BrewsterConnections - Brewster Academy

Alumni NewsHOOPLAJON LEEBOW ’94WORLD TRAVELER AND EXPLORERCLEVELAND, OHIOJon Leebow and I have been good friends for exactly 14 years. I knowthis because “Leebs” and I share a birth date, though I have a fewyears on him. Lately, however, he’s got more than a few miles on me! Wealso share an interest in travel – travel to unusual, remote areas. We’vetraded post cards for years, and I thought I had him beat with Greenlandunder my belt, but as you’ll see, he’s long surpassed my trails. (He’ll findout as he ages that warmer climes win out in the end!) Leebs also travelsfor business, as he’s a super salesman for Majestic Steel USA based outof Cleveland, Ohio. In excellent shape, Jon trains in advance of his majortrips, including his most recent one with the Explorers Club in which hisparty climbed Kilimanjaro, conducting science research along the way,and just before that to Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica.A year ago January, I undertook an incredible trip. I decided to travelto a different, unusual destination, somewhere that would give meperspective, something I’d gain from in various ways. I contacteda guiding service, Mountain Trip, out of Colorado, and arrangedto climb Mt. Vinson Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica. Thiswas to become a personal challenge for me. I’d been told that only400 people in the entire world, ever, had stood on the top of thismountain, and I was going to be among the next nine.My teammates on my rope included Bo Parfet ‘95, Richard Birrer,a close friend from New York, and our guide Bill Allen. They’re allincredible people, amazing teammates, and now exceptional friends.Bo Parfet ’95 (left) and Jon Leebow ’94 (right) showing off for thecamera with a friend.We all were determined to make it to the summit, though I think weall were – well, I know I was – curious and excited, but also nervous,uncertain of what really lay ahead.Jon Leebow ‘94 at a base camp in AntarcticaI flew out of Cleveland, changed planes in Chicago, and headed toMiami; then to Santiago, Chile; then to Punta Arenas, Chile; whereI met the second “rope” of our team, another five, making our totalparty nine. The second “rope” consisted of a mother-daughter teamfrom Australia and a father-son team from Kansas City, and theirguide, Clark. We all got along very well, worked closely as a totalteam, and became fast friends by the journey’s end.The following day we flew over to the ice in a World War II HerculesC-130 military plane. It was a massive machine, and we seemed tinyas we all sat facing each other across the plane’s massive body. I satnext to a Russian man named Vladimir who spoke very little English.I tested my Russian on him. “Snovem Godem,” “Happy New Year,”and I think we spoke more Russian than English during the flight.It really had not hit me that I’d soon be arriving in Antarctica. Iremember the landing and how incredibly smooth it was. When thedoor of the plane opened, it was as if I’d reached the moon. It seemedcrazy! I felt in total awe of being in such a pristine place. I’d doneeverything I could to prepare for this challenge, had all the properequipment, but still there were some doubts, some unknowns.The average temperature in January is minus 20 degrees, but with thesun shining, and no wind to speak of, it felt a lot warmer. At this timeof the year, their summer, the sun is out 24 hours a day and eventuallyI missed the darkness. I had to wear sunscreen all the time and finallyBrewsterConnections • WINTER/SPRING 200625