Journal

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

  • Monday, August 6, 2012

    BD athletes Kyle Dempster and Hayden Kennedy report on their first ascent of K7's east face

    Black Diamond athletes Kyle Dempster and Hayden Kennedy are on a three-month alpine mission to the mountains of Pakistan. First up was a return visit to K7's unclimbed east face, one that had thwarted the duo in 2011. The duo teamed up with Slovenian alpinist Urban Novak this year, and the trio managed the first ascent in mid-August. Below is... [READ MORE]

  • Thursday, August 2, 2012

    PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Oz carabiner

    Innovation is what drives everything here at Black Diamond. If we're not making gear better, stronger, lighter, faster, more durable and easier to use, then we're not doing our job. In this ongoing series of monthly posts, we'll be giving you an inside look at some of our most innovative products through one-on-one interviews with our team of... [READ MORE]

  • Tuesday, August 7, 2012

    BD athlete Barbara Zangerl makes first female ascent of 11-pitch End of Silence (8b+)

    Black Diamond athlete Barbara Zangerl pulled off another female first at the start of August with her free ascent of the 11-pitch End of Silence , a limestone beast stacked with hard, technical climbing up to 8b+ (5.14a). Below is the report Barbara forwarded us, along with photos taken by Hannes Mair. Congratulations to Babsi on a stunning... [READ MORE]

  • Wednesday, August 15, 2012

    BD athlete Adrian Baxter sport climbing in Kalymnos, Greece

    Black Diamond athlete Adrian Baxter spent this past Easter tugging on the world-class tufas of Kalymnos, Greece, and sent us this great video that highlights the area's stunning climbing.   BD athlete Adrian Baxter sport climbing in Kalymnos, Greece from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo . [READ MORE]

  • Monday, August 20, 2012

    BD grassroots athlete Nik Berry repeats The Prophet (VI 5.13+ R) on El Capitan

    This past spring BD athlete Nik Berry rolled into Yosemite and bagged an under-the-radar, third free ascent of The Prophet (VI 5.13+ R), one of the stoutest free lines on El Capitan (and following in the footsteps of fellow BD athlete Sonnie Trotter, who made the route's second free ascent in November 2011). Below is the report and photos Nik... [READ MORE]

  • Friday, August 31, 2012

    VIDEO PROFILE: BD athlete Sarah Seeger climbing in the Frankenjura, Germany

    Black Diamond athlete Sarah Seeger met up with videographer Bernardo Gimenez and took him on a tour of her life and climbs in the Frankenjura, one of Europe's most iconic sport climbing areas. The result is one of Bernardo's finer video profiles for us, one that does a magnificent job of capturing Sarah's spirit and the inspiration she... [READ MORE]

  • Wednesday, August 22, 2012

    EMPLOYEE FAVORITES: Jeff Maudlin, Moonlight Buttress, Zion National Park

    Here at Black Diamond, the inspiration to innovate is driven from within. When we're not at the office, our dedicated crew of employees is out cranking at the crags, putting in miles on the trails and questing around the mountains in search of untracked descents. In this ongoing series of posts on the Journal, we'll be highlighting some of our... [READ MORE]

  • Monday, August 27, 2012

    VIDEO: IFSC Lead World Cup in Briançon, France

    The IFSC Lead Worl Cup in Briançon, France was a massive affair this past July with a crowd of thousands cheering on the international collection of competitors. The Lead World Cup in Briançon is something special every year—not just because of the beautiful old city of Briançon and its extraordinary setting in the midst of Ecrins National... [READ MORE]

  • Friday, August 24, 2012

    BD athlete J.P. Ouelet makes first ascent of The Wandering Direct (IV 5.11 R) on South Howser Tower, Canada

    Black Diamond athlete and tech rep J.P. Ouelet bagged the first ascent of The Wandering Direct (IV 5.11 R) in Canada's iconic Bugaboos this past July and sent us the following report, photos and video. Nice job on the FA, PeeWee! BD athlete J.P. Ouelet makes first ascent of The Wandering Direct (IV 5.11 R) on South Howser... [READ MORE]