The Trail That Exposed Everything

The Manitou Incline doesn't care about your fitness app or your weekend warrior confidence. 2,744 steps. 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a mile. I lasted 20 minutes before my legs turned to concrete and my lungs forgot how to work. Tourists were taking selfies at the bottom. Locals were jogging past me like it was a warm-up. I was gripping the railroad ties, questioning every life choice that led me here. The worst part? Everyone warned me. "It's harder than it looks," they said. I nodded and packed extra water like I was prepared. I wasn't prepared for how quickly my body would betray me. How the mountain would strip away every excuse I'd ever made about being "in decent shape." Some trails test your endurance. This one tests your honesty. #HikingReality #ColoradoTruth #TrailHumbled #Travel