Hikers share their torture, thoughts about incline's future
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 24 June 2010 20:49
- Written by Matt Steiner
By MATT STEINER, OutThereColorado.com
The Manitou Incline dredges up a conflicting mix of emotions for those who accept the 2,000 vertical foot challenge.
"Why do we put ourselves through this torture," one woman could be heard groaning as she battled the trail in the midday sun Thursday.
While many would agree that the climb is "torture," it's rare to find anything but a crowd making the trip to the top of Mount Manitou outside of Manitou Springs.
And with a public meeting happening at the Manitou Springs City Hall at 7 p.m. Thursday, one can't help but have an opionio when discussing the controversy over whether the incline should be legally open to the public. Many chimed in as they partook in the "torture" on this day while temperatures touched the high 80s.
"I think it should be legalized," Carly Hyman, an incline regular who lives in Manitou Springs said. "I don't think there's anything wrong with that. There's always in an inherent risk when you're doing anything outdoors in Colorado.
"If they had the funding and a group of dedicated people (for maintenance), it could make it safer," Hyman continued after asked if she had any concerns given after Monday's accident in which 56-year-old Paul Cohen impaled his leg on some of the incline rebar.
Some regulars agree with Hyman, even going so far as to say they'd be glad to pay a nominal fee if legalization meant being charged to used the area.
Others, however, weren't so enthusiastic about making the trail "legal." One man, who asked to stay anonymous called the controversy and the meeting "good and bad." The incline veteran in his early 40s suggested that the trail has "been more crowded" ever since the issue became a hot public topic.
And as for the newcomers to the trail. Donald Hathaway, a 21-year-old who recently moved to Colorado Springs from Mesa, Ariz., made it to the top for the first time Thursday. He'd been on the incline once before but bailed halfway after being duped by the "false summit."
"I don't see why not," Hathaway said when asked if he thought about legalization.
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