If you enjoy trad climbing and mountaineering, no doubt you'll have a selection of camming devices as part of your rack. But do you ever check them for damage or wear and tear? If not, then maybe you should, as we find out in this report from the experts at the BMC Technical Committee. Read more »
Have you had a piece of mountaineering or climbing equipment fail on you unexpectedly? You can send the item to the manufacturer, or alternatively you can ask the BMC to investigate. Read more »
Following the catastrophic failure of a bolt on a North Wales limestone route, the BMC is advising climbers to treat all ‘Thunderbolt’ anchors with caution. Read on for more details and advice on how to detect these bolts. Read more »
Following a recent accident on a via ferrata near to Grenoble, France, Petzl have announced a possible fault affecting ALL Petzl Scorpio lanyards. Lyon Equipment, the UK distributor have issued a press release, which details what steps to take if you own one of these lanyards. Read more »
Climbing ropes fail very rarely, but when they do it's usually down to either breaking over a sharp edge, or damage from acidic chemicals. Read more »
The UIAA Safety Commission has recently issued a warning to climbers about the safety of fixed anchors (bolts) in tropical, marine locations. Concern was raised after an accident in the Dominican Republic, in which an anchor failed under bodyweight loading. Climbers are warned to be vigilant and check for signs of corrosion when climbing in such locations. Read more »
Climbing and mountaineering are all about accepting the risks and taking personal responsibility. Make your choices from a position of informed understanding, by gaining personal experience but also by learning from others. Read more »
A recent BMC technical report investigated an incident, where a Rock Empire camming device failed. The climber fell 16m and was lucky not to be badly injured. Take the time to check the wire stems of your flexible cams every now and again...it may save your life. Read more »
All owners/users of Camp Tricams are advised to inspect them for loose pins, as a precautionary measure. Read more »
On 15th January 2007, at the Westway Climbing Centre, a climber fell to the ground whilst using a Redpoint autobelay device. Read more »
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