Story behind the image: High above the clouds

Views from the top of Manitou Incline

There are a lot of times in life when the phrase "early bird gets the worm" makes sense, but there are many other times when you just want to tell that bird and anyone who tries to be chipper in the early hours of the day with this phrase or any like it to get lost. The times when such a mindset are applicable, especially for a non-morning person, can really worth it. There are some one could even describe as life changing. Prepping for your first national level competition. Catching that flight so that you can be on the beach by lunch. Calming a crying baby that doesn't have a sleep schedule yet. Hearing and smelling crackling bacon cooking in the kitchen. And racing against the rising sun for the best view and to beat the heat.

That last worthwhile moment is this story.

Nestled tightly between the mountain and the City of Colorado Springs is the town of Manitou Springs. This smaller springs municipality is quaint with unique houses and local shops and restaurants. And then a little off the end of the main street closest to the base of the steep mountains is the towns claim-to-fame and tourist attraction: access to Pikes Peak. Pikes Peak and the neighboring peaks that offer fantastic peaks can be access by car, cog rail or on foot via the Manitou Incline.

The Manitou Incline is a test of mental and physical strength and endurance. The trail is less than one mile long almost entirely of stairs, 2,744 steps to be exact. And if you have done a stairs workout before, you know that it is challenging and will heat you up. With that, it is not a journey to take in the heat. An early start is the best way to limit how much the heat will interfere with conquering the summit.

On this particular fall day, I did just that. I woke up early and headed over to the base of the Incline. With my shoes tied tight and water and camera on hand, I took the first step. From the base you cannot see the top due to a false summit, but on this day the early morning cloud cover blocked even that.

About half way up, the sun finally started to peak over the horizon. And another half or so and a little over a thousand steps I reached the summit. The full views range from Pikes Peak and the rest of the mountain range to the city below with the vast plains beyond it. Those earlier clouds were still moving through, but the summit of Manitou Incline was at a great enough elevation to rise above the low settled clouds.

Photo taken October 2018

Camera: Nikon D3200

F stop: 8

Aperture: 1/250

Focal length: 18mm

ISO 100

Location: Manitou Incline, Manitou Springs, Colorado, USA