Climbing the Manitou Incline's infamous 2,744 steps is hard. Scaling the 2,000-foot elevation gain using only your arms and backside? Even harder. Double amputee Mandy Horvath did just that on April 23. The Colorado Springs woman's legs were crushed by a train four years ago. She talked to Colorado Matters about her plans to tackle the Incline again on June 10, as well as continue to the top of Pikes Peak.
After spending months in recovery and falling into depression following her double amputation, Horvath bounced back. She even got a tattoo on her upper chest saying, “Tell me that I can’t, and I’ll show you that I can.” She anticipates climbing her first 14er to take several days. Someone will carry her prosthetic legs up so Horvath can “stand on the top of Pikes Peak" when she summits. She is also crowdfunding donations to nonprofits the Battle Buddy Foundation and Operation Ward 57.
