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Blog Entry 12 of 16 Old Fort Carson

A running history of Fort Carson, from its beginnings in World War II. I know some of it. You fill in the rest.

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Barr Trail and the Incline Parking

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Contributed by: Dave Hughes on 3/1/2008

You want someone to sound off about the Parking Problem on Hydro Street and nearby to serve Barr Trail and the Incline Hikers?

Well I have a few strong opinioins. Two plus years ago I spent 6 months getting my 75 year Korean War era legs in condition on Barr Trail to Trek for days up Mt Everest to 15,000 feet to support Sherpas trying to make a living accomodating Trekkers and Climbers with more technically advanced radios.

As a native of Colorado Springs I know Pikes Peak, Barr Trail, the abandoned Manitou Incline as well as anyone.

I got to know the parking problem first hand, as I was obliged - as are 99% of all hikers using those trails - to drive there before taking my valuable time hiking up and down the trail over a 2 to 3 hour period to both condition myself for the strenuous task ahead and for my general health, and There is almost NO closer (driving) place to go and work out hiking and do it in a reasonable length of time. Fred Barr knew what he was doing when he built that trail up Pikes Peak almost 100 ago.

And tens of thousands of local El Paso County residences who have been badgered incessantly over recent years by doctors and health professionals to work out and get and stay fit. From a County Public HEALTH standpoint BOTH Barr Trail and the Incline are a god send. Any wonder why Colorado Springs is rated nationally as one of the 'fittest' citiies in America?

Now let me be really blunt in my observations, having not only driven there over many months time and observing ALL the parking possibilities and problems.

1. Who forced those who CHOSE to live right on Hydro Street to move there? That was their choice, and I can guarantee you parking by hikers was as much a problem when they FIRST moved there as it is now. They were dumb from the git go. And NOW want GOVERNMENT to solve their problem of inconvenience?

2. Why does the City of Manitou collude with the Broadmoor who owns the Cog Railroad to set aside so much PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, NOT ON THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY for the EXLUSIVE use by Cog customers, and try to prevent those parking spaces beign used by hikers? I once asked the Manitou PD for a map of EXACTLY what is the private property boundaries of the COG and what is the Public right of way. They blew me OFF!

3. Why does the GREEDY Broadmoor Hotel, who owns the Incline and, after that Oklahoma bunch who got control of the Broadmoor business from the Tutt Family and El Pomar who always were supportive of the local public (no MORE) shut down the Incline because it didn't make them enough money (they rake it in from the Cog) outlaw the use of the abandoned Incline for really outstanding hiking, by not only the general public but the El Paso County MILITARY posts for the hard TRAINING of their troops? I have watched Fort Carson Special Forces work out on that hill repeatedly getting ready for ANOTHER tour in strenuous Afghanistan and Iraq.

4. Why hasn't the Forest Service, which mouths off about the Public Use of the National Forest, purchased and opened up a large parking lot down on the flat unused land at the base of both Barr Trail and the Incline slope, to accomodate the PUBLIC?

Comeon, neither the City of Manitou, OR the US Forest Service, NOR the greedy Broadmoor Hotel have raised a finger to Support the PUBLIC INTEREST.

Since this is a Blog I assume I can post a LOT more, because I observed a LOT more that I posted above.

You wanna debate this Manitou and the Hub? I'm game, Travis!

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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments

Submitted By: Dave Hughes

posted on 3/3/2008 @ 9:55:26 AM

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You used the words "...private property desires of Cog managememt.' I contend that 'Cog Management' prevents hikers from parking in the PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, not just on THEIR private property.

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Submitted By: Pete Van Vuren

posted on 3/3/2008 @ 2:56:09 AM

Rated Blog Entry

Ok, so Mr. Hughes. Let's say that on a rainy day instead of climbing the Incline, I decided I would rather climb the steep stairs in your building at 25th and Colorado. Would that be OK? Would I be able to start doing it regularly? Without you or any of your tenants getting upset? Yes, I understand it is private property and I might be disrupting some business, but how is that any different then the Incline trail hikers ignoring the private property desires of the Cog management?

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