The man who died Saturday while hiking the Manitou Incline was on a Cub Scout outing with his 9-year-old son when he experienced breathing problems.
The cause of death for Nickolay Jogolev, 48, is pending, said Heather Tremblay, a spokesperson for the El Paso County Coroner’s Office.
Jogolev was the father to a family of seven children, ages 4 to 21, in a blended family, his wife, Coral Jogolev told The Denver Post. The couple had three children together, he was helping raise her two children from a previous relationship and the couple had taken custody of two nieces who were in need of a stable home.
The children were his priority in life, she said. He worked in IT for CommonSpirit Health and was the family’s sole financial provider.
“He had a heart of gold,” Coral Jogolev said.
Jogolev experienced breathing problems while climbing the notoriously steep trail Saturday morning. Sheriff’s deputies cleared the incline just before 10 a.m. Saturday so first responders could reach him, but Jogolev died later at a hospital.
Jogolev, who was from Castle Rock, was hiking with Cub Scouts, and he and his son had stopped to rest at the halfway point, Coral Jogolev said.
Jogolev had climbed the incline with the Cub Scout pack last year and had participated in all the training hikes and climbs that led up to Saturday’s outing, his wife said. He never smoked or drank and could fit in the same clothes he wore 10 years ago, she said.
“It was very unexpected,” she said.
The 9-year-old child is especially shaken up, Coral Jogolev said.
“He’s taking it pretty rough,” she said.
Nickolay Jogolev immigrated to the United States from Russia in his early 20s with his mother and grandmother.
“Now, Coral is facing significant financial struggles. She will need help with ongoing bills, daily necessities, child care, and transportation for her kids,” the fundraiser stated. “The loss of Nick has left a gap not only emotionally, but also in the practical support that kept their family running.”
The emergency led the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to close the incline for several hours. Deputies asked people to clear out the rest area at the 1,000 step point.
The , located at the base of Pikes Peak, gains 2,000 feet of elevation over 2,768 steps in less than a mile. It is a popular challenge for outdoors and fitness enthusiasts.
A 64-year-old Oregon man died in April 2025 while attempting the climb.
