Mt. Habrich Climbing and Flying!

Tony Richardson and I profited from this bombastic high pressure system and managed to tick a wold class climb and flight right above the village of Squamish. Our friend Nathan dropped us of at the boulders on the Stawamus Forest Service road and after a three hour approach we locked horns with Mt. Habrich’s west ridge. Normally this is an easy fifth class route but with our monster paragliders to wrestle with, the climb was a bit more sporty! We resorted to hauling in a few spots but made the summit in about an hour from the shoulder. The vistas over to Mt. Baker, Slesse, Garibaldi and the Tantaluls Range reminded us why we call the Coast Mountains home. After a few false starts and line snags on the coarse granite Tony was off! I watched as he soared a hundred feet above the summit on a silky bubble of thermal air. After he was out of sight I managed to inflate and launch on my second go. The flight was buttery and the landing placed us 200 meters from the Howe Sound Brewing Company where we toasted what we suspect was the first ever flight from the top of this magnificent horn of Coastal granite. Thanks to Jason and Nathan for inspiring us with their previous day’s flight off a nearby dome and for the invaluable ground support!

Tony enjoying a thermal bubble

Just before the final grind

Tony throwin down!

Tres Sportif!

High on the Mt. Habrich West Ridge Tantalus Range in the background

Summit Cairn with Black Tusk and Garibaldi behind

Launching! Mt. Slesse and Mt. Baker behind

Take off!

World Class!

only 200 meters from the Pub! Yay!