Just an update on climbing maybe becoming an Olympic sport - Dame Kelly Holmes, double gold medalist has given her support to the bid. Saying “The proposed triathlon format for Sport Climbing’s bid for the 2020 Olympic Games sounds like a great concept. I know climbing is very popular with young people and the format fits perfectly with the Olympic motto of Faster, Higher and Stronger. 

“I know the case for inclusion in the Olympic Games is becoming tougher all the time, it could go down to the wire when the final choice is made by the IOC in September. Hopefully the general public will see that Sport Climbing has a big future ahead.”




We will continue to keep you up to date with climbing's bid on becoming an Olympic sport as it (hopefully) gains yet more support.

 
Britain on foot logo
We have stepped forward to support a new national campaign designed to get more people active in the outdoors, leading to a happier, healthier nation.  Britain on Foot is launched this week and is being led by outdoor trade body the Outdoor Industries Association (OIA), backed by a powerful combination of consumer organisations, outdoor companies, influential individuals and public bodies, including Visit England and Change4Life.  The Government is also getting behind the campaign, and ministers from the Department of Health and Department of Culture Media & Sport (incorporating responsibility for tourism) have voiced their support.


 
Speed climbing, lead climbing and bouldering are all sports that are being considered for Olympic status in 2020. This announcement came on the 9th March by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) after a group of International Olympic Committee (IOC) representatives visited the 2012 world climbing championships in Paris where lead, speed and bouldering competitions took place. This format will be championed by the IFSC gives its presentation to the IOC Executive board in May, along with seven other sports bidding to be included in the 2020 Olympics. The shortlist will then be narrowed down to 3 sports and the IOC's final decision should be announced by September.

 
Our climate is getting more extreme and you have to look no further than the UK last year: the wettest drought on record aswell as various other climate extremes across the globe. So, when we received an email about an info-graphic that has recently been produced to highlight these problems we thought it fit that we share it. You can take a look below: some of the facts are very shocking (its quite big: so you'll have to click read more if you haven't already!).

 
Today: after the recent fatal avalanches in Scotland the mountaineering bodies have issued the following safety reminder. 'With Scotland’s hills and mountains currently at their most beautiful and most challenging, mountaineering bodies today (21 February) have issued a joint safety reminder, emphasising the need for preparation before heading out into the mountains.

Whether you’re out walking or attempting a technical climb, the presence of snow and ice adds an extra dimension to the risks and rewards of a day spent in our wildest environments.

The primary consideration of every expedition, whatever the season, should always be a safe return. But conditions in winter make particular demands: shorter days, low temperatures and conditions underfoot which can quickly alter.

 
Today Cumbria voted against the proposed £12bn project to dump nuclear waste in the area which threatened the Ennerdale valley. Thanks to those of you who signed the BMC petition: you've helped save the area for future generations.
 
The Ennerdale valley (in the Lake District) is famed as being a remote and beautiful place but it and two other locations are being considered as a place that nuclear waste could be dumped. Find out what you can do online, in a matter of minutes to preserve this amazing place for future generations...

 
Calderdale & Stoodley Pike
Calderdale & Stoodley Pike ©Georgina Collins
The South Pennines are situated in the heart of England and can offer great days on the hill but are relatively unknown in the hill-walking world. For this reason we asked Neil Collins of the South Pennines Campaign Network to tell us more about some of the hill-walking opportunities of the South Pennines and why he and many others think that the area should have National Park status. A special thanks to Georgina Collins for providing the great images in this article: for more pictures taken by her please visit her Flickr site at www.flickr.com/photos/georginah. Read on, I promise you will learn something...


 
Earlier in the year Visit Britain launched the 'Britain You're Invited' campaign. The campaign will be a huge benefit to small businesses around the country and will encourage people from around the globe to explore the countryside and mountains of the UK.