Tackling the Manitou Incline!

Today, I finally did something that I have wanted to do for
almost all 33 years that I have lived in Colorado Springs.

I hiked the Manitou Incline. Obviously, if you are not from
the area, you probably could care less. But the Incline is
kind of a special memory in our city.

From 1906 to 1990, it carried passengers from Manitou
Springs, from an elevation of 6,574 feet to the top of
the mountain, elevation 9,450 feet...STRAIGHT up.
The total distance of the hike is just a bit over 1 mile.
But it is one of the toughest miles I have ever hiked!

It took us almost one and a half hours!

2800 FEET STRAIGHT UP! And if you are a flatlander,
you should know there is a serious LACK of oxygen
at these elevations.

At its steepest grade, you face a 68% gradient. To get
an idea, look at the pics I took today...what does a
68% grade look like?

Anyway, at one time you could ride a railway to the
top. Today, the railway is long gone, but everyday,
you can find people hiking this unique trail.

Here is my point. I finally did something that I had
had on a list of things to accomplish. It felt good.
this was one of those things that had been on that
list a long time!

And it removed some doubt as to how I would handle
the hike at 45 years old, and having been VERY inactive
for the past couple of years. I am going to make a goal
to hike Pikes Peak this summer. That is a 13 mile hike
to the summit at 14,115 feet. I have not done this since
high school, if I remember right.

What really felt good was getting out...away from the
computer...out of this chair! I spend WAY too much
time sitting in front of this thing. As the weather now
improves everyday, I plan to make getting outside a
priority.

Try getting outside more where you are...get away for
awhile. I forgot how good it feels.

Living in Colorado gives me a distinct advantage.

My story about the hike will be online at OurSprings.com
in just a few days.