Chessler Books
Rock Climbing - Mountaineering - Exploration
New - Used - Collectible - Signed
Chessler Books Accepts PAYPAL Chessler Books Accepts VISA Chessler Books Accepts MASTERCARD Chessler Books Accepts DISCOVER CARD Chessler Books Accepts AMERICAN EXPRESS
All Orders Shipped via United States Postal Service   Chessler Books Ships Via USPS
Author:
Title:
Keyword:
Item #:
A B C D E F G H I
J K L M Mc N O P Q
R S T U V W X Y Z
Item #: OP1033-900
WHERE THE CLOUDS CAN GO Conrad Kain 1954 2nd ed No DJ Near Fine
By Kain, Conrad. Edited by J. Monroe Thorington
Price: $35.00

List Price: $95.00
You Save $60.00 (63%)



Add to wish list


Detailed Product Description

Boston, Branford, 1954, 2nd edition. 456 pp, 29 ill. Original green cloth hardcover, no dust jacket. The book is Near Fine for minor marks of use, edge scuffing. There is no writing or foxing. Near Fine.

A Canadian mountaineering classic; Kain guided the first ascent of Mt. Robson in 1913, and also led Mt. Louis and Bugaboo Spire 1st ascents. This is one of the most sought after volumes of Canadian mountaineering literature. The autobiography of probably the most famous of the mountain guides of the Canadian Rockies.

Austrian-born Conrad Kain could also write. His folksy style yields many a laugh. His first ascents in the Rockies and Bugaboos include Mt. Robson, Resplendent, Howser Spire, Bugaboo Spire, Whitehorn, North Twin, King Edward, Saskatchewan, Hooker, Oates, Simon, and Des Poilus. He also climbed in New Zealand. In later life he settled in Wilmer at the foot of his beloved Bugaboos.  

From Peakfinder.com

Kain, Conrad  (1883-1934)

Conrad Kain was born in Nasswald, Austria.  Of all the mountain guides who came to Canada in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Conrad Kain is probably the one who is most respected. His autobiography entitled Where the Clouds can Go is a classic of Canadian mountain literature and tells the story of his early, difficult life in Austria which was transformed when he came to Canada in 1909 to lead climbs at the Alpine Club of Canada's Lake O'Hara camp. 

Although credited with fifty first ascents, including Mount Louis, his most significant was Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies and one of the most spectacular mountains in the world, which he climbed in 1913 with Albert MacCarthy and William Foster.

Although renowned as a leader, climber, and storyteller, Conrad Kain's personal attributes were the qualities for which he is most respected. A measure of the character of the man is the fact that he consistently attempted to give credit to Curly Phillips and George Kinney, who had come so close to the summit of Robson in 1909. Although Kinney was an experienced mountaineer, Curly Phillips was a novice, using a stick rather than an ice axe during the attempt. According to Phillips they reached, ''(in mist and storm), an ice-dome fifty or sixty feet high, which we took for the peak. The danger was too great to ascend the dome.''

Conrad Kain wrote of their efforts on the mountain, ''They deserve more credit than we, even though they did not reach the highest point, for in 1909 they had many more obstacles to overcome than we; for at that time the railway, which brought us almost to the foot of the mountain, was then no less than 200 miles from their goal, and their way had to be made over rocks and brush, and we must not forget the dangerous river crossings.''

As a professional mountain guide Conrad Kain laid out the methods by which a guide should gain and maintain the confidence of his party: ''First, he should never show fear. Second, he should be courteous to all, and always give special attention to the weakest member in the party. Third, he should be witty, and able to make up a white lie on short notice, and tell it in a convincing manner. Fourth, he should know when and how to show authority; and, when the situation demands it, should be able to give a good scolding to whomsoever deserves it.''

Sadly, Conrad Kain died at a young age, just six months after his fiftieth birthday. On that day he had completed his last difficult climb, another ascent of Mount Louis. In a letter to Charles Thompson, the respected outfitter Jimmy Simpson wrote: ''Conrad gave every ounce of his best at all times. He would die for you, if need be, quicker than most men think of living. No matter what his creed, his colour, or his nationality, he was measured by a man's yardstick, no other. We shall all miss him.''

Conrad Kain's gravestone carries the inscription: ''A mountain guide of rare spirit.''

Other Items You Might Like

  • Similar Items Available
  • Items From This Author
  • Items From This Category
WHERE THE CLOUDS CAN GO Conrad Kain 1979 Hardcover DJ Like New
By: Kain, Conrad
Price $29.99 ~ Regular $65.00, You Save $35.01 (54%)
- Item # OP747B-840
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
WHERE THE CLOUDS CAN GO Conrad Kain 1979 Hardcover DJ Near Fine
By: Kain, Conrad
Price $9.99 ~ Regular $65.00, You Save $55.01 (85%)
- Item # OP747A-842
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
CONRAD KAIN: LETTERS FROM A WANDERING MOUNTAIN GUIDE 1906-1933 Zac Robinson 2014 1st ed Fine-New Softcover 3 Copies Available
By: Robinson, Zac and Conrad Kain
Price $18.99 ~ Regular $30.00, You Save $11.01 (37%)
- Item # BK4204-8593
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
RAISING KAIN: THE ADVENTUROUS LIFE OF CONRAD KAIN, CANADA'S GREATEST MOUNTAINEER 2012 1st ed New SIGNED by author Keith Powell Multiple copies available
By: Powell, Keith
Price $24.95
- Item # BK4711-85516
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
THE MOUNTAINEERS: FAMOUS CLIMBERS IN CANADA Phil Dowling 1979 1st ed Hardcover DJ Fine
By: Dowling, Phil
Price $19.99
- Item # OP221-850
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
AMERICAN ALPINE JOURNAL 1932 Multiple copies available Rare
By: American Alpine Club 1932 Journal
Price $275.00 ~ Regular $350.00, You Save $75.00 (21%)
- Item # AAJ1932-9442
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
K2 THE PRICE OF CONQUEST: CONFESSIONS FROM THE FIRST ASCENT OF K2 Lino Lacedelli 2006 UK ed Rare Hardcover DJ New
By: Lacedelli, Lino & Giovanni Cenacchi
Price $75.00 ~ Regular $125.00, You Save $50.00 (40%)
- Item # OP2085-238
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
THE LOST EXPLORER: FINDING MALLORY ON MOUNT EVEREST 1999 1st ed Hardcover New SIGNED by Conrad Anker
By: Anker, Conrad and David Roberts
Price $100.00
- Item # BK45C-841
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
CLOSER TO THE EDGE Leo Houlding 2022 UK ed Hardcover New Multiple copies available
By: Houlding, Leo
Price $29.99 ~ Regular $60.00, You Save $30.01 (50%)
- Item # BK6677-8526
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
THE SCOTTISH HIMALAYAN EXPEDITION W.H. Murray 1951 1st ed Hardcover DJ Fine
By: Murray, W.H.
Price $245.00
- Item # OP178B-882
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
Sorry, we were unable find any similar items available by this author.


INTO THIN AIR: A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE MOUNT EVEREST DISASTER Jon Krakauer 1998 or 1999 Softcover Near Fine 2 Copies Available
By: Krakauer, Jon
Price $3.95 ~ Regular $10.00, You Save $6.05 (60%)
- Item # BK813B-9682
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
ECCENTRIC CIRCLES: AROUND AMERICA IN A HOUSE ON WHEELS Richard McAdoo 1st ed Hardcover DJ As New
By: McAdoo, Richard
Price $4.95 ~ Regular $19.95, You Save $15.00 (75%)
- Item # BK970-861
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
THE THRONE OF THE GODS: AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST SWISS EXPEDITION TO THE HIMALAYA Heim and Gansser 1939 1st ed Hardcover Near Fine
By: Heim, Arnold and Augusto Gansser
Price $49.99 ~ Regular $250.00, You Save $200.01 (80%)
- Item # OP541-838
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
ERIC SHIPTON: THE SIX MOUNTAIN TRAVEL BOOKS Eric Shipton 1985 Hardcover DJ Fine Mulriple copies available
By: Shipton, Eric
Price $39.99 ~ Regular $50.00, You Save $10.01 (20%)
- Item # OP5864A-8384
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
ICE-BOUND HEIGHTS OF THE MUSTAGH: AN ACCOUNT OF TWO SEASONS OF PIONEER EXPLORATION AND HIGH CLIMBING IN THE BALTISTAN HIMALAYA Fanny and William Workman 1908 1st UK ed Hardcover Very Good
By: Workman, Fanny Bullock and William Hunter
Price $365.00 ~ Regular $600.00, You Save $235.00 (39%)
- Item # OP854A-861p
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
STRAIGHT UP: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JOHN HARLIN James Ramsay Ullman 1968 1st ed Hardcover DJ Near Fine Multiple Copies Available
By: Ullman, James Ramsey
Price $9.95 ~ Regular $29.95, You Save $20.00 (67%)
- Item # OP99-8416
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
WITH BARE HANDS: THE STORY OF THE HUMAN SPIDER Alain Robert 2008 Hardcover DJ New
By: Robert, Alain
Price $19.99 ~ Regular $34.95, You Save $14.96 (43%)
- Item # BK2401-860
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
CLIMBING ICE Yvon Chouinard 1978 1st ed Hardcover No DJ Fine SIGNED by Steve Roper and Allen Steck
By: Chouinard, Yvon, Steve Roper, Doug Robinson
Price $95.00 ~ Regular $175.00, You Save $80.00 (46%)
- Item # OP21D-850p
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
THE ASCENT OF DENALI Hudson Stuck 1914 1st US ed Hardcover Bright and Fine
By: Stuck, Hudson
Price $550.00
- Item # OP420E-850
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
MOUNT MCKINLEY: THE PIONEER CLIMBS Terris Moore 1967 1st ed Hardcover DJ Near Fine Multiple Copies Available
By: Moore, Terris
Price $9.95 ~ Regular $50.00, You Save $40.05 (80%)
- Item # OP600C-8542
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart