Colorado Vaca {Part 4: The Incline}

See that little brown line running up the mountain? It’s called “The Incline.” Jenny, Adam, and I decided to get up at 5:30 a.m. on our last day of vacation to go climb it. You’re thinking that we’re a bunch of crazies, aren’t you? I was thinking the same thing when, for one very long minute, I had to encapsulate myself in an extremely foul smelling porta potty at the bottom of the mountain.

Why am I not in my warm, comfortable bed in my pleasant smelling hotel room? . . .

Because I love a good physical challenge {excluding natural childbirth, which I was perfectly content not to attempt}. Jenny and I were discussing how we actually love the feeling of waking up with sore muscles because it makes us feel like we’ve really done something hard. Yes, I realize we may be a little insane.

{Just FYI, what appears to be the top of the incline in the pic below is actually a false summit! Talk about crushing. There’s a good bit more to go that you can’t see.}

The Incline is about 3 miles from bottom to top, 2800 railroad ties, and 2000 vertical feet {the base is about 6000 ft, and you’re above 8000 feet at the top}.

It was definitely a challenge. Ok, it was seriously hard. We took a good many short stops for oxygen and water. Adam and I slowed Jenny down for sure. This was her third time to climb it, and she was much more acclimated to the altitude. Heck, she’d been running half-marathons in CO!

Honestly, though, I really enjoyed it. It was one of my favorite things that we did in Colorado {maybe because I’m crazy, as we established earlier}. It was exhilarating to be out on that mountain first thing in the morning, working up a good sweat. The ~~climb~~ view was breathtaking.

We made it to the TOP!

And {clearly} my hair was feelin’ the pain as much as my legs. Instead of going back down Incline route, we jogged down Barr trail. Have you ever tried jogging down a mountain? It’s a real, live wonder I didn’t break my neck.