BARRY is a world-renowned alpinist and mountain guide from Canada who has climbed the steepest and most complicated faces of the world’s great glaciated peaks. Among his many accomplishments are the first ascent of The Andromeda Strain, 1983; the North Ridge of Rakaposhi, 1984; the first ascent of the apocalyptic North Pillar of North Twin, 1985; the West Ridge of Mt. Everest, 1986; surviving the Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat, 1988; a solo first ascent on the North Face of Kusum Kanguru, 1991; an attempt on K-2, 1993; first ascents in the St Elias mountains; M-16, a first ascent -in winter on the East Face of Howse Peak, 1999; the third ascent of the Infinite Spur on MT Foraker, 2000; the first ascent of Infinite Patience on the Emperor Face of Mt Robson, 2002. He is an internationally certified UIAGM mountain guide and has appeared in Hollywood features such as “K-2,” “Cliffhanger,” and “The Vertical Limit” as a climbing double. In 2024, Blanchard was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, a prestigious honor in Canada. He is a founding member of Mountain Muskox, a non-profit formed to support and care for those who have been impacted by loss or trauma in the mountains. His life was recently profiled in the documentary, “Spindrift: The Barry Blanchard Story.” He is the father of two adult daughters and lives with his partner in Canmore, Alberta.
