Trip Report: Mountaineering - Pfiefferhorn via Maybird Headwall
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Mountaineering - Pfiefferhorn via Maybird Headwall By Daniel Hadley |
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| CLIMBING | 05/24/2025 | MSD |
| On the final Saturday of May, members of the Wasatch Mountain Club gathered early at the White Pine Trailhead in Little Cottonwood Canyon for a classic snow ascent of the Pfeifferhorn. The group made steady progress up through Maybird Gulch, where we got our first views of the iconic summit. At the Maybird headwall, we donned crampons and began the climb in earnest. The snow conditions were favorable, allowing for safe spacing and deliberate movement up the initial slope. For the headwall, we established a fixed line with pickets to protect the steeper upper section, allowing participants to safely follow. Once above the headwall, the summit came into full view, rising dramatically above us. The final push to the summit was more exposed than anticipated, with airy snow climbing and no rope protection. Still, with careful footing and determination, everyone reached the summit safely and was rewarded with panoramic views stretching across the Wasatch - from alpine lakes to Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and even the Salt Lake Valley beyond. After taking summit photos and enjoying some well-earned snacks, we began the descent, carefully facing in and kicking steps down the steeper sections. The day's excitement wasn't over yet. The descent included a scenic ridgeline traverse leading back toward Red Pine Lake. After removing our crampons and navigating a short rocky stretch, we were treated to what some call the "best glissade in the Wasatch." The final leg of the trip was a gentle hike out through the blooming meadows of Little Cottonwood Canyon, reminding us that we had truly experienced all four seasons in a single day. |
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