Tennessee Pass

Tennessee Pass. Across the Continental Divide at 10,424'. , Tennessee Pass connects the headwaters of the Eagle River flowing to the West and the Arkansas River to the East at a gap between the Sawatch and Mosquito Mountain Ranges. The area was first explored by John C. Fremont and Kit Carson in 1845. , Railroad History , In 1881 a narrow gauge rail line was constructed by the Denver and Rio Grande Railway from Leadville over Tennessee Pass continuing to the nearby town of Redcliff. Train passengers could leave Denver at 7:30pm and cross the Pass arriving in Redcliff before noon the next day. In 1889-90 a tunnel was bored 200 feet below the summit and the rail line changed to standard gauge and extended to Aspen making Tennessee Pass the principal route west over the divide. In 1945 the original Tennessee Pass Tunnel was replaced by a new one. In 2012 the original tunnel collapsed creating a huge sinkhole that closed Highway 24 for some time. The line was the highest active mainline railway in the United States. The last train ran over the Pass August 23rd, 1997 with the Union Pacific preferring the Moffat Tunnel route. , Mining History , Gold and Silver mining in Colorado created important growth and expansion of the area. Leadville, Aspen and other local towns saw rapid and lucrative growth beginning in the 1880's. Less than a mile north of Tennessee Pass was the busy mining community of Taylor City which served the needs of the bustling gold mines beginning in 1879. In 1880 Taylor City boasted a population of over 200 people. There were homes, twenty some, the Elkhorn Saloon, the McClelland Mill, a congregational church, sawmill, dance hall and a store run by a J. W. Cooper. Taylor City had a U.S. Post Office and a school with a one armed teacher named 'Ellis'. Annie Sparks ran the Hotel. There was a two-story Miners Hall, a shoemaker, literary Society and more! The City dwindled away after the Gold ran out at the century's end. , Camp Hale , Winter Mountain Warfare training for World War II began at Camp Hale in 1942. This important winter mountain combat training area was built just to the north in Eagle Park and housed as many as 15,000 soldiers. The troops were engaged in important European military campaigns during the war. The world war two training was discontinued in 1945. From 1959 to 1965 the CIA trained Tibetan guerrilla troops. The area was chosen because of its similarities to the terrain on the Himalayan Plateau. The Tibetans nicknamed the Camp ‘Dhumra’, meaning ‘The Garden’. , Water Diversion , Tennessee Pass was the location of the first trans-continental divide water diversion effort, moving water from the Colorado to the Arkansas River basins. The 'Ewing Placer Ditch' was constructed in 1880, moving water from the west slopes Piney Creek, ¾ of a mile to the east slope into the Arkansas River basin. It is still in use today. , Tennessee Pass Now , Activity occurs all year round at Tennessee Pass now. A good deal of the use is oriented to the stunning alpine back-country available in the White River and San Isabel National Forests. Part of this area includes the Holy Cross Wilderness area named for its highest peak; Mount of the Holy Cross at 14,005 feet. Activities include day and multi day hiking, backpacking and mountaineering to remote and scenic peaks and alpine valleys. Quality fishing and hunting are important pastimes in the area. Alpine skiing is renowned here at Historic Ski Cooper and other nearby ski resorts. Extraordinary back-country skiing is popular and includes access to numerous remote wilderness ski huts in the area. For many, access to the mountains takes place on snowmobiles, four-wheel drive vehicles and bicycles on the many forest roads. , [photo captions] , . Crane Park Tennessee Pass 1880-90 , . Summit of Tennessee Pass looking South 1934 , . Tennessee Pass looking North 1888-90 , . Ski Cooper Skier