Following two major avalanche incidents involving the Pieps DSP Pro and DSP Sport beacons and social outcry against the design of the beacons, Black Diamond/Pieps issue a recall.
On March 3, PIEPS announced a voluntary recall of its DSP Sport, Pro and Pro Ice beacons. The Voluntary Product Correction program applies to beacons distributed in Europe, Asia, South America and the Pacific. Black Diamond is currently working with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada to finalize a similar program in North America.
This announcement is no big surprise. Last Fall, pro skiers Christina Lustenberger, Nick McNutt and Ian McIntosh released a series of Instagram posts alleging that a faulty switch caused McNutt’s PIEPS DSP beacon to turn out of transmit mode when he was caught in a slide. This ignited a fire storm on social media with many people demanding a recall. PIEPS initially offered a trade-in program for the beacons, which was also met with criticism.
Lou did his own investigations into the switch, available to read here. We will update as more details become available, in the meantime, here is the statement from Black Diamond.
Manasseh Franklin is a writer, editor and big fan of walking uphill. She has an MFA in creative nonfiction and environment and natural resources from the University of Wyoming and especially enjoys writing about glaciers. Find her other work in Alpinist, Adventure Journal, Rock and Ice, Aspen Sojourner, AFAR, Trail Runner and Western Confluence.