Ice Axes
Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Ice Axes
Yvon Chouinard and Tom Frost teamed with C.A.M.P in the 1960s to market axes under the Chouinard–Frost name. In 1977 Chouinard ended his partnership with Frost & and took his name off the pick. Chouinard reportedly ended wooden shafts in 1978/1979 but C.A.M.P. continued to list the Chouinard axe (without the Chouinard and Interalp stamps) in their catalog as late as 1983.
Denis Pivot of C.A.M.P. provided the following information on C.A.M.P.'s relationships with other manufacturers:
CAMP - Chouinard
In 1968, during a trip to Italy to participate in the Trento Mountain Film Festival, Yvon Chouinard visited the CAMP factory in Premana with Hermann Huber (Salewa). Following this visit, an agreement was reached for CAMP to manufacture ice axes, pitons, Hexentrics and Stoppers for Chouinard (later Black Diamond). This equipment was sold by CAMP with the double marking of the logos CHOUINARD and CAMP and the addition of the logo of the INTERALP sales agent. All Chouinard equipment marked "Made in Italy" or "Italy" was manufactured by CAMP.
Chouinard–Frost Climaxe
First appearing in 1972, Chouinard’s Climaxe was his response to the Terrordactyl, with the curved rather than the drooped pick being his choice. It was created with help from his friend and fellow climber, Tom Frost.The 1972 CHouinard catalog described it as follows:
The ultimate technique on steepening ice, before resorting to artificial climbing or chopping steps, is front pointing using two Alpine Hammers. Rather than each man having to carry two hammers we have designed a mini-axe with the same pick as the Alpine Hammer but having an adze for cutting "pigeon hole" steps in extremely steep ice or for clearing away verglas on rock climbs. This combination of axe and Alpine Hammer is perfect on near vertical ice. The Climaxe is so versatile that it can also replace the more cumbersome ice axe on some mixed climbs.
The 1972 C.A.M.P. catalog lists two handle options, ash and bamboo, but lists only ash in 1976. The 1972 and 1976 Chouinard catalogs do not list handle options or specify the wood used.
↑ 291: Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Climaxe
- Made in Italy [ca. 1973].
- 325x225 mm.
- Weight: 430 g.
- Hickory Handle.
- Shaft: 29x19 mm. (Grip: 35x26 mm.)
- Fixed Head.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 80(l)x58(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 4 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 100(l)x24(h)x7(t) mm.
- A small, short axe appearing near the beginning of the technical ice climbing revolution,
- The head is drop-forged nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel.
↑ 411: Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Climaxe
- Made in Italy [ca. 1973].
- 325x225 mm.
- Weight: 420 g.
- Ash Handle.
- Shaft: 29x19 mm. (Grip: 36x25 mm.)
- Fixed Head.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x60(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 4 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 105(l)x23(h)x7(t) mm.
- A small, short axe appearing near the beginning of the technical ice climbing revolution,
- The head is drop-forged nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel.
Chouinard–Frost Piolet
↑ 148: Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Chouinard–Frost Piolet
- Made in Italy [ca. 1972–1976].
- 700x290 mm.
- Weight: 920 g.
- Laminated bamboo shaft.
- Shaft: 38x24 mm.
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a straight edge and no arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x67(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth near the tip and 5 more near the shaft.
- Pick: 155(l)x26(h)x9(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 66(l)x22(w)x10(t) mm.
- The wide triangular spike provides better lateral support while traversing than traditional narrow spikes.
- The head is drop-forged chromium-nickel steel.
- The Chouinard-Frost ice axe was first made in 1969. C.A.M.P started making them in about 1972.
Chouinard Piolet
↑ 261: Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Chouinard Piolet
- Made in Italy [ca. 1977–1978].
- 645x280 mm.
- Weight: 850 g.
- Ash Shaft.
- Shaft: 34x23 mm. (Grip: 35x24 mm.)
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x67(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth near the tip and 5 more near the shaft.
- Pick: 155(l)x25(h)x8(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 66(l)x22(w)x10(t) mm.
- The wide triangular spike provides better lateral support while traversing than traditional narrow spikes.
- The head is drop-forged chromium-nickel steel.
- Grip tape added by a previous owner.
- In 1977 Chouinard ended his partnership with Tom Frost & took Frost's name off the pick. Chouinard ended wooden shafts in 1978/1979.
- Chouinard catalogs list their axes with bamboo and rexilon handle options.
C.A.M.P. catalogs at the same time list the same axes wth ash, bamboo, rexilon, and hickory handle options.
↑ 385: Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Chouinard Piolet
- Made in USA [1977].
- 695x280 mm.
- Weight: 920 g.
- Laminated Birch Shaft (Rexilon™).
- Shaft: 35x23 mm.
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x65(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth near the tip and 5 more near the shaft.
- Pick: 155(l)x25(h)x8(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 66(l)x22(w)x10(t) mm.
- The wide triangular spike provides better lateral support while traversing than traditional narrow spikes.
- The head is drop-forged chromium-nickel steel.
- Chouinard's Rexilon shafts are made of 18-layer laminated beech.
Rexilon shafts are stronger than their laminated bamboo shafts but heavier. - In 1977 Chouinard ended his partnership with Tom Frost & took Frost's name off the pick. Chouinard ended wooden shafts in 1978.
- Rexilon was no longer offered in Chouinards 1978-1979 catalog.
Chouinard Ice Axes
Chouinard Piolet U.S.A.
↑ 336: Chouinard Piolet U.S.A.
- Made in USA [1978].
- 705x270 mm.
- Weight: 745 g.
- Aluminum Shaft.
- Shaft: 31x21 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a straight edge and a moderate arch.
- Adze: 80(l)x60(w)x3(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 140(l)x27(h)x4(t) mm.
- Triangular plate spike.
- Spike: 57(l)x27(w)x4(t) mm.
- The wide triangular spike provides better lateral support while traversing than traditional narrow spikes.
↑ 337: Chouinard Piolet U.S.A.
- Made in USA [ca. 1979].
- 695x290 mm.
- Weight: 820 g.
- Aluminum Shaft.
- Shaft: 33x23 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 80(l)x60(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 4 small then 6 large.
- Pick: 145(l)x26(h)x5(t) mm.
- Triangular plate spike.
- Spike: 59(l)x29(w)x6(t) mm.
- The wide triangular spike provides better lateral support while traversing than traditional narrow spikes.
- Tape added by previous owner.
Chouinard–Zero
↑ 346: Chouinard Zero X
- Made in USA [ca. 1988].
- 560x260 mm.
- Weight: 770 g.
- Aluminum/Graphite/Fiberglass Shaft.
- Shaft: 33x24 mm.
- Semi-modular head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a straight edge and no arch.
- Adze: 60(l)x56(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Modular waterfall ice pick with a neutral-clearance chisel tip and with 13 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 120(l)x24(h)x6(t) mm.
- Triangular plate spike.
- Spike: 57(l)x29(w)x5(t) mm.
- Previousd owner filed the pick to a neutral clearance.
- The flat spike should provide excellent support for bracing while traversing moderate ice.
