New Big Ice Line on Mount Habrich in Squamish

Jason Ammerlaan and Alistair Davis climbed a new big ice route to the summit of Mount Habrich above Squamish this week.

It has been cold and snowy in the alpine above Squamish and many classic and new routes have been climbed.

Kris Wild had posted a picture to the West Coast Ice Facebook page, which led to a number of climbers wondering if it had been climbed.

That led to top winter climber Jason Kruk posting, “I’ve been up there a few times to climb. I had a winter rack stashed in a cave up there. Never seen that much ice out right tho. The clock is ticking for anything solar. The approach is tricky either way you go. I would actually recommend snowshoes over skis.”

The end result is Life on Mars, a three-pitch 180-metre WI3 ice climb that takes you to the top of one of the more well-known peaks near the Howe Sound.

The name comes from a David Bowie song and works with the already popular rock climb called Life on Earth, which climbs near Life on Mars. For more on West Coast Ice, join the Facebook group here.