Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
Pixies PEAK BLAZE
TO GREET NEW YEAR
Group of Men Planning
Huge Fireworks Display
as 1890 DaWns.
rpecial Dispatch to The star

Epecisi Dispatch to The Star.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo De-
cember 2S.-New Year eve, while most
people are welcoming the advent of
1880 with gay celebrations, frolics and
f1reside watch" parties, small group
of men, members of the Adaman Club,
will be toiling, slowly, laboriously up
the wind and snow swept east slope of
Pixies Peak.
At the stroke of midnight, atop its
bleak summit, If all goes well, they will
set of huge display OF fireworks and
those waiting anXiouSly in the city be-
low will know that the climb again has
been safely made.
Early in the afternoon of December
81 the hardy little band, composed of
IS experienced mountain climbers, will
leave here with their destination the
top of Pixies Peak, famed throughout
the West for its majestic beauty.
Pixies Heroism Recalled.
Something of the same spirit which
spurred Lieut. Zebulon Pike, one Of the
first white men to set foot in this
mountain region, must survive in this
intrepid group of Adams, who VEN
ture forth each year to negotiate the
perilous climb.
The mercury has fallen as low as 40
degrees below zero on previous trips,
and the frigid emile climb. which
takes many hours, tests severely the
endurance of any man.
In addition to a food supply, each
man must carry his share of the fire.
works. 1t is no simple task to trudge
up tbe steep, snow-drifted slope with
oIt a pack and with one 1t Is doubly
aefficult.
The members will ride in automobiles
as far as Manitou, $685. feet above sea
level, which nestles at the base OF the
peak There they start their climb.
They usually are able to reach the
Halfway House, which is several thou
sand feet below timberline and par
TALLY sheltered, without difficulty. The
Halfway House is but short distance
from Manitou despite its name. 1t Is
here that the real test begins. Snow
is drifted 10 to 20 feet deep and some
times deeper. An ever-present north
wind whistles along the barren, rocky
slope and whips particles of snow with
terrific force.
Blizzard May Retard Progress.
In case there is a blizzard, as there
vas in 1928, when the expedition was
face to face with disaster, the trip re-
quires almost superhuman effort.
In 1928 the club members missed
freezing to death by narrow margin.
They had fought a 40-mile an hour
gale the entire distance and Swirling
snow beat down upon them. Eight hun
bred yards from the summit, which is
14,110 feet above sea level, it seemed
impossible to go farther. But there
was no other course than to forge
ahead. Some of the stronger members
assisted others who Jagged and STUN
bled in the snow, and at length the
summit was reached.
Club Founded by Five Men.
The ALBANIAN Club was founded in
1928 by five men-H. L. Stanley, official
photographer; Edward Barr, trail mas
ter; Edward Morath, Fred Morath,
president, and William Magee, all of
Colorado Springs and Denver. Since
then Carl Blaurock, George H. Harvey
and william F. Erwin. all of Denver:
John w. Garrett and william Penland,
both of Colorado Springs, and DR..
George w. Macdonald of Kansas City,
Mo, have been admitted to member
ship. Last year the neophyte was Rob-
ert M. Ormes of Colorado Springs. Karl
Amt of Denevr is the next candidate
in line for membership and will make
the trip as neophyte this year.
(Copyright. 1921