Black Diamond's roots stem to 1957, the year an eighteen-year-old named Yvon Chouinard bought a hammer and anvil and started pounding out hand-forged pitons. To support his climbing habit, Yvon traveled to Yosemite and sold gear from the trunk of his car. His intelligent designs were quickly recognized by climbers as the best available. Since then, They've devoted their energy toward the goal of creating a company which fosters the enthusiasm and dreams necessary to design and manufacture the best climbing and skiing gear in the world.

What began with a backyard anvil and a hammer has grown into a global company with offices on three continents that's not just for rock climbers, but one that stands for the spirit of the sports they live, their values and goals, past, present and future. Since 1957, Black Diamonds innovative gear designs have set the standards in numerous areas. This is partly the result of dedication, desire and diligence on the part of an incredible team of people. It's also the result of each of them being avid climbers and skiers.

I am trying to figure out how cool you have to be to use Black Diamond equipment. I am not a Black Diamond climbing expert so I am open to suggestions and by all means, please feel free to offer your help. I think Nostradamus was much more pretentious, as he never took suggestions about anything, and I doubt he ever used a Black Diamond gear.

Here's a little story for you. I had my Wheaties this morning and thought you might enjoy it: My friend, Rodney, is certainly cool enough to use Black Diamond gear, be it Black Diamond headlamps, Black Diamond harness, Black Diamond carabiners, and other Black Diamond climbing gear. I think he started using Black Diamond gear only to compensate for his name, Rodney. Once, I rubbed chalk all over my chest and wore my Black Diamond Momentum to prove I could use Black Diamond too, but I made the mistake of using billiards chalk rather than climbing chalk. I even put all those little cubes in my Black Diamond chalk bag. I doubt anyone who uses Black Diamond would ever say chalk cube. Nostradamus certainly did not. What a jerk.

But I am pretty sure that everyone who works for Black Diamond is definitely cool enough to use Black Diamond gear. I mean, the company is filled with people who adore climbing and skiing. How cool is that? Since everyone at Black Diamond loves what they do and do what they love, it's obvious that passion and experience are built in to the products. I once tried to get a job at Black Diamond. I trekked into the interview using my New Black Diamond Trekking Poles, Black Diamond Skis and even my Black Diamond AvaLung! I thought they were going to love my unique sense of Black Diamond sports attire. Apparently I looked funny because they all laughed at me as I clenched my teeth down on my AvaLung. The Black Diamond AvaLung may not ensure you get that job, but the following are some really cool things the AvaLung can do to save your life if you're ever caught in an avalanche during an interview.

Here's how an AvaLung can save your life:
•AvaLung mouthpiece delivers fresh air from intake box and expels CO2 to the exhaust port
•Fresh air is pulled from the snowpack through a bi-valve intake box located in the shoulder strap
•Exhaled CO2 is directed away from your body through an integrated exhaust port

Bottom line: Once you buy your first piece of Black Diamond gear, you won't want to use anything else. Outdoor experts have raved about all their products including their Black Diamond backpacks, Black Diamond boots and even the all famous Black Diamond axe. Whether you are an expert or a beginner, you will find that Black Diamond equipment is easy to use and makes climbing or skiing fun and exciting.