Barry Blanchard
Barry Blanchard (born March 29, 1959) is one of North America's top alpine climbers, noted for pushing the standards of highly technical, high-risk alpine climbing, ice climbing, and mixed climbing in the Canadian Rockies and the Himalayas.
Climbing career
Blanchard was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He first came to note in 1983 with the first ascent of Andromeda Strain (5.11a, WI4, M6) on Mount Andromeda in Alberta, Canada with David Cheesmond and Tim Friesen. In 1984, he climbed the North Spur of Rakaposhi, Pakistan with Dave Cheesmond and Kevin Doyle. With David Cheesmond, he climbed the North Pillar of North Twin, Alberta in 1985. Rather than resting on his laurels, he has continued to push the limits of alpinism since, including eight trips to Asia to climb in the Himalayas and Karakoram.
Other career
Blanchard has been involved with Yamnuska Mountain Adventures since its inception in the late 1970s. Blanchard is an internationally certified UIAGM mountain guide.
He helped in the making of Hollywood climbing movies including K2, Cliffhanger and Vertical Limit.
Personal life
He lives in Canmore, Alberta, with his wife Catherine Mulvihill whom he met on a Mount Everest expedition in 1994, and their family.
Notable ascents
- 1983 The Andromeda Strain, Mt. Andromeda, Canada - first ascent with David Cheesmond and Tim Friesen.
- 1984 North Ridge of Rakaposhi, Pakistan - first alpine ascent with David Cheesmond and Kevin Doyle.
- 1984 East Face (V/VI 5.8 WI5) of Mount Fay, Canadian Rockies, FA with David Cheesmond and Carl Tobin.[1]
- 1985 North Pillar of North Twin, Canada - first ascent with David Cheesmond[2]
- 1991 North Face of Kusum Kanguru, Nepal - first ascent of route.[3]
- 1991 Blanchard-Twight on Les Droites, Mont Blanc Massif, French Alps - hard new route with Mark Twight.[4]
- 1999 M-16, East Face of Howse Peak, Canada - first ascent (in winter) with Steve House and Scott Backes.
- 1999 Pugilist at Rest, (VI 5.10 A3 M5, 1000m), Mount Alverstone, Saint Elias Mountains, Canada. FA with Mark Wilford.[5]
- 2000 Infinite Spur on Mount Foraker, Alaska - third ascent with Carl Tobin.
- 2002 Infinite Patience on the Emperor Face of Mount Robson - first ascent.
Works
- The Calling - A life Rocked by Mountains, for which he was awarded the 2015 Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature.
See also
- The Alpinist, a 2021 documentary in which Blanchard makes an appearance
References
- ^ Blanchard, Barry (Summer 2011). "Sanctum". Alpinist. 2011 (35). Jeffersonville, VT, USA: Height of Land Publications: 68–73. ISSN 1540-725X.
- ^ Cheesemond, Dave (1988). "North Pillar of North Twin". American Alpine Journal. American Alpine Club.
- ^ Blanchard, Barry (1993). "Climbs and Expeditions 1992". American Alpine Journal. 35 (67). Golden, CO, USA: American Alpine Club: 223. ISBN 0-930410-55-6.
- ^ Twight, Mark Francis (1993). "Climbs and Expeditions 1992". American Alpine Journal. 35 (67). Golden, CO, USA: American Alpine Club: 198. ISBN 0-930410-55-6.
- ^ "Mark Wilford curriculum vitae". Alpinist. 2007 (19). Jackson, Wyoming, USA: Alpinist Magazine: 10–11. March 2007.
External links
- Yamnuska Mountain Adventures
- Ambassador of Patagonia
- v
- t
- e
- Aiguille d'Argentière
- Aiguille de Bionnassay
- Aiguille de Blaitière
- Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey
- Aiguille du Chardonnet
- Aiguilles du Diable
- Aiguilles Dorées
- Aiguille du Dru
- Aiguille des Glaciers
- Aiguille du Goûter
- Aiguille des Grands Charmoz
- Aiguille des Grands Montets
- Aiguille du Grépon
- Aiguille du Jardin
- Aiguille du Midi
- Aiguille de l'A Neuve
- Aiguille Noire de Peuterey
- Aiguille du Pissoir
- Aiguille du Plan
- Aiguille de Rochefort
- Aiguille du Tour
- Aiguille de Tré la Tête
- Aiguille de Triolet
- Aiguille Verte
- La Breya
- Le Catogne
- Le Châtelet (Mont Blanc)
- Dent du Géant
- Dôme du Goûter
- Dôme de Rochefort
- Les Droites
- Le Génépi
- Grand Capucin
- Grand Darray
- Grand Pilier d'Angle
- Grande Lui
- Grande Pointe des Planereuses
- Grande Rocheuse
- Grandes Jorasses
- Mont Blanc
- Mont Blanc de Courmayeur
- Mont Blanc du Tacul
- Mont Brouillard
- Mont Dolent
- Mont Mallet
- Mont Maudit
- Pic Eccles
- Picco Luigi Amedeo
- Pointe Allobrogia
- Pointe Helbronner
- Pointe d'Orny
- Pointe des Plines
- Pointe Ronde
- Pointe Walker
- Le Portalet
- Punta Baretti
- Tita Neire
- Tour Noir
- Tour Ronde
(first or major ascents)
- Allain
- Almer
- Anderegg (J.)
- Anderegg (M.)
- Balmat
- Blanchard
- Blodig
- Boivin
- Bonatti
- Bonington
- Boulaz
- Bristow
- Brown
- Burgener
- Cassin
- Charlet
- Clough
- Cordier (H.)
- Cordier (P.)
- Couzy
- Croz
- Dent
- Desmaison
- Destivelle
- Długosz
- Eccles
- Eckenstein
- Gabarrou
- Ghirardini
- Graham Brown
- Güssfeldt
- Harlin
- Heckmair
- Hemming
- Hudson
- Kennedy
- King
- Klucker
- Kuffner
- Kukuczka
- Kurtyka
- Lachenal
- Lafaille
- Lambert
- MacIntyre
- Mallory
- Maund
- Mazeaud
- Messner
- Middlemore
- Moore
- Mummery
- Paccard
- Paradis
- Patey
- Ratti
- Rébuffat
- Rey
- Robbins
- Roch
- Rouse
- de Saussure
- Smythe
- Stephen
- Terray
- Twight
- Vallençant
- Walker
- Whillans
- Whymper
- Winthrop Young
- Arve (river)
- Chemin de fer du Montenvers
- Giardino Botanico Alpino Saussurea
- Haute Route
- Marathon du Mont Blanc
- Mont Blanc glacier flood
- Mont Blanc tramway
- Mont Blanc Tunnel
- Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway
- Skyway Monte Bianco
- Top of the Mont Blanc
- Tour du Mont Blanc
- Val d'Aosta
- Val Ferret
- Val Veny
- Vallée Blanche Aerial Tramway