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.

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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.