The Calling cover art

The Calling

A Life Rocked by Mountains

 Preview

Audible Standard 1-month free trial

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo + applicable tax after 30-day trial. Cancel Anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options

The Calling

Written by: Barry Blanchard
Narrated by: Barry Blanchard
Try for $0.00

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $28.19

Buy Now for $28.19

With heart-pounding descriptions of avalanches and treacherous ascents, Barry Blanchard chronicles his transformation from a poor Native American/white kid from the wrong side of the tracks to one of the most respected alpinists in the world. At thirteen, he learned to rappel when he joined the 1292 Lord Strathcone’s Horse Army Cadets. Soon kicked out for insubordination, he was already hooked on climbing and saw alpinism as a way to make his single mother proud and end his family’s cycle of poverty. He describes early climbs attempted with nothing to guide him but written trail descriptions and the cajones of youth. He slowly acquires the skills, equipment and partners necessary to tackle more and more difficult climbs, farther and farther afield: throughout the Canadian Rockies, into Alaska and the French Alps and on to Everest, Peru, and the challenging mountains in Pakistan. From each he learns lessons that only nature and extreme endeavor can teach. This is the story of the culture of climbing in the days of punk rock, spurred on by the rhythm of adrenaline and the arrogance of youth. It is also a portrait of the power of the mountains to lift us – physically, emotionally, intellectually, Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Outdoors & Nature Sports Alps Heartfelt

You may also enjoy...
Eiger Dreams cover art
Eiger Dreams Written by: Jon Krakauer
Moving the Needle cover art
Moving the Needle Written by: Dave MacLeod
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Continue the series
Was It Worth It? cover art
Was It Worth It? Written by: Doug Peacock
A Forest Journey cover art
A Forest Journey Written by: John Perlin
The New Fish cover art
The New Fish Written by: Simen Saetre, and others
All stars
Most Relevant
I love this book. The overarching narrative and all the stories within are amazing. And with Barry himself doing the audio, the authenticity of the book shines through brilliantly. I personally find it incredibly entertaining and hilarious at times. Heart breaking and super inspiring. Being a climber that lives in Calgary, I love being able to relate to the stories of mountains in the area too. I've already listened to the book several times (I own the book too). Well done Barry!

Awesome all around.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A collection of incredible stories from the mountains that doesn’t mess around in layman’s terms. Refreshing compared with some other mountain literature.

Well written, personable, and intense. I appreciated that it’s read by the Barry himself.

A climber’s book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Absolutely loved it. Barry Blanchard does an excellent job as a narrator and story teller. The book had me laughing at his hilarious recounting of stories. It left me with an even greater appreciation for mountains and climbing. Hands down one of my favorite audiobooks of all time.

Did you just say salamander sounds?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Probably the best book ever written about a climbers life. Written with heart, transparency and vulnerability. Thank you Barry.

Absolutely outstanding

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
loved it. could have done with less swearing. makes me really appreciate the old times and the origin of the sport.

if you rock climb you need to read this book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews