Welcome to your BMC January bulletin. This month's highlights include the celebration of Kasha Ogilive's achievement in securing a gold medal at the Youth Championships 2024. Additionally, a dedicated team of volunteers, led by Steve Charles, has successfully undertaken essential clearance work on Winter Hill.
Your Climbing Counts: Survey launched.
Your Climbing Counts is a project that aims to understand your motivations for climbing, how your climbing has developed over time and the people who have supported you – from your first moves to the climber you want to become.
Click here to complete the survey.
GB Climbings Ogilvie becomes Ice Climbing Youth World Champion
It was gold for GB Climbing's Kasha Ogilvie in the Youth A Lead event at the UIAA Ice Climbing World Youth Championships 2024 in Champagny-en-Vanoise.
Fielding a team of seven athletes, the team demonstrated a dominant performance and left the Championship event with three medals.
Read about the team's performance here .
Can you spot a snow hare on World Snow Day?
Climate change is changing Britain’s elemental mountain winters. Both wildlife and winter sports are under threat. Precious creatures such as mountain hares face an uncertain future. For wildlife-watchers, ice-climbers, skiers and winter mountaineers, too, unpredictable winter conditions are a sad reminder of our warming world.
Read more here.
VIDEO
Tree work at Craig Bwlch y Moch
Tree work has been conducted at the Craig Bwlch y Moch in North Wales to eliminate infected Ash Trees. As a result, the crag's appearance will be noticeably different until new trees begin to regrow.
Exercise caution when abseiling or utilising Ash trees as anchors in any location, given the prevalence of Ash Dieback.
Find out more via the RAD APP .
Get Stuck In: Rhododendron clearance
BMC volunteer Steve Charles recently led a team of BMC and Bolton Conservation Volunteers in clearing rhododendrons on Winter Hill.
Rhododendron clearance is a crucial aspect of The Climate Project and the Get Stuck In program. Rhododendrons are invasive species that outcompete native plants, preventing anything else from growing underneath and thereby reducing biodiversity. During heavy rain, the exposed peat underneath is washed away, contributing to erosion, diminishing the quality of drinking water, and increasing flood risk.
By signing up to a volunteer session you have the opportunity to get out on the hillside, learn new skills and meet like-minded people whilst making a real difference to our wild places. Working with the National Trust in the Lake District, Snowdonia and the Peak District, there are volunteering opportunities every month. Find out how to get involved here.
Tom Greenall to step down as Head Coach (Olympic), GB Climbing
With continuity paramount, we will ensure this does not adversely affect the preparation of climbers for the 2024 Season and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Athlete planning is already in place with the excellent personal coaches and the GB coaching team all working together to deliver these plans as we move through the up-and-coming season.
These measures are aimed at ensuring minimal disruption and continued support for the athletes.
Read more here .
BMC and Mountain Training launch OutdoorHer to support women and girls outdoors
The BMC and Mountain Training have collaboratively launched OutdoorHer, a dedicated hub aimed at providing advice and guidance for everyone who is looking to learn more about managing periods and menopause in the outdoors, from participants to leaders and allies.
Explore the OutdoorHer Hub .
Member benefit of the month: Free AllTrails 6 month offer for BMC Members
We've been working with our friends at AllTrails to add this exclusive benefit to your BMC membership. We are gifting members six months subscription worth £17.94.
Click here to read more and click here to explore more BMC member benefits.
The Path to Paris: Olympic Qualifying Series (OQS)
Sport climbing is gearing up for its highly anticipated second appearance at the upcoming Paris 2024 Games.
Click here to find out what it will tak to qualify for Paris 2024.
Winter Monitoring Station
As the winter climbing season continues, we would like to remind members of our Winter Monitoring Station. The BMC's Winter Monitoring Station serves as a valuable resource for climbers, aiding them in making informed decisions while also contributing to the protection of Arctic Alpine plants dependent on the cliff face for their habitat.
The BMC's Winter Monitoring Station is set up in conjunction with Plant Life, Plas Y Brenin and Evo Applied Technologies.
Access and Conservation roundup
Read more from Access and Conservation Office (England), Jon Fullwood here .
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