Near Red Cliff in Eagle County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Traversing the Training Ground of the 10th

Camp Hale

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2025

1. Traversing the Training Ground of the 10th Marker

Inscription.

Traversing the Training Ground of the 10th. Camp Hale. , President Benjamin Harrison set aside the White River Plateau Timberland Reserve (precursor of White River National Forest) in 1891 , the first in Colorado and second in the nation. , Fern Lake Lodge, a cabin in Rocky Mountain National Park used by ski enthusiasts in 1916. , The National Forest took its first step to recognition as a skier's paradise in 1936 with the proposal for the Hayden Peak ski area , located in the Elk Mountains close to the towns of Ashcroft and Aspen. , Ski Cooper opens in 1942 as the training mountain for 10th Mountain soldiers. , Trooper Traverse from Leadville to Aspen completed by 10th Mountain soldiers in 1944. , The 10th Mountain Division deploys for the Italian Front in 1944; 10th troops defeat German army. , Germany surrenders in 1945, World War II ends and 10th Mountain Division troops return to the U.S. , Development of Aspen Mountain with two chair lifts (1946); Vail and Snowmass open to skiers (1960s). , The 10th Mountain Division Hut Association's first two huts, funded by former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, opened in 1982. , “The 10th Mountain huts provide a unique and valuable experience… If we do not take action to stop the effects of climate changes… the hut experience that we know and love might cease to exist… This is the time for all-hands-on deck.” , , Ben Dodge, 10th Mountain Division Hut Association , , , , , . In 1944, thirty-three soldiers strapped on seven-foot skis and ventured “into wilderness carrying heavy rucksacks, avalanche shovels, rope, ice axes and rations for [a] training reconnaissance trip...” From Leadville across the Continental Divide to Aspen, soldiers rotated breaking trail and selecting routes for four days. They overnighted in tents and once, in perhaps the first 10th hut trip, an abandoned miner's cabin. , Historically, sparsely placed high-country huts sheltered sheep herders and Forest Service rangers. But beginning in the 1980s, 10th Mountain veterans and skiing enthusiasts created the 10th Mountain Division Hut system for ski touring and hiking. Five of these 31 huts honor 10th Mountain soldiers who died serving in the Italian Apennines Mountains during World War II. , Rugged terrain within the White River National Forest shaped the training of the 10th Mountain Division and at war's end, the course of recreation in Colorado and the nation. Intrepid 10th soldiers, inspired by experiences in the land surrounding Camp Hale, returned to the area and launched the Colorado recreational sports industry , gear, ski resorts, and the 10th Mountain Division Hut system. , [photo captions] , . Trooper Traverse en route from Leadville to Aspen , . Skinning from Fowler-Hilliard Hut beneath Resolution Mountain , . Jackal Hut with a view of Mt. Elbert and the Sawatch Range

President Benjamin Harrison set aside the White River Plateau Timberland Reserve (precursor of White River National Forest) in 1891 — the first in Colorado and second in the nation.

Fern Lake Lodge, a cabin in Rocky Mountain National Park used by ski enthusiasts in 1916.

The National Forest took its first step to recognition as a skier's paradise in 1936 with the proposal for the Hayden Peak ski area — located in the Elk Mountains close to the towns of Ashcroft and Aspen.

Ski Cooper opens in 1942 as the training mountain for 10th Mountain soldiers.

Trooper Traverse from Leadville to Aspen completed by 10th Mountain soldiers in 1944.

The 10th Mountain Division deploys for the Italian Front in 1944; 10th troops defeat German army.

Germany surrenders in 1945, World War II ends and 10th Mountain Division troops return to the U.S.

Development of Aspen Mountain with two chair lifts (1946); Vail and Snowmass open to skiers (1960s).

The 10th Mountain Division Hut Association's first two huts, funded by former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, opened in 1982.

“The 10th Mountain huts provide a unique and valuable experience…
Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online
If we do not take action to stop the effects of climate changes… the hut experience that we know and love might cease to exist… This is the time for all-hands-on deck.”
—Ben Dodge, 10th Mountain Division Hut Association —————In 1944, thirty-three soldiers strapped on seven-foot skis and ventured “into wilderness carrying heavy rucksacks, avalanche shovels, rope, ice axes and rations for [a] training reconnaissance trip...” From Leadville across the Continental Divide to Aspen, soldiers rotated breaking trail and selecting routes for four days. They overnighted in tents and once, in perhaps the first 10th hut trip, an abandoned miner's cabin.

Historically, sparsely placed high-country huts sheltered sheep herders and Forest Service rangers. But beginning in the 1980s, 10th Mountain veterans and skiing enthusiasts created the 10th Mountain Division Hut system for ski touring and hiking. Five of these 31 huts honor 10th Mountain soldiers who died serving in the Italian Apennines Mountains during World War II.

Rugged terrain within the White River National Forest shaped the training of the 10th Mountain Division and at war's end, the course

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2025

2. Traversing the Training Ground of the 10th Marker

of recreation in Colorado and the nation. Intrepid 10th soldiers, inspired by experiences in the land surrounding Camp Hale, returned to the area and launched the Colorado recreational sports industry — gear, ski resorts, and the 10th Mountain Division Hut system.

[photo captions]
• Trooper Traverse en route from Leadville to Aspen
• Skinning from Fowler-Hilliard Hut beneath Resolution Mountain
• Jackal Hut with a view of Mt. Elbert and the Sawatch Range

Erected by Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #23 Benjamin Harrison series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1944.

Location. 39° 25.866′ N, 106° 19.378′ W. Marker is near Red Cliff, Colorado, in Eagle County. It is on 10th Mountain Division Memorial Highway (U.S. 24 at milepost 160.4), on the right when traveling north. The marker is in a pull-out overlooking Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument to the east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office

Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument Overlook image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2025

3. Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument Overlook

Looking east from US Highway 24 across Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument. This is the rightmost of 5 related historical markers in the Camp Hale overlook.

area: Red Cliff CO 81649, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Colorado High Rockies. It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 10th Mountain Italian Route to WWII Victory (here, next to this marker); D-Series: Bombarded by Extreme Conditions (a few steps from this marker); Tracing the Terrain of War Training (a few steps from this marker); Preparing for War in the Eagle River Valley (a few steps from this marker); Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Construction of Camp Hale (approx. 0.4 miles away); Entertainment Camp Hale (approx. 0.4 miles away); Camp Hale (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Red Cliff.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument Overlook

Also see . . .
1. Camp Hale (Wikipedia).

Excerpt:
Paid Advertisement

Camp Hale was a U.S. Army training facility in the western United States, constructed in 1942 for what became the 10th Mountain Division. Located in central Colorado between Red Cliff and Leadville in the Eagle River Valley at an elevation of 9,238 feet, it was named for General Irving Hale. Onslow S. Rolfe, who had developed mountain warfare techniques as commander of the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, was selected to command Camp Hale.
Soldiers were trained in mountain climbing, Alpine and Nordic skiing, cold-weather survival, and various weapons and ordnance. When it was in full operation, approximately 15,000 soldiers were housed there.

(Submitted on December 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument (US Forest Service). (Submitted on December 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 60 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.