The Manitou Incline closed down briefly on Thursday afternoon following the death of a 63-year-old male. The closure was in place from 2:30 PM to 3:25 PM during the recovery of the body. The man has been identified as Thomas Holmes, though his hometown has not been released.

The 63-year-old was hiking on the trail when he suffered a heart attack. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

The Manitou Incline is one of the most strenuous trails in the country, known for its rapid elevation gain. Consisting of close to 3,000 steps, the trail climbs 2,000 feet in less than a mile. Generally, the trail is only used in the upward direction, with the nearby Barr Trail taking hikers down over several miles and a lower grade. Many hikers complete the ascent of the route between 45 minutes to an hour and a half.

Currently, one bailout exists on the trail for hikers that may not be able to complete the long climb to the top. The construction of additional bailouts has been a topic of discussion for some time. As of May this year, no money had been committed to building additional bailouts.

Fatalities and rescues aren’t uncommon on the Manitou Incline, with hikers warned about potential dangers via signage at the start of the trail. At its steepest, the Incline is a 68% grade with an average grade of 40%. Many of those rescued include tourists – many of which aren’t used to the altitude.

If you’re considering a climb up the Manitou Incline, know that this climb is extremely strenuous and looks quite a bit more difficult that it is. Bring plenty of water, a snack, and wear the right gear.