It’s been just over a week since the Manitou Incline closed for repairs, and workers on site already are reporting trespassing.
Hikers have ignored crews’ requests to turn back to the gated-off trailhead, instead opting to finish the nearly mile-long mountainside stair stepper, said Stephanie Early, spokeswoman for contractor Timberline Landscaping.
“The more we see it, the more it slows us down,” Early said. “We want to get the trail open on time, and we know others do, too. We know people miss it. We know they love the Incline. But we’re trying to get it fixed the right way so they don’t have any more closures for a while.”
She said hikers could delay the delivery of ties, rocks and other materials being used to build erosion-mitigating structures. A helicopter flies in those materials on days not announced to the public.
“If the pilot does see people on the trail, he will shut us down, which could mean potentially waiting another 30 days before they have another opening,” Early said. “If we can’t get material up there, that certainly slows us down.”
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