Bio
Barry is one of our first ambassadors and member of our R&D team. Described as the "Bonatti of the Rockies," and Canada's greatest alpinist, the Canmore-based writer and photographer spends his time romping around the globe in search of adventure on high alpine faces. Barry has been featured ice climbing in the IMAX Extreme film and Vertical Limit. His exploits include the first ascent of the epic North Pillar of North Twin, first ascents in winter on the north faces of Les Droites and two successful expeditions to Mt. Everest. In 2002 he opened a new route on the Emperor Face of Mt. Robson. It was Barry's seventh start over many years, and partners Eric Dumerac and Philippe Pellet insisted on the name Infinite Patience (VI, WI5, M5, 5.9). In addition to recent routes on the southwest face of East Kahiltna Peak, the southeast ridge of Mt. Asperity and the north face of Bravo Peak, Barry lists as one of his, and wife Catherine’s, greatest accomplishments the birth of their daughter Rosemary in November 2004.

Some of Barry’s most recent projects include:
2002, Spring - attempt on the South Face of Nuptse in true alpine style.
2002, October - opened a new route on the Emperor Face of Mt Robson
after his seventh start. "My partners, Eric Dumerac and Philippe Pellet, insisted that we name the route Infinite Patience."
2004, May - variation the Callis/Kennedy route on the Southwest face of
the East Kahiltna Peak called Homage to Pat (as in Callis).
2005, April/May - ascents of the Southeast ridge of Mt. Asperity and North
Face of Bravo Peak, Waddington Range, BC.

Environmental Efforts
“My fight, right now, is with my provincial government, the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta. There are now about 700 grizzly bears left in Alberta, a number below the threshold 1,000 needed to keep a species viable. Despite recommendations from the governments own biologists, and a strongly worded letter signed by 16 leading North American bear experts, my Premier, the right honorable Ralph Klein, and his ministers refuse to list the grizzly as a threatened species and continue to allow an annual hunt for the heads and pelts! After seeing the amount the public and scientific community opposing this policy I can only conclude that there is a ruling (which should be a serving) attitude of arrogance at work here.

“I value the great bear personally because when I am in the bear's domain, which is almost all of the area that I approach climbs through in Western Canada in spring, summer and fall, I know that the bear is, or may be, out there, and that I have to announce my presence. I am lesser than the bear. Any humility that I, and by extension we, can gain is a good thing because I know that my species is far, far, too arrogant; and that is definitely a bad thing.

“Through the Patagonia Ambassador program I have been asking for donations to Wildcanada.net, instead of admission, at a number of public mountaineering slideshows that I present. I raise money, talk to people and actively campaign for the protection of grizzly bears in Alberta. I do not want to live in a Canadian Rockies absent the great bear.”

Favorite Patagonia Products
DAS Parka
Stretch Element Gloves
Work Gloves
Super Guide Pants

“I'm pretty much living in the Super Guide Pants this time of year [winter]. Ski toured, ice climbed, and mixed climbed in them on four different days last week alone. When it’s around freezing, I wear M's Capilene Seamless Shorts under them, and full length Capilene Bottoms as it gets colder.”

Recommended Web Sites
Yamnuska.com – Mountaineering courses and private guiding in the Canadian Rockies and around the world. Contact Barry through Yamnuska for mountaineering guiding.
Wildcanada.net – A national conservation organization that helps Canadians protect wildlands and wildlife.
Savethegrizzly.org - The Alberta government allows the grizzly bear to be hunted for sport. Now you can take action to make a difference for this threatened species.
Weatheroffice.ec.ge.ca – Environment Canada’s five-day weather forecast
Avalanche – The Canadian Avalanche Association’s avalanche forecast
Live-the-vision.com – A Calgary-based climber’s message board.