Congressional committee to take up the Manitou Incline Tuesday

There have been a lot of steps - and we mean a lot - to reach the point where officials could legally open the Manitou Incline.

The discussion will reach its highest stage Tuesday, when the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands will discuss a bill necessary for legal use of the trail.

Photos of a March climb up the Incline

The route was never formally abandoned as a rail line, a technicality that has gotten in the way of a U.S. Forest Service permit. U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, introduced House Resolution 4073, which would accomplish that. You can read the one-page bill here.

Click here for a special report on the Incline and how we got here.

I doubt C-Span will air this one, but for those really interested, the hearing starts at 8 a.m. MST.