Incline much more than a new year's resolution for many hikers
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- Created on Monday, 03 January 2011 16:33
- Written by Nathan
By Elise Reuter, OutThereColorado.com
A steady stream of runners made their way up the Manitou Springs Incline on a cool, sunny December morning. With New Years around the corner, a few were getting a head start on their annual resolutions. But most were there to enjoy time with friends over the holiday.
Clovis Johnston, an Incline regular, is there for the sense of community. He does the Incline twice a week, and is “addicted to it. The first time I came up here with some guys I swore I would never come over here again in my life… after awhile I just can’t get enough of it!”
Become part of the Incline Nation
On his way up, Johnston talks to his old friends and strikes up conversation with unfamiliar faces.
One of these new faces is Megan Holcomb, trying the Incline for the first time with her friend Bethany Garner.
“I’m doing it because I got invited along by Bethany; I didn’t want to do it by myself for the first time,” Holcomb said.
Garner is familiar with the Incline as part of her training for the Pikes Peak Ascent
“I’ll be running (the Ascent this year) so I’ll be spending a lot of time on Barr Trail. So this is just something to mix it up,” Garner said.
The Incline is great altitude conditioning, and many use it to prepare for hiking fourteeners or running grueling races.
Alllie Duensing, a junior at Doherty High School, met up with friends to hike the incline for the sixth time.
“It’s just a for-fun thing, getting together with friends and doing it,” Duensing said.
She posted her best time that Thursday, in 32 minutes, 19 seconds.
Among those who use the ascent to train and get in shape, a sense of community and camaraderie is developed over time.
“There’s a great group of people here,” Johnston said.
The Incline is on private property and not at this point legal. Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs are working with the Forest Service and the cog railway to officially open the route.
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