Pops Made It and Didn't Die

[pharmer]

Sunday, after my grandaughter's 1st birthday luau the day before, my wife, my boy and I did the Manitou Incline. I have done some difficult things in life but I'm not sure anything tops this. My wife is still in her 50's for a couple months, I turned 70 last Saturday. I looked at this thing every trip out and we decided if not now, never. Started out strong until step 800. Winded and we ain't started climbing. My son, "the coach" yelled at me the whole way. being 34 and having done it in plate carriers gave him that right. Payback for my "coaching" soccer, little league, wrestling back in the day. At step 1800 he went ahead to hydrate and feed the wife up ahead. Soon as he lefy I went down, 1st sitting, then laying. I told HIM "If'n I'm dying this is a perfect spot!" Folks gathered, around gave mass doses of electrolytes and one said "It's OK if you go back down, Pops." As soon as my boy got back we were up and step by step, one by one, after 4.5 hours there it was, 2768! There ain't no more. Coming down that 5 mile "disorganized but marked rock slide" took another 2.5 hours. Them "teenage whippersnappers" running back down the steps are nuts. Young but nuts nevertheless. My wife is the 2nd member of my new club, "The One and Done Society" Being founder I get top spot.

Also glad to get back to the heat, humidity and hurricane. Life is good. Joe
PS 1 pic looking up, the other view from the top.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I got vertigo from looking at the steps.

 

[pawngal]

I'm a bit older than you, if there are more than 3 or 4 steps involved I'm not doing it unless there's a handrail.

 

[pharmer]

I got vertigo from looking at the steps.

I am afraid of "heights." When you are on it, you never look down, turn your ball cap around so the sun don't scorch your neck and you can't look up. At one point several folks exclaimed: "Look at that giant buck!" I never saw it. I am not ashamed to admit that a few hundred steps were done "crabtracking" on all 4's. At which point I started naming the giant black ants running all over. Joe

 

[Onomea]

Well, Pharmer, congrats! Pretty sure I would not attempt that myself at 71, but quite an accomplishment at 70!

Manitou Incline - Manitou Springs

 

[TX-Dennis]

Nice!

My wife is terrified of heights. She'd have a coronary looking at that photo from the top. I love it, but don't think I could make it all the way to the top.

 

[boykinlp]

All I can say is “WOW, you da family!!” That is so awesome! Ever since my cancer surgery and recovery, I get winded and start a sweat walking the 35 steps to the mailbox……..seriously! I’m so very proud of you!
Larry

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Have been up the mountain from Manitou.
But we took the Cog Railroad.

 

[pharmer]

........I love it, but don't think I could make it all the way to the top.

Yes, you could.
#1 There ain't no "quit." There are no facilities, park rangers, transportation, chair lifts, gondolas etc. You are on your own. And you need to be "bush broke." Carry a roll of TP.
#2 It's live or die. I am late to "Faith" in this life but before I started I made the "deal." OK with me, one way or the other.
#3 Train for it. Wife and I walk 20 miles a week, or more. It ain't nearly enough. I met a woman my wife's age has attempted it 20 times, never to the top. She lives there.
#4 A "Sherpa" is essential. As part of my son's job his "team" climb it in full gear about once month. He had the backpack with probably 30lb "supplies" including a disposable $18 Walgreen's "disposable 02" hitter which I did at least 8 times.
#5 Maybe there is "quit", but you better have your own plan for getting back to the house. See #1. Joe

 

[woodsltc]

Pharmer, in your defense, you went from living at close to sea-level to climbing an almost mile long incline to top out at almost 8600 feet. Unless you were acclimated to the altitude difference it would be difficult at any age or activity level.............at any rate congrats on surviving the climb.

Don

 

[lkabug]

Congratulations Phamer. At 77 I'm not doing it.

 

[pharmer]

Truth be told, if I knew how difficult it would actually be I probably wouldn't have done it, I about cried, twice. I have led an "interesting" life, have nothing to prove and I'm as happy with life as is possible in our current "State of the World." Joe

 

[LVSteve]

I got vertigo from looking at the steps.

I guess the pyramid at Coba isn't for you.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I am not afraid of heights being an old Telco linesman but at my advanced age, for get over that many steps. That is for much younger folks. When in my 70's I hunted in 10,000 ft mountains but not now.

 

[Rustyt1953]

These days I rarely set my sights beyond Mount Barstool.

 

[Model 19 6"]

Sir in picture of you and wife are you sure you are alive??

 

[ditrina]

C'mon man.. I've seen you do more steps at the Lakeland and Orlando gun show UP and DOWN the aisles

Great job buddy!!!!! Nice accomplishment.

 

[WR Moore]

My hats off to you OP. A number of my co-workers climbed Old Rag Mountain here in VA. As I understand it, it's more a hill than a mountain where you need climbing gear. Put it off as I was fully booked when not at my "real job". In retirement, I decided one year I should do this. THEN I looked into it and realized that both ways, it's a 20 miler. After due consideration, I decided I quit doing stuff like that a long time ago. Might have been different right after retirement, but there was too much stuff to do that I'd put off till I had time.

 

[OFT II]

I got vertigo from looking at the steps.

I got tired from looking at the steps.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Gotta laugh. After reading your post, and looking at you sitting there with limp looking arms and legs, sunglasses covering your eyes and the numb look on your face, all I could think of was Joe Diffie's song "Prop me up beside the jukebox when I die " .
Only time I ever was up the Manitou Incline was when I was 8 or 9 years old. Rode the cable car up and hiked up to the summit with mom and dad and sister and cousins.
Glad you had a good time and was able to get back and report in to us here on the forum.