Black Diamond's historical excellence in ice climbing equipment has (in my opinion) been on the decline for a number of years with the last truly excellent tool being the second generation Cobra which was released around 2010. Black Diamond recognized this and a few years ago started designing and testing their latest ice tool—the Hydra.
Whether at the local crag, on a multi-pitch rock mission, or in the alpine on rock or ice, creating good anchor systems is a core climbing skill that needs to be learned and practiced. Taking a course or learning from experienced climbers is best for mastering the art of climbing anchors. The following is hopefully a good reminder or discussion starter.