10 Facts About Conrad Kain

Conrad Kain was an Austrian mountain guide who guided extensively in Europe, Canada, and New Zealand, and was responsible for the first ascents of more than 60 routes in British Columbia.

Conrad Kain is particularly known for pioneering climbs in the Purcell Mountains and the first ascents of Mount Robson, Mount Louis and Bugaboo Spire.

Conrad Kain's father was a miner who died when Kain was 8.

Conrad Kain guided his clients not only in Austria, but in Switzerland and France, including the Matterhorn, La Meije and several first ascents.

Conrad Kain then traveled to New Zealand where he was a guide in the winter of 1913.

Conrad Kain was encouraged to return to Canada again to be a guide for two mountaineering camps, one based at Lake O'Hara camp and another at Robson Pass.

Conrad Kain is credited with 69 first ascents in Canada alone, including Resplendent Mountain and Whitehorn Mountain, Nasswald Peak and Mount Robson, Mount Farnham, Mount Louis, Howser Spire and Bugaboo Spire, North Twin Peak and Mount Saskatchewan, Mount Hooker and Mount Fraser and Peyto Peak and Trapper Peak.

Conrad Kain climbed Mount Louis for the last time on his 50th birthday.

Conrad Kain wrote an autobiography titled Where the Clouds Can Go where he describes his tough years while growing up in Austria as well as his 25 years working variously as a guide for The Alpine Club of Canada, a hunter outfitter, and an assistant to Arthur O Wheeler for the Geographic Survey of Canada.

In New Zealand there is a Mount Conrad Kain named after him, lying in the Liebig Range above the Murchison Glacier in the Southern Alps.