Met a group of people from SummitPost, including Cougarclimber, Ammon Hatch, climbingchic, elessar, and madjohnbo. elessar's friend Lars also came along.
Left the White Pine trailhead at around 5:15am, made it up the Pfeifferhorn's east ridge at around 10am. Decided to turn around due to time and safety (the summit pyramid was a bit more than some people wanted to stomach).
Snow conditions were inconsistent. Used (and definitely needed) snow shoes on the way in, but the was a mix of hard icy snow (good for crampons) with patches of crust over power (better for snow shoes), with a good measure of hidden (and not so hidden) rocks thrown in for good measure. I decided to leave the crampons at the trailhead and just used my MSR snow shoes. They were great for most of the trip, but as we got on the steeper sections of the ridge I wished that I had brought the crampons.
Avalanche conditions were the best of the season when we went, but I was still a little nervous. I noticed a few point-release sluffs on steep side slopes on the way out that I hadn't noticed on the way in.
Beautiful scenery. Definitely worth doing.
Our planning fo the trip happened in this thread: http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=23718&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=150
mightykev - May 20, 2007 7:39 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2007
first time!
Went up Red Pine to the ridge and went straight to the summit. Came back the same way and glissaded from the ridge above red pine back to the lake. Awesome climb :)
soccerman - Feb 28, 2007 6:26 am Date Climbed: Feb 17, 2007
Via Red Pine
Went to the base of it after traversing the ridge. Didn't like the avalanche danger and decided to not test the fates this day.
Went again on June 30, 2007 and finished easily this time. A much easier hike in the summer. Went via Red Pine again.
Lubos - Feb 26, 2007 2:40 am Date Climbed: Feb 25, 2006
via red pine
I just did Pfeifferhorn today again, during the heavy snow storm. It was awesome. I was breaking trail all the way up and all the way down because of the mass of new snow and strong wind. It took me 12,5 hours roundtrip. This mountain is great.
CubicleSlave - Feb 21, 2007 6:41 am Date Climbed: Feb 17, 2007
Almost
Didn't like the look of the avalanche danger on the final summit.. stopped at the ridge.. I'll bag this one pretty soon though!
Lubos - Feb 11, 2007 5:43 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2007
Pfeifferhorn - Red Pine
It seems to be one of my favorite peaks this year. Went up classically over the Red Pine lake. It was sunny but very cold windy day. No one on the mountain all day.
Bassoon - Dec 18, 2006 3:36 am Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2006
I'll get you yet..
First mountaineering trip. Went up via Red Pine Lake trail, but we didn't make the summit because of bad snow conditions.
danthaman1080 - Nov 1, 2006 3:51 am Date Climbed: Oct 31, 2006
a great winter ascent
We made it in the snow, been up here before in the summer. Quite a view from the top. The final climb to the top was interesting. Luckily neither one of us slipped.
apachedino - Oct 7, 2006 5:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2004
Nice Glissading
Attempted once in the winter, but turned back due to unfavorable conditions. Once int he summer via red pine and another as a part of the spectacular Beatout hike. Very recomended, just make sure you start early and know your way around Bells from above. I hope to come back for a winter attempt on the North Ridge.
Outdoorpartner - Oct 5, 2006 6:19 am Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2002
This one is always good. I think its best in the winter. The ridge gets pointy, the summit pyramid is steep, and the ride down is usually knee deep powder.
climbingchic - Oct 4, 2006 2:54 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2006
perfect day for a hike!
Always a nice hike! The weather was perfect! Good timing! even gotta listen to conference. And I even got to watch a wedding take place on the top. That was an interesting sight! But back to the hike. I think its the 10th or 12th time on that peak. I like to do it every year. I just wish there was much more scrambling to it! Nice nonetheless! :)
eric9262 - Sep 9, 2006 2:37 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2006
Labor Day labor
Flew in from Atlanta on Labor Day and got a late start. Met 40 people on the Red Pine Lake trail and met 6 more above Red Pine Lake coming off the Phieff. Did some large boulder hopping up to the upper lake. I skipped a portion of the scramble and skirted to the south and was alone on top with gnats. I figured out the ridge scramble on the way down. Hit the trailhead just before dark. Very cool mountain!
Rocky Alps - Aug 21, 2006 8:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2006
Route Climbed: East Ridge via Red Pine Lake
My favorite overall hike in the Central Wasatch to this point. This hike had a little bit of everything, and wasn't as difficult as some of the others I've done. It started off with a trail through aspen and pine trees, wound around Red Pine Lake (with great views of Cottonwood Ridge to the north and lots of colorful wildflowers), had some boulder-hopping from the lake on up to the east ridge, and a short bit of fun scrambling on the east ridge before the final ascent to the summit. Quite a few people were on the mountain this day, which is understandable because for a relatively short hike you get a lot of bang for your buck. The cliff on the summit was pretty cool as well. See "Little Cottonwood Canyon Doubleheader" trip report for details.
Came back and hiked Pfeifferhorn again as part of the Beatout Hike on 6/27/14 with David and Kendrick, where we caught some awesome new views of the west side of the peak (see a "Misty Mountains" trip report for details).
Ed F - Aug 21, 2006 4:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
East Ridge via Red Pine Lake
Very scenic.
J Anderson - Aug 12, 2006 10:11 am Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2004
See ya later nice times
My first and only snow acent. I'd like to do it again.
craghag - Aug 8, 2006 3:44 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2004
Via Red Pine Lake
Great day! I saw lots of people going up and down but was a lone chick on the summit!
pbogen - Aug 7, 2006 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2006
Route: Red Pine Lake
Absolutely gorgeous hike... One of the best I've done anywhere. Sunday morning so basically had the whole trail to ourselves on the way up (there were seven of us). This is a fun & varied trail. The knife edge traverse is simple if you stay on the little cottonwood side of the ridge for most of the way. Trail is steep in parts and it helped to bring a hiking pole for the way down.
Renardo - Aug 6, 2006 9:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2004
Lots of fun!
This is a great mountain! Nice views on the approach and a fun scramble to the summit!
9/9/2001---My first 11'er in the Wasatch!
7/8/2003---Red Pine / Beatout
9/9/2006---Red Pine / Maybird Gulch descent
Began at 330am. Made the summit under an almost full moon at 630am. Cold and windy. Just under the peak on the Dry Creek side, a pack of coyotes sang just as a red sun began peeking over the smoky horizon.
Bruce Christensen - May 28, 2007 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Jan 27, 2007
Red Pine LakeMet a group of people from SummitPost, including Cougarclimber, Ammon Hatch, climbingchic, elessar, and madjohnbo. elessar's friend Lars also came along.
Left the White Pine trailhead at around 5:15am, made it up the Pfeifferhorn's east ridge at around 10am. Decided to turn around due to time and safety (the summit pyramid was a bit more than some people wanted to stomach).
Snow conditions were inconsistent. Used (and definitely needed) snow shoes on the way in, but the was a mix of hard icy snow (good for crampons) with patches of crust over power (better for snow shoes), with a good measure of hidden (and not so hidden) rocks thrown in for good measure. I decided to leave the crampons at the trailhead and just used my MSR snow shoes. They were great for most of the trip, but as we got on the steeper sections of the ridge I wished that I had brought the crampons.
Avalanche conditions were the best of the season when we went, but I was still a little nervous. I noticed a few point-release sluffs on steep side slopes on the way out that I hadn't noticed on the way in.
Beautiful scenery. Definitely worth doing.
Our planning fo the trip happened in this thread: http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=23718&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=150
mightykev - May 20, 2007 7:39 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2007
first time!Went up Red Pine to the ridge and went straight to the summit. Came back the same way and glissaded from the ridge above red pine back to the lake. Awesome climb :)
soccerman - Feb 28, 2007 6:26 am Date Climbed: Feb 17, 2007
Via Red PineWent to the base of it after traversing the ridge. Didn't like the avalanche danger and decided to not test the fates this day.
Went again on June 30, 2007 and finished easily this time. A much easier hike in the summer. Went via Red Pine again.
Lubos - Feb 26, 2007 2:40 am Date Climbed: Feb 25, 2006
via red pineI just did Pfeifferhorn today again, during the heavy snow storm. It was awesome. I was breaking trail all the way up and all the way down because of the mass of new snow and strong wind. It took me 12,5 hours roundtrip. This mountain is great.
CubicleSlave - Feb 21, 2007 6:41 am Date Climbed: Feb 17, 2007
AlmostDidn't like the look of the avalanche danger on the final summit.. stopped at the ridge.. I'll bag this one pretty soon though!
Lubos - Feb 11, 2007 5:43 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2007
Pfeifferhorn - Red PineIt seems to be one of my favorite peaks this year. Went up classically over the Red Pine lake. It was sunny but very cold windy day. No one on the mountain all day.
Bassoon - Dec 18, 2006 3:36 am Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2006
I'll get you yet..First mountaineering trip. Went up via Red Pine Lake trail, but we didn't make the summit because of bad snow conditions.
danthaman1080 - Nov 1, 2006 3:51 am Date Climbed: Oct 31, 2006
a great winter ascentWe made it in the snow, been up here before in the summer. Quite a view from the top. The final climb to the top was interesting. Luckily neither one of us slipped.
apachedino - Oct 7, 2006 5:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2004
Nice GlissadingAttempted once in the winter, but turned back due to unfavorable conditions. Once int he summer via red pine and another as a part of the spectacular Beatout hike. Very recomended, just make sure you start early and know your way around Bells from above. I hope to come back for a winter attempt on the North Ridge.
Outdoorpartner - Oct 5, 2006 6:19 am Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2002
Nice scrambleVery nice alpine lakes along the hike.
renogurt - Oct 5, 2006 2:04 am
Good all yearThis one is always good. I think its best in the winter. The ridge gets pointy, the summit pyramid is steep, and the ride down is usually knee deep powder.
climbingchic - Oct 4, 2006 2:54 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2006
perfect day for a hike!Always a nice hike! The weather was perfect! Good timing! even gotta listen to conference. And I even got to watch a wedding take place on the top. That was an interesting sight! But back to the hike. I think its the 10th or 12th time on that peak. I like to do it every year. I just wish there was much more scrambling to it! Nice nonetheless! :)
eric9262 - Sep 9, 2006 2:37 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2006
Labor Day laborFlew in from Atlanta on Labor Day and got a late start. Met 40 people on the Red Pine Lake trail and met 6 more above Red Pine Lake coming off the Phieff. Did some large boulder hopping up to the upper lake. I skipped a portion of the scramble and skirted to the south and was alone on top with gnats. I figured out the ridge scramble on the way down. Hit the trailhead just before dark. Very cool mountain!
Rocky Alps - Aug 21, 2006 8:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2006
Route Climbed: East Ridge via Red Pine LakeMy favorite overall hike in the Central Wasatch to this point. This hike had a little bit of everything, and wasn't as difficult as some of the others I've done. It started off with a trail through aspen and pine trees, wound around Red Pine Lake (with great views of Cottonwood Ridge to the north and lots of colorful wildflowers), had some boulder-hopping from the lake on up to the east ridge, and a short bit of fun scrambling on the east ridge before the final ascent to the summit. Quite a few people were on the mountain this day, which is understandable because for a relatively short hike you get a lot of bang for your buck. The cliff on the summit was pretty cool as well. See "Little Cottonwood Canyon Doubleheader" trip report for details.
Came back and hiked Pfeifferhorn again as part of the Beatout Hike on 6/27/14 with David and Kendrick, where we caught some awesome new views of the west side of the peak (see a "Misty Mountains" trip report for details).
Ed F - Aug 21, 2006 4:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
East Ridge via Red Pine LakeVery scenic.
J Anderson - Aug 12, 2006 10:11 am Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2004
See ya later nice timesMy first and only snow acent. I'd like to do it again.
craghag - Aug 8, 2006 3:44 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2004
Via Red Pine LakeGreat day! I saw lots of people going up and down but was a lone chick on the summit!
pbogen - Aug 7, 2006 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2006
Route: Red Pine LakeAbsolutely gorgeous hike... One of the best I've done anywhere. Sunday morning so basically had the whole trail to ourselves on the way up (there were seven of us). This is a fun & varied trail. The knife edge traverse is simple if you stay on the little cottonwood side of the ridge for most of the way. Trail is steep in parts and it helped to bring a hiking pole for the way down.
Renardo - Aug 6, 2006 9:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2004
Lots of fun!This is a great mountain! Nice views on the approach and a fun scramble to the summit!
Jeremy Franchow - Aug 4, 2006 10:47 pm
Route climbed: Red Pine9/9/2001---My first 11'er in the Wasatch!
7/8/2003---Red Pine / Beatout
9/9/2006---Red Pine / Maybird Gulch descent
Began at 330am. Made the summit under an almost full moon at 630am. Cold and windy. Just under the peak on the Dry Creek side, a pack of coyotes sang just as a red sun began peeking over the smoky horizon.