r/Manitou_Springs

Why is it that you care so little about the veterans with PTSD around you, the pets that spend the whole night scared, the wildlife you disturb, and most of all, the laws that we are supposed to follow in the now 250 year old nation? Are you really so selfish, short sighted, and stupid? Oh, and there’s an 87,000 acre fire just south of us and we’re in a drought, would you even care if you set another or burned someone’s house?

I truly want to know from the people currently letting off the fireworks, especially you groups on the northeast side.

I (20) was born here, and I just got back after being gone for 7 months. It's been about a year and a half since I spent a significant amount of time in Palmer Park. But I've been walking those trails since I was around 8, and soloing them since I was 13.

In the past 2 weeks since I got back, I have seen black bears in palmer park on 4 seperate occasions, and tonight I came face to face with 3 black bears, 4 coyotes, and about 8 deer all within 30 feet of each other. I didn't see or hear any of the animals until they were literally 15 feet away. (I made a wrong turn, and had about 40 extra minutes added onto my hike, super scary getting lost while the sun is going down btw would not recommend. Saw a beetle the size of my hand. Also my phone was at 10% so my flashlight was on the lowest setting to conserve battery, bad chances all around 😭)

The mom (assuming) ran towards me, so without thinking I screamed "bear" "aghhh" at it, and ran towards it getting ready to hit it with my water bottle (idk it was just an immediate response to a bear running at me). The mom got scared, swerved around me, and ran away. One of the smaller bears scurried after her, but the other one went in the same direction as my car.

Atp the coyotes ran away (I think the bears and coyotes were stalking the deer, which were just kind of staring at me not moving?), and I had to walk back to my car 😭, which was around 20 min from me (got lost)... in the same direction one of the cubs went.

So yeah.

This story probs sounds like BS, but genuinely I am just not a lucky person at all. I think the fireworks had all the wildlife scared, and the fires are probably leading them to the city too.

Picking up some bearspray tommorow ig, not gonna stop hiking just cuz I gotta share the forest with some bears.

I'm just so confused as to when this became a thing. Has anyone else been seeing an unreasonable amount of bears in Palmer Park or is it just me? Or is it just my bad luck streak increasing?

Also, all this happened 50 feet away from the break in the fence around van telegin where you enter the trails.

Just popped up on watch duty. Does anyone have any information on it yet?

Says it’s at the 12400 block of Jordan road in fountain.

Stay safe, everyone, and please no fireworks!

Edit: Fire is out!

My husband and I are visiting in July. We are in our early 50s and enjoy moderate hikes, but I’m dealing with a foot injury that may limit my mobility. Are there bike trails/tours/rentals available that would allow me to do at least a bit of exploring? Probably e bikes as hubby is not much of a biker. Thank you so much!!!

Why-oh-why can't we get fiber internet over here in the lower Crystal Park Road / Crystal Hills area? Ok, I realize we are less densely packed than a few places surrounding this area and also lack alleys for easier distribution, but I can't be the only one who works a high tech job from home and would like the reliability of FTTH! Ironically I see the fiber lines on the poles outside that feed other things like Xfinity and DSLAM cabinets. Every time I see a commercial for fiber no matter who the provider is, I check their site for availability hoping that it sets off a flag for this area having requests. End of rant.

This will be my first 4th of July in the springs. My pup is EXTREMELY sensitive to fireworks. We thought about making plans during the day but I’m worried for her. I saw they’re illegal but they were illegal where we moved from and that stopped no one. Does it get bad out here?

I have long straight hair that insists on being straight no matter what, so no waves or texture for me! With that in mind, can anyone recommend a stylist in or around Manitou who is good at doing long layers? I’m in desperate need lol. TIA!

I own a local roofing company here in Colorado Springs, so take this for what it’s worth, but I wanted to share a few things that might help people after today’s storm.

First, don’t panic-sign anything.

After a hailstorm, a lot of contractors start knocking doors fast. Some are good. Some are not. Some are local. Some are only here because there was a storm.

A few things I’d check before agreeing to anything:

Look for collateral damage first.
Check gutters, downspouts, window screens, metal vents, garage doors, AC units, skylights, paint, fencing, and soft metals. Roof damage is hard to see from the ground, but collateral damage can tell you whether the property took a meaningful hit.

Take your own photos.
Before anyone touches anything, take photos of hail size if you still have it, damage around the property, broken screens, dents, leaks, and anything unusual. Documentation matters.

Do not let someone pressure you into signing on the spot.
A good contractor should be willing to inspect, explain what they found, show photos, and give you time to think.

Ask if they are actually local.
Not “we have a Colorado number” local. Not “we rented an office after the storm” local. Ask how long they’ve been operating here, where their office is, and who handles warranty issues later.

Verify license and insurance.
In El Paso County, you can check contractor licensing through PPRBD. Also ask for proof of general liability and workers comp. Also check EPCRA.org to see if they are a member of our local roofing association.

Be careful with anyone promising a free roof or saying they’ll cover your deductible.
That is a red flag. Your deductible is part of your insurance agreement and both you and your roofer are committing fraud if they offer to waive it.

If you file a claim, make sure the inspection is documented well.
Photos, slope-by-slope findings, collateral damage, code items, and any interior leaks should all be documented. A vague “you have hail damage” is not enough.

If you’re buying or selling a home, don’t ignore this.
Roof issues can come up during inspection, appraisal, insurance binding, or right before closing. Better to know early.

Not every roof hit by hail needs replacement.
Not every storm causes the same damage across town. Colorado Springs can have one neighborhood get hammered while another gets almost nothing.

But if you had large hail, broken skylights, damaged screens, dented gutters, or car damage, it’s worth getting the property checked by someone reputable.
Hope this helps someone avoid a bad decision.