I am so dang proud of us! Was it fun? Ha, absolutely not! But let me tell you, I do things like this for one very specific reason: so when life throws me hard stuff, I can look back and say, “Yep, I’ve done harder.” For years after Asher was born, anytime something got tough, I’d remind myself, “Well, I had a baby with no epidural, so how hard could this really be?” 🙃 Now, I’ve got another challenge to add to my list of “hard things I’ve conquered”—the Manitou Incline.

Let me paint the picture for you: 2,768 steps. Straight. Up. We’re talking an elevation of 8,585 feet, and I climbed every single one of those bad boys with a mix of sheer determination, stubbornness, and a lot of deep breathing breaks. 😅 And trust me, there were moments when I wondered what in the world I had signed myself up for!

But here’s the thing: this wasn’t just another hike for me. Two of my favorite adventurers, who left this earth far too soon (John and Bibi), were with me in spirit every step of the way. I felt them so deeply in the moments when my legs burned, my lungs screamed, and I wasn’t sure if I could take another step (have I mentioned that I’m terrified of heights?). When it got too hard, I kept going because I knew they would have. I did it for me, but I also did it for them. Their adventurous spirits pushed me forward when I wanted to stop. And honestly, that’s what kept me from quitting.

So, here’s what I’ve learned: Run when you can. Walk when you have to. And crawl if you must. But whatever you do, never give up. And now I get to bank this experience, and whenever life throws something tough my way, I’ll remind myself of this moment. Of standing at the top of the Incline, exhausted but victorious.

So yeah, Manitou Incline, you were hard as hell. But I did it. We did it. And man, it feels good!

Happy Adventuring,
Kendra