Braving cold temperatures, wind gusts of 20 mph and 2-3 foot deep snow pack, Priscilla Clayton, third from right in yellow jacket, and other climbers with the AdAmAn Club make their way up Barr Trail on Pikes Peak on their way to the 14,115 foot summit on Dec. 31, 2019. The group makes their ascent of Pikes Peak to put on the New Year fireworks display from the summit of the mountain. This is the group’s 98th hike up the peak.
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Motivated. Bonded. Dedicated. Exuberant. Committed. Friendly. Teamwork. Camaraderie. Brotherhood, and more recently, sisterhood, too. All of these words describe a group of hikers called (add a man).
Tradition, though, seems to be the word that resonates most for this eclectic group The hiking club, which celebrated its 98th year, is steeped in a history intertwined with that of Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak itself, the prominent Colorado fourteener at the heart of their club.
The club started in 1922 with brothers Ed and Fred Morath who organized the “Gazette Pikes Peak Watch Party” on New Year’s Eve. With three others, including Fred Barr, who constructed the now well-known Barr Trail to the summit, the five founding members became known as the Frozen Five. These hearty men packed powder and flares up Pikes Peak to gain the summit before the new year.
According to the group’s website “decided that, because the average social events of New year’s consisted of somewhat boring parties and dances, they would venture to do something unique and that no one had done before. They would climb Pikes Peak in the dead of winter on New Year’s Eve. Their equipment that day consisted of hobnail boots, breeches, stocking caps, sheepskin coats and silk stocking for face masks.” The group, carrying fireworks, also picked up flares along the way discarded by railroad workers. The crew set off their fireworks and flares at midnight to bring in the new year. That night was the beginning of a Colorado tradition
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Climber David Artusi reads by headlamp against frozen windows inside Barr Camp after he and other climbers completed the first day of the AdAmAn Club's annual hike up Pikes Peak on Dec. 30, 2019.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Boots dry out near the fire inside Barr Camp after the climbers completed the first day of the AdAmAn Club's annual hike up Pikes Peak on Dec. 30, 2019.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Climber Mark Szabo, center, hugs Nick Baki, right, outside of Barr Camp before climbers head out to make the push for the summit during the annual AdAmAn's club hike up Pikes Peak on Dec. 31, 2019. The yearly climb is meaningful to climbers so when they can't make it for certain reasons it can be quite emotional. Baki and two other climbers were forced to head back down to Manitou Springs because of sickness and were unable to complete their annual climb.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Climbers head out from Barr Camp towards Barr Trail to finish the annual AdAmAn's club hike up Pikes Peak on Dec. 31, 2019.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
The sun rises as Veteran climber Bill Slaughter, right, makes his way up Barr Trail with other climbers heading to the summit. Slaughter, 77, was the oldest member of the club to summit this year. He has summited Pikes Peak 151 times.
Climbers Cindy Bowles, left, her husband Chuck, center, and Scott Smetana, right, make their way along the Barr trail as the sun rises in the east as they and other climbers head to the summit.
Climber Wally Winniger, left, looks towards the summit as he and other climbers reach the nine mile marker along their hike up Barr trail on their way towards the summit.
Braving cold temperatures, wind gusts of 20 mph and 2-3 foot deep snow pack, climbers with the AdAmAn Club make their way up Pikes Peak on their way to the 14,115 foot summer.
Braving cold temperatures and 2-3 foot deep snow pack, climbers Scott Smetana, left, and David Artusi, right, brace themselves against the wind as it whips around a corner as they and other climbers with the AdAmAn Club make their way up Pikes Peak on their way to the 14,115 foot summer.
With the reflection of Pikes Peak in his rose colored goggles Climber Dave Kosley looks towards the summit while hiking on the Barr trail during the annual AdAmAn's club annual hike up Pikes Peak on December 31, 2019 on Pikes Peak in the Pike National Forest near Manitou Springs, Colorado.
Keeping his head down against wind gusts of 20 mph, climber Mike Reeder carefully makes his way along a steep snow covered trail as he head towards the summit of Pikes Peak.
Climbers from left to right Jack Donley, Dan Stuart, and Chuck Fogelman, right, reach the summit of Pikes Peak as the large mountain casts its shadow onto the landscape below during the annual AdAmAn's club annual hike up Pikes Peak.
Climber Mark Szabo, right, helps Chuck Fogelman, left, organize the fireworks inside canisters at the summit of Pikes Peak.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
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Climber David Artusi reads by headlamp against frozen windows inside Barr Camp after he and other climbers completed the first day of the AdAmAn Club's annual hike up Pikes Peak on Dec. 30, 2019.
Members of the AdAmAn club come together during the last two days of December to hike the 13-mile long Barr Trail to reach the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak before the end of the year. This year members as old as 77 and as young as 22 joined the hike. Longtime member Ted Lindeman completed his 50th climb with the club. “34 hikes!” “26 hikes!” “19 hikes!” “ 6 hikes!” Members all know exactly how many times they have summited their favorite peak.
They also know the intricacies of the trail — where it might get hard, what the winds might be like at the 16 Golden Stairs or near the Cirque, well-known landmarks along the trail. They look forward to arriving at A-Frame, three-quarters of the way up the trail, where they use signal mirrors to flash down the mountain to eagerly awaiting friends and family members in Colorado Springs who can see the flashing light and know that the hikers are making safe progress up the mountain.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Climbers Mark Szabo, left, Chris Mattingly, center, and Tom Lear, right, use signal mirrors to flash friends and family all the way down in Colorado Springs that they have arrived at the A-frame shelter along their hike up Barr trail on their way towards the summit during the annual AdAmAn's club hike up Pikes Peak on Dec. 31, 2019.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Braving cold temperatures and 2-3 foot deep snow pack, Luke Stark, 22, puts his back against the 20mph wind gusts as he and other climbers with the AdAmAn Club make their way up Pikes Peak on their way to the 14,115 foot summer on Dec. 31, 2019 on Pikes Peak in the Pike National Forest near Manitou Springs. The group makes their annual AdAmAn ascent of Pikes Peak to put on the yearly New Year fireworks display from the summit of the mountain. This is the group's 98th hike up the peak.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Tom Lear, right, looks towards the summit as he and other climbers carefully walk along a steep snow-filled embankment as they near the summit of Pikes Peak on the Barr trail during the annual AdAmAn's club annual hike up Pikes Peak on Dec. 31, 2019 on Pikes Peak in the Pike National Forest near Manitou Springs. The group makes their annual AdAmAn ascent of Pikes Peak to put on the yearly New Year fireworks display from the summit of the mountain. This is the group's 98th hike up the peak.
When the going gets tough for the last 2 miles, as the snow deepens and the winds begin to howl, members put on extra layers of clothes, offer words of encouragement and push up the steep terrain.
No man or woman is ever left behind. No matter what. If climbers fall behind, others will summit and come down to help carry gear and get everyone to the top. This is the group’s longest-standing tradition.
High fives, slaps on the back, hugs and some tears shed at the top made for another successful summit in 2019. With a lot of hooting and hollering, the team members then begin the task of setting up the highly anticipated fireworks show from the summit. In remembrance of the original Frozen Five, five flares are set off at 9 pm. Then a dazzling display of fireworks is set off at exactly midnight to ring in what will be the club’s 99th year … the year 2020.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Fireworks are shot into the air on the summit of Pikes Peak at exactly midnight by the AdAmAn Club on Jan. 1, 2020.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Fireworks and flares are shot into the air on the summit of Pikes Peak at exactly midnight by the AdAmAn Club on Jan. 1, 2020.
BY THE NUMBERS
5
The Frozen Five who were the founding members of the AdAmAn Club: Fred Morath, Ed Morath, Willis Magee, Harry Standley and Fred Barr.
101
Current members
3
Female members: Sue Graham, since 1997; Cindy Bowles, since 2004; and Ann Nichols, since 2011
14,115
Height in feet at the summit of Pikes Peak
13
Miles of Barr Trail from Manitou Springs to the summit of Pikes Peak
7,390
Feet of elevation gain along the Barr Trail to the summit
-30
Wind chill factors in degrees Fahrenheit at the top on summit day
15-20
Mph of wind gusts near the summit
28
Climbers who summited this year.
98
Years of the AdAmAn Club’s annual hike up Pikes Peak, which first started in 1922.
77
Age of Bill Slaughter, the oldest climber to finish the hike this year and oldest active member of the club. He has summited Pikes Peak 151 times.
22
Age of Luke Stark, the youngest climber of the group to summit.
50
The amount of climbs Ted Lindeman has completed with the AdAmAn Club. He became a member in 1973.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Climbers carefully walk along a ridge line in ankle deep snow as they near the summit of Pikes Peak on the Barr trail during the annual AdAmAn's club annual hike up Pikes Peak on Dec. 31, 2019 on Pikes Peak in the Pike National Forest near Manitou Springs. The group makes their annual AdAmAn ascent of Pikes Peak to put on the yearly New Year fireworks display from the summit of the mountain. This is the group's 98th hike up the peak.
