MANITOU INCLINE

The Manitou Incline Railway was built in 1907 to assist in the construction of the Manitou Hydroelectric Plant and its waterline.  The plant began producing electricity February 15, 1905, harnessing the power of water flowing off Pikes Peak.  Once the plant was completed the railway was turned in a tourist attraction.  Unfortunately, the Incline was plagued by rockslides and their subsequent repairs.  The railway eventually closed in 1990 after a rockslide damaged the tracks again.  The rails were removed and sold to a local mining operation but the wooden ties remain.  For the past 20 years the Manitou Incline has been "off-limits" to the public, yet continues to be a hotbed for recreation and exercise.  Starting in 1997 the Incline Club met weekly for group runs up the Incline.

Some facts about the Manitou Incline:

• Averages grade: 40%
• Steepest grade: 68%
• Hikers/runners will experience 2,011' in elevation over a length of approximately one mile.

LON CHANEY'S STONE CABIN

 

Lon Chaney, best known for his acting, was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman.  In 1929 Chaney commissioned Paul Williams to design and build a stone cabin for him in the eastern Sierra Nevada.  The cabin still stands today, however, it is now owned and preserved by the Inyo National Forest Service.  You can locate the cabin alongside the trail which runs up the north fork of Big Pine Creek in the John Muir Wilderness.

To get to Lon Chaney's Cabin, take the Glacier Lodge turn-off from Highway 395 in the town of Big Pine. Travel west along Big Pine Creek to the trailhead at Glacier Lodge. Take the North Fork Trail for about 2 miles to the cabin, just inside the [John Muir] wilderness boundary.

You can read more about Chaney's cabin in this article from June 2003 by the LA Times.

 

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND

I will be headed to New Hampshire this morning and staying until Monday.  The agenda includes hanging out in Portsmouth and then doing some backpacking in the Whites with a dear old friend of mine.  We will most likely hike the Bonds and Zealand (Bondcliff is picured above).  Have a great weekend everyone.

THE HALKETT BOAT

The Halkett boat, designed by Lieutenant Peter Halkett during the 1840's, was lightweight and inflatable and primarily used for Canadian exploration.  The main idea behind the boat is that it was light enough to be carried over difficult terrain but tough enough to be used in extreme conditions (i.e. the Canadian Artic).

The first design was a one man boat, aka the boat-cloak, made of macintosh india-rubber cloth.  When deflated the boat could be worn as a waterproof cloak, the oar became a walking stick, and the sail could be used as an umbrella.

Halkett later designed a larger two-man version that folded into a knapsack. Similar to the first design it had multiple uses.  When deflated the boat served as a waterproof blanket to allow the users to camp on wet ground.  Unfortunately, the boat-cloak was never commercially successful and there's only one original Halkett boat left in existence.

Fast forward to the 21st century and the "packraft" is really making waves with the outdoors/adventure crowd.  Check out the product line by Alpacka rafts and you will see some striking similarities.  I know my future includes owning a packraft!

WAITSFIELD, VT

Last Friday I drove up to Waitsfield, VT with some cycling buddies for some dirt road riding in the Sugarbush area.  That night we met up with some local cyclists for dinner at the Reservoir followed by a round of drinks at a great brew pub called the Alchemist.  If you make it to the Alchemist try the Heretic...delicious.


Saturday we did a 68 mile loop with 80% dirt roads and climbed the Roxbury and Rochester gaps.  That night we had dinner at the original Flatbread Kitchen.  Wine and pizza aplenty.  Sunday we did an easy 30 miler so we could head back to Northwest CT at a decent hour.  Therefore, we had enough time to stop at the Harpoon Brewery on the way home.  Great weekend!


One of the guys in my group took some photos and put together a short video.  Thanks Brent!

TRIBECA TO NORTHWEST CT

Tomorrow I am heading into New York City with my cycling group.  We are eating a hearty dinner at Reade Street Pub in Tribeca, turning in early and then in our saddles at 6AM Saturday morning.  The Amigos (the name of my cycling group) will then make the 135 mile journey from Tribeca to Winchester Center, CT.  Should be a good time followed by another hearty meal provided by our gracious hosts.  Where's my chamois cream at?

A BEAUTY AND A WARMTH

 

Most of the canoeist that I know don't share my love of the old wood and canvas canoes for wilderness trips. They figure you have to be a little senile to lug one of these around rather than the lighter modern canoes.  There's a beauty and a warmth in a wood canoe though that you don't get in any other canoe.  Sure I'll use a tougher lighter canoe for horsing around in rapids with my friends but not when I roaming out here painting.  I've seen bath tubs with better lines than some of those modern canoes.

-Bill Mason