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People & Culture

Photos: Ontario mountaineers recreate legendary first ascent of Bugaboo Spire

100 years ago this week, Conrad Kain became the first person to summit British Columbia's towering Bugaboo Spire. This summer, a group of climbers recreated his historic ascent.

  • Aug 30, 2016
By Ivan Petrov
expedition mountaineering mountains rcgs
The Bugaboo Spire climb team in early 1900s dress Expand Image
A glimpse of the Hound's Tooth through the trees Expand Image
The unforgettable setting of the Applebee campground, perched high above the Alpine Club of Canada's Conrad Kain Hut, served as the base camp for our ascent of Bugaboo Spire Expand Image
Watching a pot of goat stew from the comfort of the canvass tent Expand Image
Rob LeBlanc, Garry Reiss and Natalia Danalachi settle down for a cold night before their first summit attempt Expand Image
The team on the day of the first summit attempt Expand Image
Garry Reiss as Conrad Kain Expand Image
A closeup of the replica hobnail boots used by the mountaineers Expand Image
Garry Reiss leads a more technical pitch of the first ascent route that follows the south ridge of Bugaboo Spire Expand Image
A bouquet of glacier lilies stands gracefully against the striking backdrop of the Hound's Tooth rising high from the Bugaboo Glacier Expand Image
Natalia Danalachi and Rob LeBlanc attain the summit of Bugaboo Spire Expand Image
Expedition leader Bryan Thompson takes a break to enjoy the view during the second summit bid Expand Image
Garry Reiss uses an old­-fashioned waist belay technique Expand Image

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