate times over a weekend at the park, prosecutors said. A jury convicted him in February after the woman, along with three other victims, testified Barnett had sexually assaulted them over the years. Barnett has a “long history of sexual violence,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California Phillip A. Talbert.”51 Sexual assault “over the years” is such a minimizing statement. Outside magazine ran an extensive article called How Did This Climber Get Away with So Much for So Long?52 chronicling his heinous acts, and I personally could not read it all the way through. And that’s ok: just know that he was convicted and his acts were unmistakably sexual assault and violence, among other things. And he is not the only one committing rape and harassment.

   “…members of the United States climbing community created an initiative in 2018 called #SafeOutside to study the scope of the problem in the sport. The organizers surveyed more than 5,000 climbers from over 60 countries and found that 47 percent of women and 16 percent of men said they had been subjected to unwanted sexual behavior while climbing. And a few months ago, The Mountaineers, an outdoor recreation group in the Pacific Northwest, created a sexual harassment and assault prevention advisory committee to address the risk among its 15,000 members.”53 Climbing has a glaring harassment problem. And yes, some organizations may be going as far as creating committees. But is it enough? When an organization is fully volunteer run such as the Mountaineers, how do we ensure predators are not amongst those in power? This is also a story for another day, but as far as I understand it, even creating an advisory committee at the Mountaineers was hard fought and they still do not do basic background checks to see if any domestic violence or violence related charges were filed for leaders.

   There was also a New York Times article,54 from which the previous quote came from, mentioning Charles along with another man named Nirmal Purja who committed similar sexual assaults. Nirmal is from Nepal: this is a global problem really. We have seen other cases in outdoor groups also naming people engaging in inappropriate behavior such as Bangalore Climbing Initiative,55 Climb Like a Woman,56 and Neena Jain from India as seen recently.

Dear climbing and allied communities, We are women who have experienced abuse and exploitation by a sexual aggressor in India’s climbing community. We are now speaking out. As more evidence comes to light, we are shocked by the severity of this situation. We are forced to issue this statement as no formal mechanisms currently exist within the community to address our grievances. We are putting ourselves at risk in speaking up. As a visible member of the community-a photographer, cyclist and alpinist-his lack of accountability leaves us with no other choice. We are deeply disturbed and disappointed. For too long, he had behaved unacceptably with the women of this community and beyond-including sexual abuse, forced unprotected sex, coercion, fraud, manipulation, and lying. The person has also knowingly exposed us to significant health risks. We have given him enough opportunities to rectify his actions and seek help. However, his pattern of abuse has only strengthened due to his ability to act without consequence. The emotional, psychological and financial toll has been significant. We do not want this to happen to anyone else, and call on other women to be vigilant. Given his access to resources and space, by continuing to provide him a platform to interact with women in these events and shared spaces, the community would be putting more women at risk. We strongly call upon Bangalore Climbing Initiatives (BCI), Global Climbing Initiative (GCI), Climb Like a Woman (CLAW), and the extended community to urgently put in place adequate redressal measures that will safeguard our community members-now and in the future-from sexual abuse, violence and intimidation, and hold sexual perpetrators accountable for their egregious and harmful actions. We call upon the climbing and other allied communities to stand with us in solidarity. In power, THE SURVIVORS AND ALLIES

   So how does this tie in to Reel Rock’s film Cobra and the Heart? This film stars a woman named Thomasina Pidgeon.

   Thomasina Pidgeon is a climber who wrote supporting character reference letters about Charles Barrett. Yes, the same Charles Barrett who serial raped, physically abused, tormented, and harassed women in climbing for the last 15 years. And Thomasina wrote letters to his judge attempting to convince everyone that he is a good person, after a conviction was already concluded.

   Of course, after the climbing community voiced their concerns about Cobra and the Heart featuring Thomasina Reel Rock issued their own PR statement.57 “To be clear, our film does not involve Charlie Barrett or address issues of abuse in any way. But some have called for Reel Rock to be more cautious about who we feature in our films. We have been reflecting internally about questions of accountability and responsible storytelling, and we are engaging in conversations with survivors, advocates, and partners. This process has helped us recognize the pervasiveness of sexual abuse in the climbing world, and it’s reinforced our commitment to building a safer, more inclusive community for all climbers.”58 First of all let’s be clear: Reel Rock has never really been about an inclusive community. The numbers speak for themselves. Secondly, Stephanie Forte (one of the testifying victims of Charles) said it best: “I feel compelled to address Reel Rock’s recent blog post. Not only does it fail to acknowledge the real harm they are perpetuating, but it also serves as an example of exactly what not to do when responding to a crisis involving survivors of sexual violence. Let’s be clear: The outrage over Reel Rock’s decision to feature Thomasina Pidgeon in The Cobra and the Heart is not due to concern about “complex human stories” or “themes of fallibility and forgiveness.” This is about accountability. It’s about understanding how platforming someone who publicly defended a convicted sexual abuser after his conviction sends a message to survivors. And that message is loud and clear: Your pain is secondary to our film.”59

   Did we expect any different? A film festival controlled by 4 men who have shown us again and again what truly matters: 1. Whiteness 2. Men 3. Climbing hard. Everything else has always been secondary and is right in line with their brand.

   “This isn’t a matter of a “gradual and painful process” of realization for Pidgeon. She wrote a character reference for Barrett, not before his trial but after he was convicted of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact. This wasn’t an abstract accusation. It wasn’t a case of “he said, she said.” It was a conviction in a court of law based on overwhelming evidence and survivor testimony—including mine.”

And yet, despite everything, she used her voice to advocate for him.”60

   To me this is cut and dry: people who have chosen to align themselves with people like Charles Barrett should not be highlighted or celebrated. And yes, being featured in a mainstream climbing film is indeed celebrated. However, one thread on Mountain Project suggests that Thomasina was also a victim. “I believe that Thomasina is also a victim of Charlie’s, and has been deceived and manipulated. She has since realized herself that she was wrong about Charlie and that it was a mistake to write a character reference. She has apologized both publicly and to me personally and requested the judge to rescind her letter because she now absolutely knows he was guilty and received a fair trial,  counter to what he so steadfastly deceived her into thinking.  She made a mistake, but I believe she does not deserve to be sidelined and crucified for her actions, especially after apologizing. I do not believe she meant to hurt us intentionally or with malice, whilst Charlie clearly did. Charlie deserves to be silenced, forever. When we blame other people, particularly women, for the harm Charlie has inflicted on members of our community, we are giving him further voice and power, and we are perpetuating his violence.”61

   I agree with this sentiment. I would also go as far as to say that the men she has chosen to be in her life have failed her (based off the premise of the movie The Cobra and the Heart being her partner leaving her while she was pregnant to go join a cult for 15 years because he didn’t get the first ascent of a climb. But she ended up getting back together with him even though he skipped out on child support). The person who we should be the harshest on is Charles. It was his behavior, his manipulation, his mistakes. And now he will rightly rot in jail because of his actions.

   Which leaves us all with a conundrum: should we continue to support Reel Rock? For me, the answer has been no for a long time now whenever it comes to Seattle. There were 3 showings scheduled for Seattle in March and April. And apparently the controversy was also not something Seattle Bouldering Project did not want to engage in either as they pulled their sponsorship for 2 sessions quietly and completely this season. They have sponsored other seasons before. However, the Washington Climbers Coalition has powered on with their April 8th showing.

Seattle, WAHosted by Nectar Lounge, Solid Sound, & Washington Climbers Coalition April 8th 2025

   To my understanding organizations such as the Washington Climbers Coalition (WCC) use Reel Rock as a fundraiser to further their mission sometimes. And so the organization was faced with a choice when presented with the controversy of the two films in the Reel Rock repertoire: opt out like Seattle Bouldering Project or move forward. And they opted to move forward. Here is the statement they posted on Instagram:

There has been a lot of discussion in the climbing community about some films in the Reel Rock repertoire; mainly citing concerns related to sexual assault, sexual violence, and online harassment involving women as the target of these acts. Certain films have ties to individuals who have either participated in one or more of these acts or have served as a character witness to this unacceptable behavior.
The Washington Climbers Coalition has run a Reel Rock film gathering for many years in Seattle with us as the primary recipient of ticket proceeds to cover non profit costs such as paying off the loan of the Lower Lump at Index. However, we take community concerns very seriously.

We want the community to know we condemn and will not tolerate any form of sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual violence, violence (domestic or otherwise), or harassment of any kind in the climbing community towards anyone. The conversation concerning whether or not people apologized or have possibly redeemed themselves pales in comparison to the actual issue we face in our community that so many have been brave enough to bring to light: the harassment and violent abuse that so many women, and femmes, and marginalized communities face in climbing. We will still be holding a Reel Rock even; however, we will be donating $500 to the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center in solidarity with their cause. @kcsarc
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) is an independent nonprofit serving survivors and their families throughout King County and engaging communities in building a world without sexual assault.
KCSARC’s long history as a trusted and expert resource gives us the experience and expertise to empower survivors, change attitudes, shape statewide policy, remove barriers, and hold systems accountable.
If you or anyone you know is or has suffered from sexual assault, @kcsarc and @ahighercallingpnw who supports victims of crime and systemic oppression in the Seattle Climbing Community are resources to share.

Let’s keep climbing safely together: we keep us safe. There’s a link in our bio to get tickets.

   The WCC was not convinced the correct course of action was to sever ties completely for the season. Almost every year for years now they have done a Reel Rock showing. This is no excuse of course, but fuel to their resolve to keep relations positive. And since the organization was getting funds out of it, surely that was the main motivating factor. If they had moved forward and completely ignored the controversy, it would appear that they are only in it for the money, which is not a good look. Except: they decided to donate to an organization that supports victims of sexual violence. I say good on them. An opt out I think is the best path, but the organization also didn’t completely ignore the issue either.

   I’m certain a lot of people attended because they want to support the WCC; just know that you can support them other ways including but not limited to donating funds62 and donating your time.63 It does not have to be events with questionable morals attached to it.

   The information regarding Thomasina’s letter, Joe’s harassment, and wishes of some members of the community (most notably victims) is widely available online. There was an active call for a boycott64 posted by Bobbi Gale Bensman.65

Are you concerned that one of the three films in Reel Rock 19 features an athlete involved in a major controversy related to sexual assault? If so, then sign this petition and comment. This petition went live on February 18, 2025…Reel Rock is one of the largest film festivals in rock climbing, with approximately 500 screenings worldwide. This year, the lineup includes a film featuring Thomasina Pidgeon, who was an original public supporter of Charles Barrett. Barrett was convicted of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact in February 2024, and in June, he was sentenced to life in prison. Between his conviction and his sentencing, Pidgeon wrote a letter to the court to support him. In a June 4 press release, U.S. Attorney Talbert underscored just how dangerous he believed Barrett to be: “Barrett’s long history of sexual violence supports the imposition of a life sentence. He used his status as a prominent climber to assault women in the rock-climbing community, and when his victims began to tell, Barrett responded by lashing out publicly with threats and intimidation.” There are many ways to engage with the complexities of sexual violence and harassment in climbing, but uncritically platforming one of Barrett’s supporters is not one of them. By showcasing this film, Reel Rock sends the troubling message that: Sexual assault is not taken seriously within the climbing community. Those who publicly support individuals convicted of sexual assault can do so without accountability, and The experiences of survivors matter less than the climbing achievements of well-know athletes. Reel Rock is not solely responsible for the systemic factors that enable someone such as Barrett. We believe in fostering a safer and more inclusive climbing community, whether at the crag or at a major film festival. With these factors in mind, we trust that Reel Rock does not intend to convey these harmful messages. However, when Reel Rock gives such a large platform to Pidgeon, without mentioning the impact of her support of Barrett on survivors of his crimes, those are the messages that are ultimately conveyed.
Responding to these issues, a group of climbers spoke with Reel Rock four times during January and February of 2025. After Reel Rock refused to pull the film, the group pushed Reel Rock to take actions to: Repair the harm from retraumatizing survivors by featuring Pidgeon, Prevent such hurtful filmmaking decisions in the future, and Help eliminate the cultural norms that tolerate rape, sexual violence, and sexual harassment. After the first scheduled meeting (January 15), Reel Rock made a public announcement (we recommend reading it along with the many insightful comments from survivors and their supporters). Pidgeon also published an apology on Instagram on January 15 (eight months after Barrett’s sentencing and six days after a group member’s public posts raised concerns about Reel Rock featuring a film about Pidgeon), but with comments closed (as of publishing), it has been impossible for survivors and others to respond to Pidgeon’s statement. In their announcement, Reel Rock representatives indicated they knew “discussions around one of our films” were causing survivors “trauma and anger.” Nonetheless, Reel Rock defended their decision to showcase the film, declaring on their blog: “This project is aligned with our longstanding commitment to telling complex human stories.” Eventually, Reel Rock agreed to adopt a #SafeOutside policy and code of conduct to make donations to RAINN.org and a fund for Restorative Justice work. However, we do not feel these steps have gone far enough. With this petition we are asking Reel Rock to: 1. Take the above actions Reel Rock has agreed to. 2. Honor widespread demands to pull the film from Reel Rock 19. If Reel Rock does not pull the film, then include a statement-such as the sample one below-at the start of the film, to share their plans to mitigate the harm they caused. This is a minimum first step toward accountability and healing. Apologies are important but seldom effective by themselves to repair harm. As a start, however, Reel Rock hereby apologizes fro retraumatizing survivors with our decisions.
Reel Rock recognizes that survivors of rape, sexual violence, and sexual harassment were hurt that Reel Rock 19 would feature Thomasina Pidgeon, who had written a letter to the court on behalf of Charles Barrett, a man convicted of aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. Reel Rock realizes that we cannot repair all of the harm we have done to survivors, but we can move in the right direction to help the climbing community stop tolerating rape, sexual violence, and sexual harassment, and support survivors, by Adopting a Code of Conduct using the #SafeOutside Toolkit as a resource. Donating to RAINN.or and a Restorative Justice fund, and Improving our vetting process for athletes to be featured. 3. At the end of this statement, consider adding Pidgeon’s apology or a new apology from her that would take into account survivor’s ongoing concerns. With this petition we are asking the public to consider the following actions: 1. Sign this petition and share your thoughts 2. Skip the films and tell the venue why 3. Share this petition with others such as friends, sponsors, and venues. Reel Rock is a global climbing media powerhouse and has a serious moral obligation to modify its practices and take actions to help move the climbing community and industry in the right direction of eliminating cultural norms that tolerate rape, sexual violence, and sexual harassment. A part of this responsibility is to support survivors of sexual assault. May this petition help Reel Rock meet its obligations. We acknowledge Pidgeon’s January 15, 2025 apology and hope she continues to demonstrate its sincerity through concrete action.

As far as I can tell, the demands were not met by Reel Rock or hosts. However, during the Reel Rock WCC showing, a statement was made by board members talking about the controversy and commitment to donating money to a victim supporting organization.

   Is there a perfect solution to this complex situation? No. But I do think that we have to take the history and policy history of how women have been treated in the United States and beyond with gravity. These rediculous views come out as sexual assault, harassment, abuse, and bullying. Our liberation has been hard fought but the attitude of women not truly belonging to ourselves has affected the hearts and minds of people who feel entitled to attempt exercising delusional power. No more: we will speak out and demand accountability. So mind yourself, act appropriately, shape policy to keep people safe, and believe survivors.

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Works Cited

51. Harris, David. “‘Random girls saying whatever they wanted’: Convicted rock climber rapist sentenced to life in prison shows no remorse, says victims are ‘setting back’ #MeToo movement.”https://lawandcrime.com/crime/random-girls-saying-whatever-they-wanted-convicted-rock-climber-rapist-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-shows-no-remorse-says-victims-are-setting-back-metoo-movement/ 03/27/2025

52. McGivney, Annette. “How Did This Climber Get Away with So Much for So Long?”https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/climbing/climber-charles-barrett-assault-trial/ 03/27/2025

53. Callaghan, Anna and Jenny Vrentas, Jenny. “For Female Climbers, Dangers Go Beyond Avalanches and Storms.”https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/31/sports/mountaineering-sexual-harassment-abuse-nims-purja.html 03/27/2025

54. Callaghan, Anna and Jenny Vrentas, Jenny. “For Female Climbers, Dangers Go Beyond Avalanches and Storms.”https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/31/sports/mountaineering-sexual-harassment-abuse-nims-purja.html 03/27/2025

55. https://www.instagram.com/bangaloreclimbinginitiatives/?hl=en

56. https://www.climblikeawoman.com/

57. The Reel Rock Team. “1.24.2025 A Message from our Team.” https://reelrocktour.com/blogs/news/an-important-conversation 03/27/2025

58. The Reel Rock Team. “1.24.2025 A Message from our Team.” https://reelrocktour.com/blogs/news/an-important-conversation 03/27/2025

59. Forté, Stephanie. “Reel Rock’s Response Misses the Point—And Here’s Why.” https://stephanieforte.com/reel-rocks-response-misses-the-point-and-heres-why/ 04/08/2025

60. Forté, Stephanie. “Reel Rock’s Response Misses the Point—And Here’s Why.” https://stephanieforte.com/reel-rocks-response-misses-the-point-and-heres-why/ 04/08/2025

61. Sparrow, NotSayin. “Charlie Barrett, Character Letter writers and the drama surrounding RR- a survivor’s perspective…https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/200525853/charlie-barrett-character-letter-writers-and-the-drama-surrounding-rr-a-survivor 04/08/2025

62. https://secure.givelively.org/donate/washington-climbers-coalition

63. https://washingtonclimbers.org/index.php/stewardship-events/

64. “Real Changes by Reel Rock.” https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lj2yzyl45UrsaxRI645oK–1snMTlJFd/view?fbclid=PAY2xjawJjgyNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp7YRm5luBMiecjxJu_EZ9WFntsitX_onl61_P3MgL1w2Gk5BqJytVtk1QvkQ_aem_7DCssS4e60Sb-SaE_J6lOQ 04/01/2025

65. https://www.instagram.com/bobbibensman/?hl=en

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