The idea of giving up was not an option to Rachel Jones. The mother of two and business owner has always been a firm believer in one belief: “As long as you can take one more step, you’re not done.”
Jones recently became only 4th person — first woman to complete 1,000 miles along as well down Manitou Incline in one calendar year. Ten years ago, Jones could just barely make it up the famous slope.
“I went with two friends, and we struggled up every single step,” Jones described. “It was brutal. One of the hardest physical challenges I’ve ever done.”
Jones along with her teammates didn’t be able to summit the next day, stopping for a short time throughout the climb before retracing towards the base. But, as she was walking away from the summit on the afternoon, Jones recalled that she looked back to see what she had seen. That was the moment that something within her began to ignite.
“I came back, maybe about a week later and I was just determined,” she added. “I just had to make it.”
Jones was one of the women to climb the climb 1,000 times within one year.
Before it became a renowned climbing challenge and a popular hiking trail, Manitou Incline was not a hiker’s dream. Manitou Incline was built as a cable tram in the 20th century in order to help with the nearby construction. After it was completed the incline was converted to a popular tourist destination, where visitors could take in a shuttle ride to the summit.
It wasn’t until 1990 when the railway was demolished that resulted in an exciting, fresh adventure for hikers in the area.
Based on the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce around 70,000 people use the Incline each year. While it’s free to hike but reservations are required.
As she got used to being regular on the slope, Jones didn’t want to abandon the feeling of freedom. Jones noticed her body was more powerful. The other people noticed as well.
One of the regulars on the incline approached her with an idea that she should join”the “500 Club,” reserved for those who record their laps, which count towards the target of 500 laps in an entire calendar year. As a single mother of a boy who was 5 years old in the moment, trying to survive, Jones didn’t see how she could achieve this goal.
“I had so many reasons why I couldn’t accomplish something like that, but it became something to work towards,” Jones recalls.
She also worked at it, she did.
On the 19th of December. 19 2021, after years of intensive conditioning and training she started counting. The months passed, and the stronger and faster Jones discovered that she wasn’t just capable of achieving her goal of 500 she was also on track to complete her goal months ahead of time. While it was exciting, the realization was a bit unsettling for her also.
“It sort of took the wind out of my sails … A challenge is supposed to stretch you,” she added. “It almost felt like I was getting too comfortable within the challenge.”
Never one to be complacent, Jones set her sights at what appeared to be an impossible goal 1000.
Only three people have completed the 1,700 steps within a year. Three of them were males. For Jones this could have more significance than joining an elite club. It was about making history.
In the months that followed, she stayed on top and mapped out each lap, hoping to reach the 1,000 mile mark before the year ended. In September 2022, just after she had counted her lap number 735 an unanticipated discovery changed the course of her trip.
“I discovered I was pregnant,” Jones stated.
Excited and scared is the way Jones described her feelings that day. In addition to her work as an business owner and entrepreneur with being a mother of an almost-17-year-old child, the climb was a task by its own. Jones was required to adhere to strict diet and schedule.
With the addition of a pregnancy to the already difficult situation, Jones was unsure of how she would proceed to face the challenges. Her top priority was the health and safety of her child.
“I talked to my doctor, told her about the challenge,” Jones recalls. “She approved.”
Day by day, that’s what Jones did and climbed the hill each day when the effects of being a mom started to show.
She recalled a moment in October when she believed she was not going to be able to keep going and her child was her motivation.
“Before she came along, I would go into my own head, my own thoughts,” Jones explained. “But when she came along in the woods, I kind like started to tap to her energy. Inquiring about her feelings I was able to feel this sense of connection.”
The connection brought Jones towards the summit of the slope and at the summit of her target.
On December. 18 2022 Jones was the very first person to record 1,000 climbs between the slope, as she carried her precious daughter. If asked what her advice for anyone who is considering attempting the climb at least once Jones replied, “I’m not sure.” Jones said , with a smile, “There’s a better version of you waiting at the top, and that’s a good enough reason to do it every single time.”
