In March of this year, I hiked the 2,768 steps of the Manitou Incline in Colorado. I had near zero expectations going in. My only thought was “That looks cool, I’m going to do it”. And that was probably the correct attitude to have.
However, as I ascended the steps, as my heart rate increased, I did wonder why I was doing this. Questions crept in as my leg muscles were burning. The difficulty increased the higher I got. It’s not just the fatigue, it’s the final hundreds or so steps are very steep and it takes a toll on seemingly every joint and muscle in your legs.
I cruised through the first 1,500 steps or so. Those steps aren’t very steep and obviously my energy level was higher. I didn’t take any breaks through this initial section other than for taking pictures and to figure out why my phone seemed to have died around the 1,000th step (another story and I figured it out at the top).
The last 1,000 steps or so are relentless. I had to take several breaks while goal setting in my mind (100 more then rest). The last gasp of motivation I had was noticing I was closing in on an hour. Other people had mentioned their times to the top and staying under an hour seemed a number I would be proud of. So I put my head down, slowly raised each foot up to each step, finally saw the crest just a few steps away and made it to the top.
My Fitbit results for the climb.
Why I was laboring for most of that 56 minutes, what was most fascinating were the people I encountered on this short journey. The higher I got, the more I began to bond with my follow climbers. Lots of unspoken communication as you pass each other, taking uneven breaks. We had eye rolls, head shaking, lazy waves, chuckles, it was all there.
(that’s not a design on my shirt, that’s the only dry spot)
The people themselves felt fully representative of America in 2025. I saw very old people, very young people, people of different nationalities, ruckers, barefooters, influencers, families, older single men who talked to everyone and even a dog. Many people were frequent visitors, saying “hi” to each other on their trip up or down or their second or third trip up or down. I was most impressed with the number of solo younger people. Maybe they were “doing it for the ‘gram” but they were out there doing it. It’s a challenge and they weren’t backing down, proving to themselves they can accomplish something difficult.
All in all, I figured out why I was there. I loved the challenge. I loved pushing myself. I loved the experience. And I can’t wait to do it again.
Chad Thoughts 
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