SUNDAY WORKHSHIP: THE MANITOU INCLINE

Today two of my most athletic dancers and I went to hike the famous Manitou Incline. It is a 2,000 vertical feet in 1 mile trail(6000 vertical meters, in 1600 meters trail) with the steepest grade at 68%, all full of steps of various heights. They really aren't steps but old railroad ties and some of them are missing.
The Manitou Incline, the most popular, and illegal, trail in the region, took us 55 minutes going up, Aja and I took 35 minutes to get down, while Rachel took only about 20 minutes.
Going up your lung capacity suffers, going down is a complete different story. It is a constant balance-check, plenty of close calls because of the very slippery terrain. It is all loose sand, little rocks and pebbles, metal tubes crossing the path, and its steepness doesn't make it easier.
It is definitely not recommended if you have bad knees, weak quads or are afraid of heights. Our legs felt like jelly at the end, from all the going down, fighting gravity with our legs, while trying to stay balanced.
It was a very challenging but also fulfilling Sunday workout. Thanks girls!

The hair thin, straight up line on the mountain, is the tough Manitou Incline

Far away view of the Incline


Uneven steps

Middle section of the Incline

At the bottom, ready to start!

Aja and Rachel at the beginning...we didn't know yet how hard it was going to get!

Almost at the top

Ufffff! I made it!!!!!!!!!

Finally at the top. We made it together. Congrats dancers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!