Journal


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


Thursday, March 24, 2011

Ultra-Distance Z-Pole receives 2011 Editors' Choice Award from Backpacker Magazine

Innovative. Stunning. Revolutionary. Beautiful. We can now use another adjective when describing our Ultra-Distance Z-Poles : AWARD-WINNING ! Our Ultra-Distance Z-Poles, carbon-fiber, three-section, foldable trekking poles, won the coveted 2011 Editors' Choice Award from Backpacker Magazine. Obviously we are thrilled with the award and proud to see such praise being laid upon our ground-breaking Z-Poles' technology and design. Thank you, Backpacker ! Currently featured in the April 2011 issue (on sale now), Backpacker 's enthusiastic review of the Ultra-Distance can be viewed below or downloaded in PDF format by clicking here . For info on the Ultra-Distance and to buy a pair right now, click here .  
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  • Thursday, May 23, 2013

    Part I: BD athlete David Göttler reports from expedition to the West Pillar of Makalu

    Black Diamond athlete David Göttler is currently in the Himalaya acclimatizing and preparing for an alpine-style attempt on the massive West Pillar of Makalu. Below is the first in a series of expedition dispatches David is sending us directly from the mountain with photos from photographer Daniel Bartsch . Stay tuned to the Black Diamond... [READ MORE]

  • Wednesday, April 17, 2013

    PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Ultra Mountain Carbon Z-Pole

    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]

  • Monday, March 4, 2013

    Black Diamond via ferrata sets are NOT affected by safety recalls

        Via ferrata sets from several companies have recently been involved in a series of recalls due to safety concerns. Both of Black Diamond Equipment’s via ferrata sets  Easy Rider and  Iron Cruiser : • are not included in any recalls.... [READ MORE]

  • Wednesday, December 12, 2012

    From The Corner Office #1: BD founder/CEO Peter Metcalf and his office/museum

    Black Diamond Equipment’s founder and CEO, Peter Metcalf , has a corner office—the only proper corner office at BD. He moved into it when BD relocated from California in 1991, and over the past 20-plus years his corner office has become filled with an eclectic collection of historical documents, photos, awards, trivia and miscellany.... [READ MORE]

  • Monday, December 3, 2012

    From the Vault #2: The iconic 1972 Chouinard catalog, 40 years later...

    Black Diamond employee Randy Hankins began climbing in 1970—just before the dawn of clean climbing—and has been working here at BD since 1994. Below is the second in the From The Vault series of Journal posts that Randy has developed about various articles, photos, anecdotes and gear from the BD archives. This From The Vault post is about... [READ MORE]