PIKES PEAK SUMMIT — Hi, Dean Toda here, filing from the summit house atop Pikes Peak. I’m here after hiking the Barr Trail with the AdAmAn Club, which this afternoon completed a pretty brutal climb for its annual New Year fireworks extravaganza.The problem was the winds, which were vicious this afternoon as we approached the summit. Club members who’ve done this trip dozens of times said the only one worse was last year’s climb, when the problem was extreme cold.But the wind won’t affect the fireworks tonight. Step outside at midnight and look to the top of Pikes Peak for the annual display. And check Friday’s Gazette for photographs and my full report.

EARLIER REPORT

11 a.m Wednesday: AdAmAn club makes its way up the mountain

Take out your binoculars and look just below the summit of Pikes Peak’s east side and you may see the AdAmAn group picking its way up the mountain.The group was at A Frame at 11 a.m., Gazette reporter Dean Toda said in a cell phone call to the newsroom. It is breezy and “not too cold, below freezing, but not too cold.”One member of this year’s group felt ill and turned back this morning, accompanied by another member for safety. Otherwise, Toda said, the remaining 29 hikers are in good spirits.As is custom, they used mirrors to catch the sun’s rays and flash signals from treeline. Toda said it looked as though they were receiving mirrored signal responses from residents below.The hikers have been taking photos along the way and will attempt to transmit them electronically from the summit. Watch gazettedev.gazette.com for updates this afternoon and tonight. They will set off the annual fireworks show at midnight.

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