Internationally certified mountain guide Barry Blanchard heard climbing’s call as a teenager in Calgary, and for the past 20 years he has been answering that call. With climbing experience throughout Asia, the Alps, the Andes and the northern ranges of North America, Blanchard developed a passion for hard alpine routes in winter conditions. In the past three decades, he has specialized in lightweight alpine expeditions in the world’s highest ranges. He lists his proudest climbing achievements as "a six-day ascent of the North Ridge of Rakaposhi [Pakistan] with Kevin Doyle and the late David Cheesmond, the first ascent of the North Pillar of North Twin [Canada] with Cheesmond, and surviving an alpine-style attempt on the Central Spur of the Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat [Pakistan] with Mark Twight, Ward Robinson, and Doyle".

Blanchard lives in Canmore, Alberta, with his wife, climber Catherine Mulvihill. He has worked as a climbing advisor and safety rigger on a number of Hollywood films including Cliffhanger, K2, The Last of the Dogmen, The Edge and Vertical Limit. Barry Blanchard is the 2002 recipient of the Bill March Summit of Excellence Award.