Near Red Cliff in Eagle County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Ski Training Camp Hale
10th Mountain Division
| | U.S. Army | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2025
1. Ski Training Camp Hale Marker
The 10th Mountain Division, America's only division trained specifically for mountain warfare, needed to know how to ski. Alex Bright, Bob Livermore, Roger Langely, and Charles M. "Minnie" Dole, leaders in American skiing during the 1930s, pressed the War Department to develop a mountain division as they watched events in Europe unfold. It wasn't until weeks before the Pearl Harbor attack (December 7, 1941) that the War Department was finally convinced, and the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment was formed, becoming the core of the 10th Mountain Division. Early recruits were experienced skiers. Later recruits needed to be taught how to ski, and it was on the hill in front of you that they learned, followed by training at Cooper Hill on Tennessee Pass (now "Ski Cooper").
There was the Army way to ski, including "about face," and other parade ground type maneuvers on skis. In addition to skiing and snowshoeing, the troops learned survival in cold weather. Members of the 10th Mountain Division helped develop special cold weather clothes and equipment. From this rigorous training, thousands of young Americans learned to love skiing,
this page online
This project was partially funded by a State Historic Fund grant award from the Colorado Historical Society. Other partners who helped fund this project are: The 10th Mountain Division Foundation, Camp Jeep, the National Forest Foundation and the Forest Service. Photos courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western History Department. (Marker Number 4.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Sports • War, World II.
Location. 39° 25.335′ N, 106° 18.859′ W. Marker is near Red Cliff, Colorado, in Eagle County. It is on Forest Road 716 Ύ mile south of Camp Hale Spur 1B. The marker is on the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument grounds. It is about Ό mile east of U.S. Highway 24 with access is via Camp Hale Spur 1B. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office 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,
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2025
2. Ski Training Camp Hale Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Traversing the Training Ground of the 10th (approx. Ύ mile away); 10th Mountain Italian Route to WWII Victory (approx. Ύ mile away); D-Series: Bombarded by Extreme Conditions (approx. Ύ mile away); Tracing the Terrain of War Training (approx. 0.8 miles away); Preparing for War in the Eagle River Valley (approx. 0.8 miles away); Construction of Camp Hale (approx. one mile away); Entertainment Camp Hale (approx. one mile away); Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument (approx. 1.1 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
Also see . . .
1. Camp Hale (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: 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.(Submitted on December 19, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)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.
2. Colorado Ski Industry History (Colorado Encyclopedia).
Excerpt: The stationing of the US Armys newly formed Tenth Mountain Division at Camp Hale near Leadville in 1942 proved instrumental in the industrys postwar growth. Veterans of the famed division played a significant role in developing the Colorado ski industry, founding such resorts as Vail and Snowmass, operating dozens of ski schools, and opening countless other businesses integral to the sports popularity. Between 1945 and 1947 the number of skiers jumped 75 percent statewide, starting a twenty-year boom in the construction of new ski areas that pumped millions of dollars into the state and local economies.(Submitted on December 19, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 51 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
