Pushing the Limits: The Legacy | Episode Six - Barry Blanchard

Barry Blanchard is one of Canada’s best-known alpinists and mountain guides and is respected around the world. He has pioneered many difficult alpine climbs here in the Rockies, in the European Alps, and in the Himalaya. His routes on the north face of North Twin, the east face of Mount Fay, and the Emperor Face of Mount Robson are amongst the hardest in Canada. In the Himalaya, his ascent of the North Face of Rakaposhi in 1984 with Kevin Doyle and Dave Cheesmond was one of the best climbs of the era. In 1988, with three companions, he almost succeeded in an alpine-style ascent of the Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat. These climbs were on the very leading edge of Himalayan climbing. Barry has worked for more than 40 years as a mountain guide and is now the elder statesman of the guiding community. This interview, recorded in his Canmore home on December 6, 1996, captures a young Barry Blanchard in his prime.