Flight Simulator on Slhanay in Squamish stakes its claim as a technical trad climb that demands both grit and finesse. From the moment you spot the second-pitch corner from the base, it catches your eye with quiet authority, beckoning you upward. This route stretches 400 feet across four pitches, blending thin, often flaring cracks with bolted slabs and subtle face climbing that rewards precision and commitment. The granite’s coarse texture underlines every move, while scattered quartz crystals press against your skin, reminding you of the mountain’s raw edge.

The climb opens with a compact finger and thin hand crack on pitch one, a solid intro that skirts between .10d and .11a in difficulty, warming arms and opening focus for what lies ahead. It’s the short-lived crux here is a quick battle, muscles flexing to gain purchase before segueing into calmer terrain.

Then comes pitch two, the heartbeat of Flight Simulator. Bolted slab climbing leads to a tight technical corner, where thin, incipient cracks demand mastery of delicate jams and precise footwork. The corner narrows, testing your ability to make those subtle, weight-shifting moves that define sharp granite climbing. The crux pitches in as an almost invisible whisper of challenge—thinner and more exacting, requiring full attention to keep your jams locked and body engaged. The sun’s glare often magnifies the difficulty here, making tape a sensible choice for protecting skin against abrasive quartz edges.

Pitch three shifts direction up and right, protected by three bolts guarding a seemingly blank face. Crimps and tricky footholds—granite that urges you to look closely for holds—take center stage. The technical moves here are subtle yet rewarding, with the granite’s texture providing just enough friction when you trust your placements and foot placement. Soon the climbing eases near a horizontal crack, and the route meanders back left to the anchor, a slight relief before the final pitch.

The last pitch loosens from the faintly painful finger crack into a more generous thin hand crack, giving a welcome breather before the descent. From here, you can either rappel the entire route on a single 70-meter rope or belay and scramble rightward for a walk-off descent. For those eager to extend the adventure, an easy bulge above offers a path to Slhanay’s summit and its expansive views.

Protection on Flight Simulator ranges from finger to blue #3 Camalots, with most placements solid and well-spaced. Nuts provide supplementary options, though their use is minimal on this line. All anchors are bolted and ready for efficient rappelling. The route’s sharp quartz texture means tape is highly recommended, especially for pitch two, where abrasion and sun combine to challenge skin and nerves alike.

Slhanay itself stands as a rugged granite peak overlooking Squamish and Howe Sound, part of a climbing area that rewards the observant and prepared. This route blends technical climbing with a solid approach and descent, ideal for climbers looking to push their trad skills with a route that tests both mind and muscle. Plan your day to avoid the hottest sun during the core pitches, carry tape, and approach with an understanding of the sustained nature of the corner and slab climbing.

Flight Simulator is a standout choice for seasoned trad climbers drawn to challenging corners and technical slab sequences. It offers a route that is as much a mental game as a physical one, with granite that dares you to read it carefully and move precisely. Whether you climb to rappel or continue to the summit, this route delivers a memorable Squamish experience steeped in focus, effort, and granite interaction.