Episode 4: Barry Blanchard's Greatest First Ascents in the Canadian Rockies 1983-2002

Episode 4: The Northwest Ridge of Mt Alberta, 1990 and Striving for the Moon on the East Face of Mt Temple, 1992.
Big Jim Elzinga managed to wring five days out of his rich and fulfilling metropolitan life in the Big Smoke (TO ... Toronto). Barry and Jim forded the Sunwapta River on August 7th, 1990, and marched up Woolley Creek to use Barry's new and refined access to the unnamed glacier below the North Face of Mt Alberta, under which they plodded to gain the unclimbed Northwest Ridge, and summit, two days hence. At 2:00 a.m. on December 2nd, 1992, Barry motored towards Lake Louise to rendezvous with Ward Robinson who, in the time since their first ascent of the North Face of Howse Peak, had gotten married and had two kids. Ward also had a titanium rod in his tibia after the bone had been shattered by a tree that he'd fallen. Barry and Ward spent the next two days climbing a virgin waterfall system up the East Face of Mt Temple to merge with the East Ridge route and the summit. The last big hurrah for the team of Blanchard and Robinson, although they still love hanging out together.

[@Gas.Station.Sushi404]

These are the greatest. I love the Calling memoir. More Barry stories!

[@brandonmccarthy9224]

Man Mount Alberta looks like such a monster

[@YamnuskaMtAdv]

You've got that right