News
Cardiac Arrest at Top of Manitou Incline
Yesterday, January 26, 2013, El Paso County Search and Rescue tweeted: Epcsar completed a successful cardiac save at the top of the Manitou Incline. We were able to defibrulate with good response.
I don’t have many details but got this second hand info from someone who was at the top of the Incline around 10:30 yesterday. A man and his wife were at the top and the man had a heart attack. EMS came up Longs Ranch Road and used the paddles on him.
Here’s hoping he has a full recovery. A big thanks to El Paso County Search and Rescue for what they do.
Incline Friends Karma Hour Photos
Bristol Brewing held the Incline Friends Karma Hour fund raiser Tuesday evening. They donated $1 of every pint to the Incline Friends. Lots of Manitou Incline lovers came out to support the Incline Friends.
Other ways to help the Incline Friends is to join them, donate using the donate link on their website or putting money into the tube at the bottom of the Incline.
Here are some photos from the Incline Friends Karma Hour.
[nggallery id=9]
Incline Friends Karma Hour
Last week President Obama signed the law clearing up the railway right-of-way issue with the Manitou Incline. The Colorado Springs council also passed the needed resolution for legalizing the Incline for hiking. The only step remaining to legalizing the Incline is a resolution by the Manitou Springs city council. Manitou Springs council is expected to vote on January 29th.
There are now many loose ties on the Incline. Stabilizing some sections need to be done soon or more work will be needed. The Incline Friends are tasked with raising money to repair and maintain the Incline.
Total cost to implement the Incline Management Plan will run about $1 million, and the Incline Friends need $200,000 of that by the first week of March to meet a critical grant deadline. They expect much of it to come from private donors, but not all of it.
There are a few ways to help the Incline Friends raise money. Tomorrow night there’s a fun one. The Incline Friends Karma Hour will be at Bristol Brewery (1647 S. Tejon) from 5 to 9 PM Tuesday, Jan. 15. Bristol will donate $1 to the Incline Friends for every pint sold. Click here for more on the Incline Friends Karma Hour.
Other ways to help the Incline Friends is to join them, donate using the donate link on their website or putting money into the tube at the bottom of the Incline.
December 2012 Photos
Here are some photos from a hike up the Manitou Incline on December 16, 2012. It has become a tradition for people to hang Christmas ornaments on one of the trees at the top of the Incline.
With the dry winter there was very little snow on the Incline itself or Barr Trail. With the cold and little snow of the last couple weeks, there’s a little more snow now but still not a lot. Still caution is required and a wrong step on ice or packed snow could send you falling.
[nggallery id=8]
Incline Expected to be Legal February 1, 2013
After 4 years and much hard work by many people the Manitou Incline is expected to be legal for hiking the beginning of next month. The U.S. Senate late Sunday approved a bill clearing up the railway right of way issue for the Incline. Sen. Michael Bennet pushed the bill in the Senate and Rep. Doug Lamborn led the effort in the House where the bill passed back in July.
The Manitou Incline management plan identified 13 key steps to complete before the Incline could be made legal. Now that all of those steps have been taken, the only things remaining are for Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs to pass resolutions making hiking it legal. The Colorado Springs City Council is expected to vote on the resolution at its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8. Manitou Springs has indicated it will vote on resolution during a Special Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 29.
“As we look at closing this chapter of the process with a vote to legalize the Incline from the City of Colorado Springs and the City of Manitou Springs’ City Councils, we can begin the next chapter in our process – improving the Incline,” said Sarah Bryarly, Landscaping Architect and Project Manager for the City of Colorado Springs.
The Incline Friends is the non-profit tasked with fundraising for improving the Incline and have been a big part of legalizing the Incline. Incline Friends will need your help in a major fundraising push. Total cost to implement the plan will run about $1 million and they need $200,000 of that by the first week of March to meet a critical grant deadline. They expect much of this to come from private donors but not all of it.
They’ll start with the Incline Friends Karma Hour, 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15 at Bristol Brewery (1647 S. Tejon). Bristol will donate $1 to the Incline Friends for every pint sold.
In the meantime, we’d like to encourage you to join Incline Friends and/or make an online contribution (find the PayPal “Donate” link on the main page of the Incline Friends website.) There’s also a donation tube at the bottom of the Incline that you can throw in a buck or more when you hike the Incline.
Manitou Incline – From Utility to Attraction
The Manitou Springs Heritage Center is having a “517 at 5:17” Event tonight, November 8th at 5:17 PM, for the opening of its newest exhibit titled “The Manitou Incline – From Utility to Attraction”. The exhibit relates the story of how the installation of a pipeline for a hydro-electric plant became a famous tourist amusement for 81 years. Now it’s a famous location for it’s extreme physical challenge even though it still isn’t legal to hike.
Based on his comprehensive research of the Incline, Eric Swab created the exhibit featuring photos and artifacts from 1903 to the current day. Mr. Swab’s complete Incline history in booklet form will be available for purchase in the Museum Store. In addition, a special compilation video featuring a historic film, a video of the last ride up the Incline, and still photos has been created by Heritage Center volunteer Ashley Swendsen and is a highlight of the exhibit.
“The Manitou Springs Heritage Center is very grateful that Mr. Swab agreed to put together the exhibit.” stated boardmember Michelle Anthony. “Eric is great to work with and does a terrific job; we are fortunate to be able to present exhibits he is involved in.” Colorado Springs Utilities and the Incline Friends board helped financially with the exhibit. Admission to the Heritage Center is free but financial support is still needed to cover exhibit costs, so please consider making a contribution.
The Manitou Springs Heritage Center is located at 517 Manitou Avenue in Manitou. Hours of operation starting November 2nd will be Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 to 5 pm. To find out more about the Manitou Springs Heritage Center visit their website at www.manitouspringsheritagecenter.org.
In addition to the Incline exhibit at the Manitou Springs Heritage Center, Eric Swab will talk about the history of the Incline at 11 AM Friday, November 9th, at the Old Colorado City History Center, 1 S. 24th St., Colorado Springs. The title of his talk is “The Manitou Incline – From Drinking Water to Tourism”.
Doors open at 10:30 AM and seating is limited. Historical Society members can attend free and entry for others is $5. Find out more on the Old Colorado City Historical Society website.
Incline Friends Jack ‘O Lantern
Trudging up the Manitou Incline is quite the workout. Imagine hauling a Jack ‘O Lantern up it.
That’s exactly what Roger Austin did early Sunday morning when it was still dark out. This is the 2nd year he’s carved a pumpkin and taken it up the Incline for Halloween. This year he used the Incline Friends logo for the design.
Roger says, “I think the people who saw it, liked it, so mission accomplished! It was fun. It’s too bad the weather is so warm. It’s not holding up well.”
Congratulations to Roger on his pumpkin hauling and a big thanks for sharing some photos.
Firefighters 9-11 Memorial Hike
Yesterday Pueblo firefighters hiked the Manitou Incline in firefighting gear as a 9/11 FDNY tribute. Next time you’re struggling up the Incline, think of what firefighters went through to rescue people in the World Trade Center. Thanks to Wendy Carson for the photo.
Incline Beer Mile
For most people, just hiking up the Incline is hard enough. On September 8th, some people made it extra challenging by doing it as a beer mile. The rules were as follows.
- No “light” beers
- Carry your own beer
- Drink every 400 meters (or what seems like 400 meters)
- Keep track of your own time
- If you puke, you must go back to the beginning if you haven’t passed the halfway point or back to the halfway point if you have breached that point
- Don’t kill yourself!
WARNING: It’s not recommended to drink alcohol while hiking the Incline.
The Incline Beer Mile was won by Peter Maksimow in 25:45. Not surprisingly JT was also involved. You can read more on the Team Colorado Website.
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!
See rest of photos
