The Incline
When I was researching about Colorado for this trip I happened upon a blog posting on a hiking challenge in Manitou Springs. At that instant I knew I would conquer the incline. Not clickable video, just a picture. What is the incline? The facts first, it is an old cog train track that runs from the town of Manitou to the top of a mountain. The rails are long gone as are the original ties, having been replaced with pressure treated timbers. 2744 steps The railroad bed is .90 miles to the summit, the altitude at the base is 6600 feet above sea level, and the top of the mountain is 8600 feet. The journey to the top is a rise of 2000 feet and is accomplished by hiking up 2744 steps. The angle of the accent is always upwards, with an average angle of 40 degrees and an extreme section of 62 degrees. 8600 feet to the summit Hiking the incline started with locals and whiles no longer a low key feature of the town; it is still run by volunteers and not overrun with participants. The incline i