Association of Mountaineering Instructors

ClimbOut 2024

Held over the late May bank holiday, ClimbOut 2024 expanded on the success of its inaugural event, welcoming a total of 340 attendees for a weekend of climbing, connection, and community. ClimbOut celebrates the intersection of queer joy and outdoor climbing. With a focus on Diversity, Empowerment, and Accessibility, we created a vibrant and safe space for LGBTQ+ climbers of all backgrounds to thrive.

Reflections on Retired Relicts

Here I am in the archive of the Mountain Heritage Trust (MHT) examining boxes of material recently acquired from Ken Wilson’s family. It’s a photoshoot for an article in the local paper, it feels slightly surreal. How did I get here and what other gems are in the room that might be useful to the mountaineering and climbing community, particularly mountaineering instructors?

Women's Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor Development Course

The Association of Mountaineering Instructors recently funded a Women's MCI development course. The funding allowed for 12 Women to attend 3 days of training delivered by AMI Members, Kath James and Libby Peter. During the three days, they focused on helping to develop the personal skills that will build safe practices, and also confidence on the crag and in the mountains.

Wanderers of Colour Climbing Festival round up

On the first weekend of July 2024, the Peak District was filled with over 80 climbers from the global majority coming together in a joyful and affirming celebration of their presence in climbing. Wanderers of Colour, a grassroots community dedicated to improving access to the outdoors, made history by organising Europe’s first climbing festival for Black people and people of colour in 2024.

SMART Student Weekend 2024

This year was the 24th annual November Smart Weekend, the student safety seminar weekend at Glenmore Lodge. A yearly highlight of the student mountaineering clubs calendar, it brings together 65 student representatives from the 15 largest Scottish university clubs for a weekend focused on club safety and training.

Volunteering at the BMC Student Safety Seminar

Every year, a dedicated group of professionals and volunteers comes together to share their expertise and passion for mountaineering with the next generation of adventurers. The annual British Mountaineering Council (BMC) Student Safety Seminar is a highlight in the calendar for many student mountaineers and climbers, offering invaluable insights and skills necessary for safe and successful journeys in the mountains.

Supporting Equality and Diversity in the Outdoors

This summer four women from Black Girls Hike joined the Intro to Mountaineering weekend facilitated by the Women's Alpine Adventure Club, staying at the Idwal Youth Hostel. The course included two days of instruction, provided by female instructors and AMI Members from Leading Edge, who regularly work with WAAC. They were also joined and supported by a black woman who is interested in outdoor qualifications for an opportunity to shadow qualified professionals.

Auto Belays - How not to muck it up.

Auto belays are pretty common in climbing walls and are also frequently seen on mobile climbing towers. This isn’t a technical article but aimed at those who have children or peers who want to use autobelays, or indeed find themselves in a position to instruct their use as part of their work.

Sea Cliff Climbing Skills

‍Most people do not start out sea cliff climbing. For the majority, their introduction to climbing comes in the form of visits to a local indoor wall, before venturing out onto single-pitch crags such as Stanage, where you can park your car, saunter the 5 minutes up to the crag (with full view of it at all time), peruse the guide book, do a route and casually wander round back to the bottom. Your weather worries are purely if the rock is dry or not.

Telling: The Greatest Climbing Coaching Sin Of All

Telling is probably the most serious mistake a climbing coach can make. It is, sadly, also one of the most common.

Protecting the first steps into leading: Ghost Roping

Like many of us, I am frequently called on to teach trad leading in a single-pitch environment such as the Peak District. Good movement skills and efficient gear placement are the foundations of the safety chain when teaching leading.

Are you ready for a Winter Mountain day?

The first snows of winter are already upon us, below is what goes through a Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor's mind as they look to plan a winter trip.

Building a trad climbing rack

Everyone has their own personal preferences when it comes to kit, what items, what brand, how many, what colour... Therefore, I must say, before you go out and spend hundreds on a rack, climb with as many other peoples' gear as possible first so you can decide what you prefer using!

Guidance On Engaging Professional Mountaineering Services

Whatever your target, a mountain leader, mountain instructor or mountain guide can help you to achieve your goals, support the development of your skills, expand your experience, and provide valuable feedback about your training needs.

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