Hiking the Pfeifferhorn

I am finally able to cross this off my list. I have been wanting to hike the Pfeifferhorn for ages. We tried last weekend but we were hailed on. We tried again this weekend and couldn't have asked for better weather. However, it was not uneventful. Not even 2 miles in, our friend Greg got his clock cleaned by a fallen tree. It knocked him flat on his butt. It was so funny. I can't help but chuckle even now just thinking about it. Nice view down into the Salt Lake Valley from the Red Pine trail.


We soon made it up to Lower Red Pine Lake, and then found the trail up the bench to Upper Red Pine Lake.
From here we started the steep climb up the ridge to the crest where we got our first good look of the Pfeifferhorn, Mt. Timpanogos, and Box Elder Peak. This picture is looking down on Upper Red Pine Lake and gives a proper impression of the "steepness" of the climb. It's about a 700 ft climb according to some random and probably false, internet source.

Climbing around the rocky crest was everyone's favorite part. The little black dot in both pictures is Tom navigating his way around the jagged boulders. Just like a mountain goat!
Greg also enjoying himself.

And a nice picture of Maybird Gulch (I think that is what it is called). Pretty awesome. Hey, snow.
The final 400 foot climb to the top of the Pfeifferhorn was also quite steep, but very rewarding. The views from up here are spectacular!Thanks Tom and Greg for making great hiking comrades and helping me get this hike off my list. We made it with minimal injuries. Thank you Greg for not giving up after almost getting decapitated early on. I really have not laughed so hard in a very long time. Thank you. It's a wonder he only made it out with a stiff neck. Well done.

Moab

Here is a belated accounting of our recent trip to Moab. We picked one of the hottest weekends to go down, and having AC and a shower was a brillant idea of mine. Parts of the rest of the trip, not so brillant.

We went with our friends Greg and Esther and really had a great time. We woke up really early Saturday morning and drove to The Needles district of Canyonlands National Park. We picked a nice 11 miler through Elephant Canyon to Druid Arch. It was beautiful.

Tom chose to take a walking stick on principle. I just happened to have them in the trunk. Gift from work.

Here we are getting close to the end. Or so we thought. Me, just before I realize we missed our turnoff to get back to our car. It's 2:00 pm in the afternoon 110 degrees, and we have no water. Tom and I had been walking for quite a while in the wrong direction and we figured we should keep going on the trail and hope it would lead us to the campground and water on the map. And it did. At campground we found Park Rangers who gave us a lift back to our car 3 miles away. Fortunately, Greg and Esther did not make the same mistake and they were waiting for us.

In our defense, the Rangers said the junction was known as Lost Man's Pass. I guess it happens all the time. I would like to make a suggestion to the National Park Service for better signage for the stupid hikers such as Tom and I. Regardless, a big "thank you" to Park Rangers for the ride.

Back in Moab, Tom and Greg really put their Mongoose's to work on the Slickrock trail. I am surprised the 13 year old bikes survived it.

Then we did a quick drive through Arches on our way home. Very quick trip. We hope to get back in October and spend more time when it is not so hot! Here is a picture of the Fiery Furnace. A far away view of Delicate Arch.

And a great pic from our car. Anywhere you turn you can get a great picture. Arches is so beautiful, there is no place like it.