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.

As the climbing walls, crags and mountains start to open, we wanted to say thanks to every BMC member who supported us through the Coronavirus crisis.

From weekly Facebook Lives and GB Climbing home training videos, to our access team working to re-open the crags and fight for your mountain access, we couldn’t have made it without you.

If you liked what we did, then tell your friends about us: www.thebmc.co.uk/join

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