Journal

The Journal is dedicated to the sports and people that make Black Diamond what it is.

  • Thursday, February 21, 2013

    QC LAB: Via Ferrata

    Before any piece of Black Diamond gear makes it on to the shelves, it spends months, sometimes years getting put through the wringer by our Director of Quality, Kolin Powick, and his team of Quality Assurance engineers. Through extensive and meticulous testing, both in the lab and in the field, KP and his team help ensure that you can count... [READ MORE]

  • Tuesday, February 5, 2013

    BD athlete Mike Libecki reports on his solo expedition to Russia's Frans Josef Land

    Black Diamond athlet Mike Libecki has traveled the world in search of first ascents in far-flung, rarely visited corners of the earth. More often than not he climbs solo—a bold choice that adds a huge element of commitment and adventure. This past summer Libecki, with the support of the Mugs Stump Award (of which BD is a founding member)... [READ MORE]

  • Friday, February 8, 2013

    BD athlete Johnny Collinson reports on his Canadian ski travels and the Freeride World Tour stop in Revelstoke

    Black Diamond athlete Johnny Collinson is a busy guy this time of the year: comps, filming, skiing, skiing, and skiing… basically living the sweet life of a professional skier. He’s spent a large chunk of the winter up in Canada and sent us the following report from the Freeride World Tour stop in Revelstoke. The trip to Canada... [READ MORE]

  • Thursday, February 7, 2013

    GROUPS WE SUPPORT: Utah Clean Energy

    We take a large amount of pride in our history of outspoken advocacy for conservation and access causes (locally, regionally and globally), as well as in our efforts to support conservation, education and recreation groups that are on the front-lines of protecting and preserving the wild lands we love and depend on, and this ongoing series will... [READ MORE]

  • Tuesday, February 12, 2013

    BD athlete Kate Rutherford reports on climbing Patagonia's Fitz Roy

    Black Diamond athlete Kate Rutherford has once again headed down to South America for another season of chasing weather windows and bagging summits in Patagonia. Below is her report she sent after summiting Fitz Roy. Making plans and changing them at the last minute is never a good idea, but this year it worked out brilliantly... [READ MORE]

  • Friday, February 15, 2013

    VIDEO #1: BD athlete Nalle Hukkataival bouldering in Peñoles, Mexico

    Black Diamond athlete Nalle Hukkataival decided to leave behind the bureaucracy of bouldering in Hueco Tanks State Historical Park in Texas and crossed the border into Mexico. Destination: Peñoles, a bouldering area seven hours south of the U.S. border with rock striking similar to Hueco's but without the onerous rules and regulations.... [READ MORE]

  • Friday, February 22, 2013

    BD Crash Pads, Episode 2: Zack Giffin's Tiny House

    Here at Black Diamond, our athletes' all-consuming drive to spend as much time in the mountains, at the crags and on the trails as possible tends to make for some interesting living situations. Modded-out cargo vans, backwoods shacks, parents' basements and musty expedition tents-the idiosyncratic places they reside when they're not doing what... [READ MORE]

  • Monday, February 25, 2013

    VIDEO: BD athlete Will Cardamone and the Yurt Project—Episode #1

    Black Diamond athlete Will Cardamone lives in a yurt tucked back in the mountains of Colorado. It's an idyllic location and the perfect launch point for endless backcountry missions. Will has shot and edited together a series of video shorts that beautifully detail both his life in the mountains and some incredible skiing. Here is Episode... [READ MORE]