Foster William Wasbrough

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Biografie:
Foster machte zusammen mit dem berühmten österreichischen Führer Conrad Kain 1913 die erste Besteigung und zugleich die erste Überschreitung des Mount Robson, genannt „König der Kanadischen Rockies", den der englische Bergsteiger L. L. Mumm mit seinem Führer Inderbinen zweimal zu besteigen versuchte, aber wegen der Lawinengefahr umkehrte. Daraufhin erklärte Inderbinen: „Ich habe dem Tod noch nie so nah gesehen", während Conrad erklärte, dass der Aufstieg die schwierigste und gefährlichste Expedition war, die er in Kanada unternommen hatte.
Der anderer große Aufstieg war der auf den Mt. Logan in der südwestlichen Ecke des Yukon-Territoriums. Ein etwa zwölf Kilometer langes Plateau mit einer Breite von fünf bis sieben Meilen, aus dem sich eine Reihe von Gipfeln erheben, von denen der höchste am östlichen Ende des Plateaus liegt. Nach einer zehnwöchigen Erkundung im Jahr 1924 wurde der Mount Logan bestiegen. Billy Foster war ein sehr überlegter und sicherer Bergsteiger.

1913 1.Best.Mount Robson,3954m, (Kanadisch Rocky Mountains) mit Albert H. MacCarthy, Conrad Kain
1925 1.Best.Mount Logan,5959m, (Kluane Nationalpark,Rocky Mountains,Kanada)
G.Schauer


William Wasbrough Foster (1875·- 1954)
BY the death of Major-General William Wasbrough Foster, C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D., of the Canadian Service, with fifteen decorations and many citations in War dispatches during the four years he was at the front in Europe during the First World War and in command of the defences of the western half of Canada during the Second World War, Canada and Great Britain have lost one of their most distinguished officers and accomplished citizens. Fortunately, his military services and activities in civil, social and business life have been recorded in the official history of both wars and of the intervening and following years ; therefore, although his passing brings to an end his leadership, the influence of his high standards and accomplishments will endure for emulation.
I first met Colonel Foster in the Canadian Alpine Club Camp in 1911, and :we began climbing together, a close association that endured for over forty years that brought us together in subsequent Club camps, on inspection trips over the Alcan Highway both by plane and by car when, as a Major-General, the Canadian Section of the highway came under his command, and in later years on extended inspection tours of hydro and diesel power plants in Western British Columbia when he was a member of the B.C. Power Commission.
Our first important climb together was with the famous Austrian guide, Conrad Kain, when, in 1913, we made the first ascent and traverse of Mt. Robson, called the ' King of the Canadian Rockies,' which the English mountaineer, Mr. A. L. Mumm, with his guide, Inderbinen, twice tried to climb but turned back because of the dangers of avalanches; about which Inderbinen declared, ' I never before saw death so near,' while Conrad declared our climb was the most difficult and dangerous expedition he had made in Canada.
Our other major climb together was that of Mt. Logan in the southwest corner of Yukon Territory, of 19.850 altitude and stated to be the largest single mountain massif known, with an 18.000-ft. plateau about twelve miles long and from five to seven miles wide, out of which rises a number of final peaks, the highest one being at the eastern end of the plateau. Colonel Foster· was the logical man to lead that Canadian American Expedition, but because of official duties, he felt forced to decline the assignment and it descended upon me ; however, after a ten-weeks reconnaissance in 1924 was made to a 10.000-ft. level'- from which further ascent in good weather seemed possible to the 18.000-ft. level, provisions and equipment were freighted in by dog teams early in 1925 and, fortunately, Colonel Foster was able to join the climbing party of eight, six of whom made the successful final ascent from the base camp in 23 days to the final summit on June 23, 1925, for a fifteen minute view and deposit of a record in a brass tube, and then descent and arrival at the base camp five days later. Two members ·turned railhead without difficulty.
During all those backbreaking and exhausting days, I made no vital decisions without first consulting with Foster and to him should be given a large part of the credit for reaching our goal and especially for returning all members of our party to civilisation without serious casualty ; for when the rest of us at the end of a day dropped for rest, Foster, the self-appointed ' Doctor ' of the party, always got out the first-aid kit and efficiently administered treatment to frost-bitten fingers and toes and gave other medication when needed, all of which was extra work beyond the call of his duty.
Billy Foster was a very interesting and safe companion, who always wore well no matter what the circumstances or the dangers might be. He was vvhat is called a good mixer and always had an interesting and appropriate tale of experience, or a story, for that pause during a discussion or controversy which, if not pleasantly broken, might result in serious contention.
When there are more men like him to protect and guide its Nations, the whole world will be a safer and better place for all mankind.
Albert H. MacCarthy
Quelle: Alpine Journal Vol. 60. Nr. 290, 1955, Seite 154-155



Geboren am:
1875
Gestorben am:
1954