Conrad Kain

Conrad Cain ( born August 10, 1883 in Hinternaßwald an der Rax, Austria, † February 2nd 1934 in Cranbrook, Canada ) was a mountaineer and mountain guide, which is met with especially in Canada a lot of respect. He is relatively unknown in his actual home.

Curriculum vitae

In 1909 he emigrated to Canada where he worked as a mountain guide in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia for the Alpine Club of Canada located there. Although the club paid well, but the season was only of short duration. Between the seasons Konrad worked as a trapper, and occasionally as a road worker.

Conrad Kain be attributed over 50 first ascents. The best known is probably the first ascent of Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies on August 12, 1913 Albert MacCarthy and William Foster Wasbrough, but is not proven that it was indeed the first ascent of this mountain.

Appreciation

Although an excellent climber and storyteller, he is particularly admired for his personal qualities. After the first ascent of Mount Robson, he constantly tried the performance of the expedition of 1909, under Curly Phillips and George Kinney, who reached the summit not quite noteworthy. Above all, he saw a mountain primarily as something aesthetic. The sporting, technical challenge always came in second place. This is also reflected in the naming of mountains and lakes. An example here is about Wonder Peak.

Legendary were his words at the summit of Mount Robson: "Gentleman, more than here I can not run". His autobiography, Where the clouds can go one of the classics of Canadian mountain literature.

His memory was (previously Needle Peak) named after him in 1934 Mount Cain. From his snow massif rises a rock tower, known as the Finger of Cain.

The inscription on his grave stone reads A mountain guide of rare spirit.