The Calling

A Life Rocked by Mountains

By: Barry Blanchard

Narrated by: Barry Blanchard

Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

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 13 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 acquired 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 learned 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.

©2014 Barry Blanchard (P)2017 Random House Audio

Great. entertaining, and honest

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would. Anyone interested in adventure/alpinism books will love The Calling by Barry Blanchard.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Barry Blanchard. Since the story is told by Barry he was the most relatable character to me (insights into his feelings during expeditions, uncertainties in life, etc)/

What does Barry Blanchard bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Candidness, Barry's background story, upbringing, and path into Alpinism.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed out loud many times during the book.

A really good read

I have listened to a lot of books on climbing but this one was definitely my favorite. Honest, good descriptions on the climbing. I felt like I was right there with Blance kicking the steps in the snow. The book is really funny too. At times I was laughing with tears in my eyes. Also I must say that the narration is spot on.

Wow... Get this book

I loved this book so much and when I find myself on long drives or hikes I’m might dive back into the world of Barry Blanchard and his extraordinary detail and imagery.


RECOMMEND HIGHLY

armchair adventure with compulsive clinber

typically I love hearing authors voice reading own words but his gratuitous cursing pulled down one notch. mostly fascinating

Great chronicling of the author's journey

I liked how the author chronicled his physical journey, and dropped nuggets from forays into his mental/head space.

It's sobering, rather than being too upbeat, and it fulfilled my wanting a book that takes me on a journey, and makes me think.

stories of a man in the mountains rocked with love

barry is an eloquent storyteller. his writing seeps with passion and his humanity.
the fact that he narrated it is icing to the cake

Honest, beautifully written, heartfelt

I loved this book, and I loved listening to Blanchard's delightful Canadian accent! He's a great writer, very expressive, and very self-effacing. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn the brass tacks about rock and ice climbing. Blanchard tells many stories about epic climbs, some terrifying, some tragic, some exhilarating and awe-inspiring, and he's generous about his internal thought processes, which I particularly appreciated. He's a guy who has lived life according to his passion for climbing, and I'm so grateful he was able to write this book to share his passion with us.

Great Book!

Loved that it was narrated by Barry himself. You can picture yourself there during each of his climbs.

Phenomenal. gripping and inspiring book!

Phenomenal. gripping and inspiring book! It will make any adventurer long to be in the mountains!

Fine Climbing Literature!

Quite simply, you must read-- or even better-- listen to Barry Blanchard read this book! Mr. Blanchard cites the immense impact that classic mountaineering literature had on his life. His very honest and very personal story deserves a place in that same classic canon--as acknowledged by his winning of the Boardman Tasker Prize in 2015. If you have the good fortune to be both an avid reader and a climber, this book will entertain and touch you personally. Thank you very much Barry Blanchard!