On May 23, tragedy struck in the Pikes Peak region with the death of a Manitou Incline hiker. The hiker involved has since been identified, with additional details related to the situation released.

The hiker who died has been identified as Nickolay Jogolev, a 48-year-old male who also went by Nick. Per a GoFundMe that’s been set up to support Nick’s family at this time of loss, he was hiking with the Cub Scouts when a medical emergency occurred.

A report from 9News indicates that Nick was with his 9-year-old son at the time. A passerby saw him sitting with his son around the 900th step of the route looking pale and offered him Gatorade. He drank the Gatorade and got up, and “that was it,” explained his wife in the 9News report. Sources report that he was experiencing breathing problems at the time.

According to that report, Nick had no known health conditions and didn’t drink or smoke. He had climbed the Manitou Incline before and had gone into this climb having recently trained for the hike on the Parker Incline.

A medical emergency on the Manitou Incline was announced around 10 a.m., with the trail closed down for about two hours. Nick was transported to a hospital for medical care, though life-saving efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Per the GoFundMe page set up to support the Jogolev family, Nick leaves behind his wife, Coral, and seven children in their blended family, with some of those children having special needs. That GoFundMe effort has already raised more than $35,000.

Sincere condolences go out to those impacted by Nick’s death.

The Manitou Incline hike is located just west of Colorado Springs in Manitou Springs, resembling a massive staircase that travels up a mountainside. Reaching the top involves scaling 2,768 steps with a vertical gain of 2,000 feet in less than a mile. Given its length and steep nature, it’s perhaps the most strenuous hike in the state, if not the country.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)