Last season I retired many of my well-used carabiners and decided to try the new Black Diamond Hoodwires. According to BD: “Their hot-forged construction combines a keylock design with wire gate functionality.” Translation: greatly reduced snagging when you’re clipping gear, bolts, screws, or runners and virtually no gate whiplash when you’re logging some air time. I paired them with double length BD Dynex runners for a lightweight and versatile addition to my rack. I’ve used them on all of my climbing endeavors for the last nine months– local favorites in Eldorado Canyon, wide cracks at Vedauwoo, desert towers of Red Rocks, alpine rock, alpine mixed, and even ice climbs down in Ouray. They’ve excelled in all conditions. Plus, the iconic BD-Orange color looks great in the photos and it will keep your pilfering partner from “acquiring” your new gear!
See you in the backcountry.
-Matt Lipscomb
Colorado Mountain School Guide
AMGA Certified Ski Mountaineering Guide
mlipscomb@totalclimbing.com
Half moon over Capitol Peak (14,130 ft), Elk Range CO. The Northwest Buttress Route follows the right skyline.
The Knife Edge ridge follows the left skyline.
Summit of Capitol Peak. We climbed the Northwest Buttress and descended the ultra-classic Knife-Edge Ridge.
Traversing the Knife Edge au cheval style.
CMS Guide Matt Lipscomb about to get his wide crack on, Vedauwoo.
Hoodwires in action, Vedauwoo.
1 comment:
i like the BD Hoodwire as well, they are easy to to clear the gear loops and runners easily with no snagging.
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