Up from Alta via Cardiff Pass. Mostly class 2 with some small moves of class 3. We got off route going up and added a little more class 3 than was needed. Beautiful Labor Day in the Wasatch. Tacked on Superior and Cardiff on our descent.
Rocky Alps - Sep 20, 2010 4:10 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2006
Nice long scramble
Started early, which treated us to some nice views of the rising sunlight on the Alpine Ridge (Pfeifferhorn looked really cool). A lot of fun scrambling, with a little exposure. We saw quite a few goats on neigboring ridges, and even heard a pack of coyotes howling (didn't know they were in this area). From the summit of Monte Cristo we could see the summit of every other 11,000 ft. peak in the Wasatch, except for Provo Peak. I was proud of my wife for being such a good trooper, since she has bad knees and this was the hardest hike (her first time scrambling as well) she had ever been on. See "Little Cottonwood Canyon Doubleheader" trip report for details.
hiked up this afternoon, got lost on the way up - didn't realize you need to STAY ON THE DIRT ROAD! THE ROAD IS THE TRAIL!!! I ended up bushwhacking the hell out of that mountainside.
Got on the trail, got up to the pass where the telephone pole and that shallow cave is, for some reason thought that was superior so i was disappointed when i came around and saw the real superior.
Got up to Superior and then was disappointed to see that Monte Cristo was taller; I assumed it was shorter.
Once on top of Monte Cristo my disappointments were gone, I was stoked to be up there, it was a beautiful day with huge billowy (yet non-stormy) clouds and awesome fall leaves.
about 3 hours up to the top. about 2 hours down.
vanman798 - Oct 22, 2007 1:18 am Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2007
Made it to the pass
Started hiking at 8:45 am, Saturday Oct 20, 2007. At Alta there was about 6 inches of snow on the road leading up to Cardiff pass. By 10:00am it started snowing, and the wind was blowing. Once we got up to the saddle, it was really coming down and blowing hard, the drifts on the north side were at times waist deep. Without snow shoes, we decided to turn around at the hut by the antenna. It was great to be in a snow storm this early in the season, even though we didn't get to summit Superior!
Used this route again on May 16, 2008 to climb Superior and Monte Cristo. This time we bagged both peaks, then skied down the SE face of Superior.
BKiser90 - Sep 2, 2024 1:07 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2024
Easy Way to Climb Monte SuperiorUp from Alta via Cardiff Pass. Mostly class 2 with some small moves of class 3. We got off route going up and added a little more class 3 than was needed. Beautiful Labor Day in the Wasatch. Tacked on Superior and Cardiff on our descent.
Wisemtn - Jul 7, 2017 3:02 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2011
Cardiff/Superior#2 - 6/20/15
Rocky Alps - Sep 20, 2010 4:10 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2006
Nice long scrambleStarted early, which treated us to some nice views of the rising sunlight on the Alpine Ridge (Pfeifferhorn looked really cool). A lot of fun scrambling, with a little exposure. We saw quite a few goats on neigboring ridges, and even heard a pack of coyotes howling (didn't know they were in this area). From the summit of Monte Cristo we could see the summit of every other 11,000 ft. peak in the Wasatch, except for Provo Peak. I was proud of my wife for being such a good trooper, since she has bad knees and this was the hardest hike (her first time scrambling as well) she had ever been on. See "Little Cottonwood Canyon Doubleheader" trip report for details.
jareds - Sep 29, 2008 10:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2008
Sweethiked up this afternoon, got lost on the way up - didn't realize you need to STAY ON THE DIRT ROAD! THE ROAD IS THE TRAIL!!! I ended up bushwhacking the hell out of that mountainside.
Got on the trail, got up to the pass where the telephone pole and that shallow cave is, for some reason thought that was superior so i was disappointed when i came around and saw the real superior.
Got up to Superior and then was disappointed to see that Monte Cristo was taller; I assumed it was shorter.
Once on top of Monte Cristo my disappointments were gone, I was stoked to be up there, it was a beautiful day with huge billowy (yet non-stormy) clouds and awesome fall leaves.
about 3 hours up to the top. about 2 hours down.
vanman798 - Oct 22, 2007 1:18 am Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2007
Made it to the passStarted hiking at 8:45 am, Saturday Oct 20, 2007. At Alta there was about 6 inches of snow on the road leading up to Cardiff pass. By 10:00am it started snowing, and the wind was blowing. Once we got up to the saddle, it was really coming down and blowing hard, the drifts on the north side were at times waist deep. Without snow shoes, we decided to turn around at the hut by the antenna. It was great to be in a snow storm this early in the season, even though we didn't get to summit Superior!
Used this route again on May 16, 2008 to climb Superior and Monte Cristo. This time we bagged both peaks, then skied down the SE face of Superior.