May 2012

Manitou Incline Photo Essay

Chris Carruth sent over this Manitou Incline Photo Essay. A big thanks to him capturing a morning of hiking on the Incline. Enjoy!

Daybreak has yet to occur, yet hikers and runners are already starting their trek up the ~2,000 steps.

Daybreak has yet to occur, yet hikers and runners are already starting their trek up the ~2,000 steps.

After topping the first rise, one can look back and get a sense for the elevation that Manitou Springs rests.  At 6,412 ft. this small municipality is at the very foot of Pikes Peak and acts as its gateway.

After topping the first rise, one can look back and get a sense for the elevation that Manitou Springs rests. At 6,412 ft. this small municipality is at the very foot of Pikes Peak and acts as its gateway.

See rest of photos

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Incline Work Day May 12, 2012

Building Fence to Close Barr Parking Lot to Incline Social Trail

Last weekend the Incline Friends held a Manitou Incline workday and about 60 people helped out. Hiking the Incline is still illegal and most likely will continue to be so at least for another few months. In spite of the Incline still not being legal, the focus of the workday was implementing some of the provisions of the Incline Management Plan.

A fence was built around the Barr Trail parking lot. The social trail from the parking lot up to the Incline was covered up. A sign was put up at the bottom of the Incline with the Incline rules. The rules include the controversial no dogs allowed and dawn to dusk rules. The base for a donation tube was also installed.

Thanks to Tim Bergsten of Pikes Peak Sports for these photos of the workday.

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Incline Work Day May 12

Manitou Incline

The Incline Friends have a major volunteer work day planned for the Incine for May 12th. You’ll have the opportunity to be one of the first volunteers to help improve the Maintou Incline. Join the Cities of Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, REI, Incline Friends, Trails and Open Space Coalition, and Friends of the Peak to help

  • Prune vegetation and remove rebar from the trail corridor
  • Install fence around the Barr Parking Lot
  • Close social trails
  • Install wayfinding signs
  • Rehab portions of Barr Trail

Parking is only available at Manitou Springs High School. Buses will transport volunteers to the Barr Parking Lot. Do not park at the Barr Trailhead parking lot as this parking will be reserved for recreational users.

Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m., with work starting at 8 a.m. Work will finish around 3 p.m.

The first bus will leave the high school’s parking lot at 7 a.m., with the second bus leaving at 7:20 a.m.

Please dress in layers so you’re prepared for our Colorado weather; closed toe shoes, water, work gloves, and lunch are a must! Sunscreen and hats are recommended.

Trail work is no fun for dogs, so please leave your pooches at home. This project is limited to those 12 years and older, children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and have a waiver signed by a guardian. Sign-up for the work day at on the REI site.

Please note the Incline is not officially open or legal, hiking the Incline is still considered trespassing. Due to the nature of the Incline, trail work will range from moderate to difficult. If the weather is inclement please visit Incline Friends or Trails and Open Space Coalition that morning to see if the project has been canceled. If canceled the make-up day will be May 19th.

21 year old and over volunteers will get free coupons to enjoy a “tasting” of “Manitou Incline Malbec Wine” at D’Vine Wine in Manitou Springs immediately following the volunteer project.

The Incline Friends ask that you arrive prepared to work since you can hold up your whole group if you aren’t prepared. You shouldn’t have to run back to your car for anything. In the case of this work day, that would mean a long trek from the Barr parking lot back to Manitou High School. Being prepared means having your sun screen already applied, being appropriately dressed in long pants, sturdy footwear (no sandals), gloves to wear and (in your pack) another clothing layer or two, including rain gear, maybe a hat. You should have everything with you that you will need for that day: water, snacks, cell phone, sunglasses, sun screen (for re-applying as perspiration takes a layer away), anything you feel is important to have with you out on the trail, medicine, bug dope, etc.

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Death on the Incline

Manitou Incline

This afternoon El Paso County Search and Rescue and the Manitou Fire Department responded to the Incline after an off-duty paramedic reported he had ceased CPR on a woman. She was about 1/3 of the way up the Incline. Search and Rescue reported that it was an apparent cardiac arrest and that they were unable to revive her.

At this point, the only thing known about the lady is that she was 58. Some people may assume she wasn’t in the best of shape but fit athletes have dropped dead from heart attacks. In fact it is now being reported that Ultra-marathon runner Micah True, who went missing in New Mexico in March, died of heart disease.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

A week and a half ago, search and rescue responded to a call for a hiker on lower Barr Trail. From what they reported, it sounded like he was having chest pains and had a cardiac arrest after they reached him. Fortunately they were able to successfully defibrillated him. It is unknown if had hiked the Incline or just been on Barr Trail.

On June 15, 2009, a man suffered a heart attack near the top of the Incline. Other hikers administered CPR but he was dead when search and rescue reached him.

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Incline Friends Membership Meeting

Incline Friends Logo

Incline Friends will hold its first General Membership meeting at 6 PM, Thursday, May 3. It will be held at the Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation offices, 1401 Recreation Way. Everyone is invited to attend.

They will discuss the Incline Friends organizational status, provide updated information about the legalizing the Incline and discuss 13 crucial steps that will lead to opening day! There will also be information about the May 12 volunteer work day.

Representatives from Incline Friends partner cities and organizations will be available to answer questions and take your input. Incline Friends is also interested in your ideas about the direction of the friends group.

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