Avalanche: Pfeifferhorn

The two 43 year old men were attempting to climb the east ridge of the Pfeifferhorn and triggered a small pencil hard wind slab on the steep southeast flank of the ridge. While the avalanche was reported to be small, both were carried over 150’ cliff-bands onto the snow-slope below. A rescue call came in at 1014 a.m., and the Search and Rescue teams with both Salt Lake and Utah counties responded, along with Wasatch Backcountry Rescue. Strong winds precluded the initial use of aircraft, WBR teams skied in from the White Pine Trailhead, only to be met by other team flown in a couple hours later. The rescue personnel were able to stabilize both men and sled them down to a safe landing zone on the Utah county side, where helicopters transported them down to a hospital in Salt Lake. It is not known whether they carried any rescue equipment, had avalanche training or had called the avalanche advisory.