Press Release from The AdAmAn Club. See the details below.
AdAmAn Press Release

December 17, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The AdAmAn Club Preparing for 94th Climb

Colorado Springs, Colorado December 17, 2015----------

Preparations for the 94th climb of the AdAmAn Club are in full swing. Since 1922, the AdAmAn club has made its annual winter trek to the summit of Pikes Peak to fire a midnight blast of fireworks to help the Pikes Peak Region ring in the New Year. The club started when Fred Barr (who built Barr Trail) and four of his adventurous friends (Fred Morath, Ed Morath, Willis Magee and Harry Standley) made a New Year’s Eve trek to the summit. That night they set fire to some of the Cog Railway’s surplus railroad ties. Upon their return to the Springs, they discovered that many had seen their fire.

The resulting buzz inspired them to start what has become a long standing tradition for the Pikes Peak region.

After deciding to add only one member a year, the “Frozen Five” named their group the “AdAmAn Club” (Ad - A - mAn with the A's capitalized to depict mountains). Following that tradition, the club is proud to announce it has selected Dr. Scott Smetana as its 98th member. Scott grew up on a farm in Plainville, Kansas. Many trips were taken to Colorado to visit family and the Rocky Mountains. After high school, Scott attended the University of Kansas where he played varsity football. He graduated with honors and was chosen for the academic all Big-8 Football team. He attended Medical School at the University of Kansas in Kansas City where he met and married his wife Penny. Scott is an Ophthalmologist with the Eye Associates of Colorado Springs and has satellite offices in Leadville and Buena Vista.

Scott has climbed with The AdAmAn Club four times as a guest.  For a more detailed bio see:

http://www.adaman.org/Members/scottsmetana.aspx

Dedication
This year's climb is dedicated in memory of AdAmAn member Dr. Al Pierce who passed away November 27, 2015 at the age of 99. Dr. Al was much loved and respected by the Club. For more about Dr. Al, please visit:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gazette/obituary.aspx?n=alson-ford-pierce&pid=176874267

2015 has been an eventful year for the AdAmAn Club and we would like to once again thank the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation for inducting the Club into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame. For more on this honor, visit the Sports Corp's website:

http://coloradospringssports.org/index.php/events/sports-hall-of-fame12

The club will leave the Barr trailhead at 9:00 am on December 30 with Scott breaking trail. The team of climbers will spend the night at Barr Camp and then summit the peak the next afternoon. As part of a long tradition, they will exchange mirror flashes with Colorado Springs from timberline. The flashing will start around 10:30 am, weather permitting.

In honor of the Frozen Five, the club will shoot off five fireworks at 9:00 pm. Then, at the stroke of midnight, and weather permitting, the club will greet the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display from the 14,115-foot summit.

Those interested can learn more about the club, including its history and a list of its members, on the web at http://www.adaman.org. The club's archives are held by the Pioneer Museum.


 
Key AdAmAn Dates:
1st Saturday in December - Annual Member Business Meeting    Annual Dinner
December 29 - Pre-Climb Meeting (for the climbing party)
December 30 - Kick-off Breakfast    Hike to Barr Camp
December 31 - Climb to Summit    9 PM Frozen Five Display    12 PM Fireworks Display
Key AdAmAn Contacts:
Media Info: media@adaman.org
URL:  http://www.adaman.org

Scott Smetana, New Member:
(719) 964-8993
e-mail:  ScottSmetana@adaman.org

Don Sanborn, President:
(719) 661-4853
e-mail:  DonaldSanborn@adaman.org