Newsletter – July 2020
Open and Shut Case
If we used a word for every single step on the Incline we still wouldn’t have enough words to describe the depths of our frustration over the “closure” of the Incline.
Four months have passed since Manitou Springs City Council voted to close the Incline on the pretense of pandemic concerns. Over time it became readily apparent that some members of that council are content to leave the Incline “closed” indefinitely.
Incline Friends urged users to respect the closure on Facebook and in public comments. We assisted Manitou Springs by providing an ambassador at the base of the Incline on some weekends, encouraging people to use the Barr and Ute Trails instead.
We have consistently worked with elected officials and staff members of both Manitou Springs and Colorado springs in efforts to resolve an impasse between the two sides.
Incline Friends released a position statement on May 28 (available at inclinefriends.org), neither endorsing nor opposing a temporary, no-fee Incline registration system as long as it would be in effect only for the duration of the pandemic.
On June 23, the director of the Colorado Springs Parks department presented a temporary management proposal for the Incline that seemed to address all of the concerns raised by Manitou officials. That proposal was roundly rejected by Manitou’s council.
As of this writing, the two sides have not reached an agreement but we fully expect the Incline to be open some time before the summer season is over. We will send a brief notification when an official opening date is determined.
Some Good News: Trail Connector Near Completion
Workmen leaving the partially constructed Northern Trail at the end of the day.
One problem that has accompanied the Incline’s great popularity (nearly 250,000 uphill users in 2019) is degradation of the Barr Trail. An important step toward alleviating that problem was taken in May when Timberline, the contractor that handled the Incline renovation, began building a connection from Incline step 1300 to the Ute Trail.
Incline Friends and Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services are sharing the cost of this 1.1-mile connector, which will give Incline users an easy right-turn exit 500 steps below the current “bailout” to the Barr Trail.
Eventually, an additional connection to the top of the Incline is planned, so that people can turn right at the top and descend on the Ute Trail instead of going down Barr or the steps.
We hope that an exit at step 1300, before the steepest section of the Incline, might also reduce the need for of emergency responses.
One of many great views from the new trail. Yes, the water bottle was carried out!
More detail on these connectors is available at https://www.outtherecolorado.com/new-trail-coming-to-manitou-incline-offering-alternative-route-to-summit/.
Follow our communications
We plan to resume producing newsletters every two or three months, but for more frequent communications (especially during the Incline reopening period), follow the Incline Friends Facebook page. Comments and questions are always welcome at inclinefriends@gmail.com.
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Happy climbing!