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Kain Route (South Ridge)

5.6, Trad, Alpine, 1500 ft (455 m), 4 pitches, Grade III,  Avg: 3.3 from 158 votes
FA: Mr. and Mrs. A.H.MacCarthy, J.Vincent, C.Kain - Aug 1916
International > N America > Canada > British Columbia > Columbia-Shushwap > Bugaboos > Bugaboo Spire
Warning Access Issue: SNOWPATCH SPIRE ROCKFALL DetailsDrop down

Description

By way of the N. lateral moraine of Bugaboo glacier and snowfield to the Snowpatch-Bugaboo col above which the S. arete is followed. Scramble up ledges easily for more then 500' to the base of a steep chimney where the rope is put on. Climb chimney (120';two leads; strenuous) to crest of ridge leading to base of formidable gendarme. Two leads on the gendarme reach groove where belay is established for the crux. Leader moves up vertical wall in cracks and over left-hand corner brings him to the base of a steep, curving crack which is ascended, leading to a short finger traverse (left) into a gully. Climb gully (10') to belay ledge behind gendarme. Thence a short climb to the summit, a second point of equal height at the N.E. being reached over a short but difficult bit of broken arete, in the middle section of which a 20' doubled rope is used to facilitate return.

The above taken verbatim from the 1955 AAC publication "A Climber's Guide to the Interior Ranges of British Columbia" by James Monroe Thorington.

Conrad Kain considered this his hardest lead - although modern techniques and equipment has certainly knocked the edge off. His Mount Robson route remains quite an undertaking.

Descend the route via rappels and scrambling.

Protection

Standard alpine rack. Ice-axe and possibly crampons.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Picture of the Kain Route taken from Pigeon Spire.
[Hide Photo] Picture of the Kain Route taken from Pigeon Spire.
Route Overlay Descent from Bugaboo Spire.
[Hide Photo] Route Overlay Descent from Bugaboo Spire.
Conrad Kain, alpine superhero.
[Hide Photo] Conrad Kain, alpine superhero.
Brennen on the summit
[Hide Photo] Brennen on the summit
Kain Route, Bugaboo Spire<br>
Photo by MP conributor Kevin Craig<br>
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White dots - Kain Route (south ridge)<br>
Red dots - Rappel at Great Gendarme<br>
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In the distance, Vowell Glacier and Mount Conrad (Kain).
[Hide Photo] Kain Route, Bugaboo Spire Photo by MP conributor Kevin Craig White dots - Kain Route (south ridge) Red dots - Rappel at Great Gendarme In the distance, Vowell Glacier and Mount Conrad (Kain).
From the base of the final belayed pitch
[Hide Photo] From the base of the final belayed pitch
Approaching the gendarme on the Kain route. Climber is in the lower right of the photo. The summit of Bugaboo is in the upper left of the photo.
[Hide Photo] Approaching the gendarme on the Kain route. Climber is in the lower right of the photo. The summit of Bugaboo is in the upper left of the photo.
More vistas from the scrambling part of the route (taken on descent) Tony Tennessee and Fred Batliner.
[Hide Photo] More vistas from the scrambling part of the route (taken on descent) Tony Tennessee and Fred Batliner.
View from the South Summit
[Hide Photo] View from the South Summit
Climbers on the upper Kain Route.
[Hide Photo] Climbers on the upper Kain Route.
Crux pitch on the Kain route,
[Hide Photo] Crux pitch on the Kain route,
The hordes waiting to rappel (left) and climb (right) The Gendarme - looking down from near summit.
[Hide Photo] The hordes waiting to rappel (left) and climb (right) The Gendarme - looking down from near summit.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

MoonMountainMan
Bellingham, WA
 
[Hide Comment] Here is a little video I took while soloing the Kain Route on The Bugaboo Spire on 8/15/13. youtube.com/watch?v=VtgRAHy… Aug 19, 2013
RKM
Alpine, Utah and Almo, ID
 
[Hide Comment] Absolutely killer video! And, the best way to do it. Sep 4, 2013
OReid
Denver, CO
 
[Hide Comment] Great route! But it should be noted that Mr. Kain was a colossal badass, and some moves on the gendarme feel a lot harder than your typical 5.6, particularly the short friction traverse moving around the corner! Jul 26, 2022
John Sasso
Grand Junction
[Hide Comment] Anyone been on Kain Route lately? Also, any info on Snowpatch Col closure? Jul 14, 2023
Chris C
Seattle, WA
  5.8
[Hide Comment] Note that the new book puts this route at 5.8 Aug 4, 2023
Chris Owen
Big Bear Lake
  5.8
[Hide Comment] 5.6 is the consensus rating - right or wrong. Aug 4, 2023
Nicholas Moline
Denver, CO
[Hide Comment] WARNING: there is an offwidth crack near the start of the gendarme pitch that I got my knee stuck in. It’s not a hard section but if you thigh jam it to stay secure then you might get stuck like I did. Took an hour to get out and was helped by a friendly Spanish climber coming down off the NE ridge before weather rolled in. Supposedly I’m not the first to get stuck in this crack and a previous rescue was an 8 Hr SAR ordeal complete with a helicopter, car jack, and olive oil. It’s a really inconvenient spot for a debilitating injury too since you’re either self rescuing back across the ridge or down the face of the spire to the glacier. Best bet might be to go down and around right of this crack since most people aren’t bringing 4” and 5” pro anyway.

If you’re the guy who rescued me, shoot me a dm somewhere because I definitely owe you a beer! Otherwise this route was really fun up to the point we got. Crux move looked fun. Can’t wait to heal up and go back! Jul 23, 2025