Want to start climbing outside this spring, or need to brush up your skills after a long winter on plastic? Get a head start with BMC TV.
Climbing on real rock outside is very different from clipping up routes at your local wall. The outdoor environment presents unique challenges that you need the skills to deal with.
1: Choosing a route
When climbing indoors the choice between the flourescent pink and the lime green is often easy to make. Choosing a route outside is a more involved matter, as you need to take into account not ony difficulty but also the style of climbing and the quantity and quality of protection available. This is where being able to use a guidebook comes in.
How to use a guidebook on BMC TV:
2: Racking up
Before you set off to lead a route you need to organise the gear on your harness. When hanging on at the crux you'll be glad that you know exactly where that crucial cam is hanging.
How to rack up for a trad route on BMC TV:
3: Placing Gear
Placing good gear is what keeps you safe. When climbing outside for the first time in a while its important to get your gear-placing eye back in before trying routes where it might be tested.
How to place a nut on BMC TV:
How to place a hex on BMC TV:
How to place a cam on BMC TV:
4: Leading a trad route
Once you have selected a route and racked up you are ready to go. Remember to start off with some easier climbs where you can concentrate on placing good gear.
How to lead a trad route on BMC TV:
5: Belaying at the top
After succesfully leading a route you need to attach yourself to anchors at the top of the crag. You also need to make sure that you know how to belay to bring up your partner safely.
How to attach to anchors at the top of a climb on BMC TV:
How to belay at the top of a climb on BMC TV:
6: Retrieving trad gear
Climbing gear isn't cheap, and leaving stuck gear in routes is unsightly and can prevent other cimbers from using key placements. Learn how to retrieve your gear.
How to retrieve trad gear on BMC TV:
7: Abseiling
Sometimes its neccesary to abseil to either approach or descend from a route, or to retrieve gear that your second has been unable to free. Knowing how to do this safely could save your life.
How to abseil on BMC TV:
You can find instructional videos covering a wide range of skills at BMC TV.
Courses for indoor climbers making their first moves onto rock
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Who are they for?
These courses are ideal for novice climbing club members, students, parents and individuals who may have had the odd taster of climbing outdoors and wish to gain key safety skills at an excellent price. They may also be a good precursor for people contemplating the Single Pitch Award training. You should already know how to put on a harness and belay. These courses are for people aged 18 or older.
What do the courses cover?
A variety of topics will be covered during the day as well as offering a fun taster to outdoor climbing. Topics may include:
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Types of trad climbing equipment
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Placing good protection
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Building good belays
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Using guidebooks
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Seconding/top roping
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