Ice Anchors: Black Diamond

In 1989, Chouinard Equipment was facing a liability lawsuit. Chouinard had to separate the liability of Chouinard Equipment from the deep pockets of Patagonia, which he had founded in 1973. Chouinard Equipment filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to protect the firm's assets. The lawsuit ultimately went nowhere. Peter Metcalf, Maria Cranor and former Chouinard Equipment employees purchased the company assets in 1989, formed Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., and moved the firm to Salt Lake City Utah.

Initially Black Diamond continued using the "C-inside-a-diamond" logo inherited from Chouinard Equipment. Over time, this logo evolved into the current "cut diamond" design. The exact year of this transition isn't precisely documented, discussions among climbers suggest that the new logo was introduced around the year 2000. Archived web pages show that the cut diamond was in use by the beginning of 2000, but the 2000 summer catalog still contains the older logo.

Ice Pitons

↑ Set 185, 585: Black Diamond Spectres

Made in USA.

↑ 185: Black Diamond Spectre

Made in USA [ca. 1995].
Weight: 172 g.
Overall Length: 134 mm.
Effective size: 30x24x4 mm.
19–mm. web webbing sewn through eye.
Alloy steel.
One side stamped with the Black Diamond cut–diamond logo and "Black Diamond.".

↑ 585: Black Diamond Spectre

Made in UDS [2025].
Weight: 154 g.
Overall Length: 139 mm.
Effective size: 95x24x4 mm.
Doubled 12–mm. web webbing sewn through eye.
Alloy steel.
One side stamped with the Black Diamond cut–diamond logo and "Black Diamond.".

Ice Screws

Tubular Ice Screws

381: Black Diamond Tubular Ice Screw; 17 cm.

↑ 381: Black Diamond Tubular Ice Screw; 17 cm.

Made in Korea [1990].
Weight: 144 g.
Overall Length: 171 mm.
Effective size: 150x16 mm.
High–quality ice screw with a tapered tip.
Precision–machined heat treated steel.
Stamped with the 〈C〉 logo and "CHOUINARD" on the Top of the eye plate.
Stamped with a diamond–in–a–square mark on the back of the eye plate.
Identical to the 1989 Chouinard ice screw but with a diamond–in–a–square mark showing that despite the Chouinard name, this is a 1990 Black Diamond product.
An attached sticker states that this was made in the Republic of Korea.

Turbo Ice Screws

↑ Set 186-187: Black Diamond Turbo Ice Screws; 9 & 16 cm.

Made in USA [ca. 1995].

↑ 186: Black Diamond Turbo; 9 cm.

Made in USA [ca. 1995].
Weight: 113 g.
Overall Length: 101 mm.
Effective size: 90x16.7 mm.
High–quality ice screw with a tapered tip.
Precision–machined heat treated steel.
Stamped with "BLACK〈C〉DIAMOND USA" (no dash) on the face of the eye plate.

↑ 187: Black Diamond Turbo; 16 cm.

Made in USA [ca. 1995].
Weight: 148 g.
Overall Length: 171 mm.
Effective size: 160x16.7 mm.
High–quality ice screw with a tapered tip.
Precision–machined heat treated steel.
Stamped with "BLACK〈C〉DIAMOND–USA" on the face of the eye plate.

Turbo Express Ice Screws

↑ Set 188-189: Black Diamond Turbo Express Ice Screws; 16 & 20 cm.

Made in USA [ca. 1995].

↑ 188: Black Diamond Turbo Express; 16 cm.

Made in USA [ca. 1995].
Weight: 165 g.
Overall Length: 170 mm.
Effective size: 160x16.7 mm.
High–quality ice screw with a tapered tip.
The folding knob allows for rapid placement and removal.
Precision–machined heat treated steel.
Stamped with "BLACK〈C〉DIAMOND USA" on the face of the eye plate.
The Turbo Express is my favorite ice screw for waterfall ice.

↑ 189: Black Diamond Turbo Express; 20 cm.

Made in USA [ca. 1995].
Weight: 189 g.
Overall Length: 220 mm.
Effective size: 200x16.7 mm.
High–quality ice screw with a tapered tip.
The folding knob allows for rapid placement and removal.
Precision–machined heat treated steel.
Stamped with "BLACK〈C〉DIAMOND USA" on the face of the eye plate.
The Turbo Express is my favorite ice screw for waterfall ice.

General Notes

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Handled Eccentric Cam

Lever Cam

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General Notes

Carabiner Methods

Simple Descenders

Figure Eights

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Hauling and Lowering

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Strength Testing

Galleries

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Origins

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My other stuff

Black DiamondIce Anchors

Ice Pitons

Ice Screws

Tubular Ice Screws

Turbo Ice Screws

Turbo Express Ice Screws

Black Diamond
Ice Anchors