What is SkiMo, the new Winter Olympic Sport in Milano-Cortina 2026?

With the Easter Bank Holiday approaching and more people than ever heading to the hills, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) is echoing a vitally important message from Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW): be prepared, be informed, and don’t rely on your phone alone.

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) welcomes the news from the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Sport Climbing will feature three standalone medal events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Over 60 climbers from 20 countries took to the Scottish hills from 2-7 March for the first International Winter Meet since 2020. Organised by Mountaineering Scotland in partnership with the BMC, The Scottish Mountaineering Club and The Alpine Club, the event paired visiting climbers with hosts to share knowledge, exchange skills and form international friendships in the beating heart of Scottish winter climbing.

Ahead of the final two World Cups of the ISMF 2024/2025 Ski Mountaineering series, we take a look back at the highlights for the GB SkiMo Squad in this Winter Olympic qualifying season so far. 

The GB SkiMo team put on a determined display at the fourth ISMF World Cup of the 2024/25 season, held in Boí Taüll, Spain, on 1 - 2 February 2025. Known for its high-altitude terrain and consistent snow conditions, Boí Taüll provided a dramatic backdrop for intense competition against the world’s elite. With gutsy performances across individual and relay events, the British athletes demonstrated steady progress as they continue their climb toward the sport’s Olympic debut in 2026.

The third stage of the ISMF World Cup took place at the end of January in Arinsal, Andorra, where the GB Skimo team faced the demanding terrains of Comapedrosa Natural Park. Organisers adapted to limited snowfall by designing courses exclusively on the alpine slopes, incorporating multiple loops to test the teams’ endurance and technical abilities.

How do you balance budget with a climate conscience when booking a winter trip? Making changes to the way we travel is one of the most effective ways of reducing emissions and giving the snow and ice a fighting chance.

On the 9th October 2024, 23 year-old British Mountaineer Adriana Brownlee became the youngest woman to summit all of the world's 8,000m peaks, having given up her university degree to pursue her passion for altitude. Claire Maxted, editor of BMC member magazine Summit, caught up with Adriana to find out how it feels to make mountaineering history...

With the theme of this year's International Mountain Day, Wed 11 Dec, being “Mountain solutions for a sustainable future – innovation, adaptation and youth”, we share our 11 top tips for upping your winter game from the experts, speaking at three universities as part of the BMC Winter Lecture Series this year.

Five of Chamonix's leading ski guides tell us their favourite beginner ski tours in and around Chamonix.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been a historic occasion for British climbing, marking a significant milestone in the sport's journey.

Bursting onto the scene in 2024, 20-year-old Erin McNeice has cemented herself as one of the world’s best climbers. Qualifying for the finals in seventh, McNeice proved she was a force to be reckoned with.

In a thrilling conclusion to the Men's Sport Climbing finals at Paris 2024, Great Britain's Toby Roberts secured a sensational gold medal while Hamish McArthur takes an emotional fifth.

Erin McNeice qualifies for Olympic final whilst Thompson-Smith finishes with a top-ten Lead performance.

Following today’s Lead Semifinal, Great Britain are the only nation to qualify two athletes for Men’s Boulder & Lead Final.

Erin McNeice and Molly Thompson-Smith put their first points on the scoreboard at Paris 2024, as the Women's Boulder Semifinal took place at Le Bourget yesterday, part of the Boulder & Lead event.

The Men's Boulder Semifinal at Paris 2024 got underway today on the walls of Le Bourget, with four fresh boulders ready to be tackled. Today marked a moment for the history books as Great Britain’s Hamish McArthur and Toby Roberts made their Olympic debuts. They are the first men to represent Great Britain in Sport Climbing at the Olympic Games.

Get ready for wall-to-wall action as the sport climbing competition at Paris 2024 kicks-off today with four Olympic debutants taking to the wall for Great Britain.

In a matter of days, 40 climbers from all around the globe will battle it out across three climbing disciplines of speed, lead and bouldering on the world's most watched wall of the year. Four British climbers will be among them representing Great Britain in Sport Climbing at Paris 2024 Olympic games. But how and where can you watch all the action? We have all the answers.

With four GB Climbing athletes heading across the channel for the Olympic boulder and lead competitions starting Monday 5 August, not only are they bringing their A-game in terms of performance but, as part of the BMC, the whole team is supporting Paris 2024 in its bid to be the ‘greenest ever Games’. 

The 2024 Olympic Games are underway, and the nation's eyes are firmly on Paris and all the Team GB athletes. As Sport Climbing makes its second-ever appearance at the Olympic Games, we get to witness a new chapter in history as four climbers step out onto the mats to represent Great Britain.

Scrambling in winter is a step up in every way: here are some tips from the pros for getting it right.

Here’s your heads-up to some of the most common winter walking mistakes and how to steer clear of them.

Now is the prime time to plan your winter adventures. To help you explore the British mountains over winter, we have chosen six stunning winter ridges to guarantee a grand day out.

A brief history of competition climbing

Robbie Blackhall-Miles, the Vascular Plants Officer for Wales at the wild plant and fungi conservation charity Plant Life, sat down with Tom Carrick, the BMC’s Welsh Access Officer, to discuss the significance of the BMC Winter Monitoring System.

We asked five experienced climbers for their top pick of Europe's alpine routes to get you inspired...

How to choose an ice axe for your next winter adventure

Everything you need to know about the various types of rope for climbing and mountaineering can be found in our handy, free guide.

In this guide, we share tips to help you navigate your way back to safety in the event of a whiteout.

Have you ticked this list? Five British IFMGA mountain guides pick their absolute favourite long rock routes in the Italian Dolomites, the Aravis range close to Chamonix, and from the ‘Grats’ near Andermatt to the Monts Rouges du Triolet; there’s something for everyone to go at from 5c to 7a. If in any doubt of your skills and experience, you know the score: hire a guide.

Here's how winter climbing grades work.

Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor Rob Johnson explains the essentials of choosing and using your first ice axe and crampons for winter mountaineering.

Test your knowledge and see if you can name these 10 famous British female mountaineers and climbers, from pantaloon-clad pioneers of the alps, to contemporary crushers.

This route of great tradition and history has foiled many a keen adventurer, so what does it take to unlock the aura of mystery surrounding Tower Ridge? Fortunately we have film maker and mountaineer Steve Ashworth on hand to explain it all for us.

When should you use crampons? Our guide explains the 'when', 'where' and 'how' of deploying your spiky winter gear.

Here are some facts, figures and background information on the world's highest mountain.

Are you brave enough for our top five hardest black ski runs in Europe? Ski on - if you dare.

Here's what not to do when you first visit Chamonix:

What 30 things should you swot up on before dropping in? Steep skiers including Chamonix residents Ross Hewitt, Tom Grant and Dee O'Neill, plus their Scotland-based cousins Pete Mackenzie, Blair Aitken and Hamish Frost, offer their top tips.

Forget cramponning down a death defying ridge before leaping over gaping crevasses – the Vallee Blanche is not what you might imagine. That said, it’s no pushover either; Charlie Boscoe uncovers the myths.

Do you carry a first aid kit in the mountains? We take a look at the essentials for any mountaineering first aid kit and how to use them.

From the serious to the seriously funny, Greg Boswell, Uisdean Hawthorn, Ross Hewitt and other experienced Scottish winter climbers offer their top advice - on what NOT to do.

Mountains have always meant more to humanity than just lumps of rock. We take a look at five summits with mysterious, magical or mythological significance.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable, high altitude trekking holiday this year we’ve got some great ideas for you here in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and India from climbing mountaineering expedition operator Jagged Globe. 

Hill walking in winter covers a spectrum of difficulty and technicality, take a look at winter walking options, and what you’ll need to consider when choosing a route.

Points to consider if you're wondering ‘Do I need crampons for walking in winter?’

If you’ve enjoyed walking in summer and want to continue through the winter, here are ten things you need to know before you go.

Four sport climbers will make their Olympic Games debuts this summer for Team GB as the British Olympic Association (BOA) name the team that will compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.