Climbing Pikes Peak in the best summertime conditions can be a challenge. Doing so on New Year’s Eve is a big-time achievement. Welcome to the Pikes Peak AdAmAn Club, whose members climb the icy Barr Trail on the east face of Pikes Peak in order to set off fireworks to ring in the New Year.

The tradition dates to 1922 when the original Frozen Five traipsed up the iconic peak overlooking Colorado Springs. The ascent actually begins on Dec. 30 when the party of roughly 30 members hikes to Barr Camp. Summit is made the next day.

“The climb from timberline (12,000 feet) to the 14,110-foot summit is often accomplished on icy and snow swept slopes with wind chills of -50 degrees,” according to the AdAmAn website. “At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, we fire a spectacular fireworks display, which on a clear night, can be seen for hundreds of miles along the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies and eastern plains.”

The original Frozen Five were Fred Barr (he built the trail), Ed Morath, Fred Morath, Willis Magee and Harry Standley. They decided that each year, one new person could be added to their club, thus AdAmAn (add a man). New members are chosen from a list of applicants, most of whom have extensive mountaineering experience.

If your able to enjoy the fireworks from a distance this year, swing by Pikes Peak Brewery and grab their winter warmer to enjoy with the colorful display. Brewed in honor of the AdAmAn club, the robust stout boasts cinnamon, orange and ginger. A high abv (8.3%) and local honey help round out the seasonal.

Great beer and fireworks make for a great combo to ring in the New Year, you can learn more about the club, including its history and a list of its members, at adaman.org.