Heading for the hills this winter? Whether you're a seasoned winter warrior or just taking your first icy steps, we've got a mountain of essential skills & equipment advice right here on the BMC website.
Winter can be a magical time, when Britain’s mountains are temporarily transformed into a sparkling white playground presenting exciting challenges for walkers and climbers alike. But the winter environment requires specific equipment and skills over and above those used in summer hill walking and rock climbing, and the consequences of making errors can be much more serious.
The Basics
BMC New Hill Walkers booklet
Subsidised BMC Winter Skills courses
How to start mountaineering
Planning for winter conditions
Winter climbing grades
Ten mistakes winter walkers make – and how to avoid them
Ten Commandments of winter walking
The experience of Scottish winter hill walking
Avalanche forecaster's tips on staying safe in Scottish winter
Hill skills: winter mountaineering
How to keep scrambling over winter
Climb skills: winter climbing
Winter climbing: cold goals
Six stunning winter ridges
Emergency: who to call for help when in the mountains or on the crags
Clothing & Equipment
What gear do you need to start mountaineering?
Mountain clothing for climbing and walking
Packing your rucksack for the winter warriors
Layering systems for winter clothing
Choosing a winter mountaineering boot
Crampons for mortals
Crampons: choosing the right ones and looking after them
Using micro crampons and mini spikes for winter hill walking
A guide to ice tools for walkers and climbers
Harnesses for climbers and mountaineers
Climbing helmets
Climb skills: Your winter rack
Have you checked your camming devices recently?
Tech skills: how to choose a sleeping bag
Caring for your equipment
Apps for use in winter
Skills & Hazards
Winter skills videos – Series 1
Winter skills videos – Series 2
Winter skills videos – Series 3
How to keep hill walking over winter
Ten mistakes winter walkers make – and how to avoid them
Get set for an early sunset
What are the Jonathan Conville skills courses?
BMC club member winter skills courses
Hill skills: map basics
Mountain Info Services Project launched to help reduce accidents
Smartphone apps: handle with care
Hill skills: how to survive a whiteout
Hill skills: avalanche awareness
Avalanche forecaster's tips on staying safe in Scottish winter
Be avalanche aware: new free advice download
Mountain Accidents in the UK and abroad
Winter Mountain Leader Award: everything you need to know
Winter safety: a scary point of view
How to climb Scottish Grade 5 this winter
Climb skills: how to become a mixed master
Cool running: mountain running on the white stuff
How to go snowshoeing
Off-piste skills: the essentials
Hill skills: how to take your dog walking
Looking like a mountain pro
Access & Environment
BMC Green Guide to the Uplands
How to judge winter climbing conditions
Winter climbing: conditions apply
Winter climbing: conservation impact
North Wales White Guide
Lake District White Guide
BMC online shop: Books & DVDs
BMC Crampons & Ice Axes booklet
BMC Safety on Mountains booklet
BMC Winter Essentials DVD
Navigation in the Mountains
Winter Skills: Essential Walking and Climbing Techniques
BMC Off Piste Essentials DVD
BMC TV
BMC TV, our online video platform, went live in November 2013. It’s a great mix of excitement, inspiration and technical advice, showing over 500 films with more being added every day. As you’d expect, it’s fully optimised for phones and tablets and perfect for sharing on Facebook.
To get you started, take a look at these winter-themed films:
WATCH: Choosing winter boots and crampons on BMC TV
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WATCH: How to choose an ice axe, on BMC TV
Current conditions & weather forecasts
Mountain Weather Information Service
Met Office mountain area forecasts
Cwm Idwal Climbing Information Project – live temperature and conditions information
Lake District Weatherline – daily readings from Helvellyn summit
sportscotland Avalanche Information Service – daily forecasts of avalanche, snow, and mountain conditions
UKClimbing: winter climbing forum
Are you serious?
Get Alpine & Ski cover for just £!60 for the year.
There's snow joke here: BMC Travel Insurance is serious about making sure our members are covered for any occurrence, which is why we provide £10 million emergency medical cover. And this winter, with 15% off all annual Alpine & Ski policies in Europe, you can get yearly cover for just £160*.
Years of experience
We've been insuring adventurers like you for over 30 years. That's why all of our policies come with:
24-hour emergency assistance helpline
£10 million emergency medical cover
£100,000 search, rescue and recovery cover
£10,000 personal accident cover
£5,000 cancellation cover
£2,500 baggage cover
WATCH: BMC Insurance: built for the mountains
VIDEO
* Policy details: Offer valid for policies purchased until 1 March 2019. £160.70 for annual alpine multi-trip (45 day limit for each single trip) European insurance up to age 44, and £168.74 for ages 45 to 69.
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