Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway - Camp Hale Memorial
Posted by: 
94RedRover
N 39° 25.877 W 106° 19.393
13S E 386116 N 4365473
Northwest of Leadville, along Highway 24, the historic site of Camp Hale, a military training installation for extreme weather rescue is now a vast recreation area.
Waymark Code: WM6ZCA
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 08/09/2009
Views: 5
In 1942, during World War II, it became necessary to train specialized military personnel in rock-climbing, skiing and cold weather rescue and survival. Eagle Park, off Highway 24 between Leadville and Redcliff, Colorado offered enough flat-bottom land with adjacent peaks for training to establish such a training base. With permission from Government services, such as the US Department of Agriculture and Forest Service, and the acquisition of private lands, Camp Hale soon became an active military installation, of up to 247,243 acres.
From 1942 until 1965, specialized mountain training prepared the 10th Mountain Division (activated in 1943 for combat in the rugged mountains in Italy and reactivated in 1985 for Operation Desert Storm), the 38th Regimental Combat Team, 99th Infantry Battalion, and soldiers from nearby Fort Carson for extreme weather survival and rescue.
Many weapons, such as anti-tank rockets, recoilless rifles, rifle grenades, hand grenades, high explosive and illumination mortars, artillery, practice antitank land mines, and small arms were tested and trained with in this valley. For this reason, one should be careful if visiting the area.
From 1959 through 1965, Tibetan soldiers were secretly trained here by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Camp Hale was deactivated for use in 1965 and returned to the Forest Service in 1966.
In 1992, Camp Hale was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An overlook on Highway 24 has numerous informational plaques about Camp Hale, and a journey through the site offers additional informational plaques. Now, the area is heavily used for camping, hiking, ATV and off-road driving and winter sports.
Program: America's Byways
Website: [Web Link]
Official Name: Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway
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