Many people do not realize that the ski industry was a direct outgrowth of the mountain ski troops from WWII.
"One of the biggest influences on Colorado skiing history was the 10th Mountain Division. The 10th Mountain Division of World War II trained just 30 miles south of Vail at Camp Hale. Known as the “Ski Troops,” the toughened soldiers learned to survive at high altitudes in sub-zero weather. They traveled with 90 lb. packs on their backs; scaled sheer cliffs and skied across treacherous mountain passes. The 10th suffered heavy causalities in Europe, but became one of the most decorated divisions in World War II.
It was a great day for Colorado when the 10th came marching home. Scores of ski troopers came back to the high mountains of Colorado to live. The veterans served in every aspect of the sport from mountain operations, to patrolling, teaching, coaching, and manufacturing equipment. There is scarcely a ski area in the state that did not benefit from their expertise.
Their vision shaped new ski areas and their innovative improvements lured skiers from around the world to Colorado slopes. In a few years time they had laid the foundation for Colorado’s multi-million dollar ski industry. Sadly, Camp Hale is gone now, but the memories of the camp and all of the dedicated people who trained there live on at the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum.
Gold was discovered in the mountains of Colorado in 1859. The early pioneers soon learned that webbed snowshoes were useless in the deep powdery snow of the high mountains. They preferred Norwegian snowshoes or skis.
It has been estimated by some historians that the State of Colorado would have taken another decade to settle had it not been for skis. The long runners provided a dependable way for the mail to get through when trains were stalled, when telegraph lines were down, and when drifts and avalanches prohibited travel on the primitive roads and trails.
The first documented use of skis in Colorado, as reported in Frank Hall’s History of Colorado, occurred during the winter of 1859-60 in a snow-locked mining camp along the Blue River near present-day Breckenridge. The 10 men remaining in camp made themselves skis and traveled down-valley where they built a cabin and claimed a town site called Eldorado West. The same history source reveals that the following winter all provisions were being carried over the range from South Park to Georgia Gulch by men on skis.
Father Dyer (Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame Member) braved the blizzards of Mosquito and Hoosier Passes to take the word of God to his wayward and scattered flocks in the Leadville mining district. In 1863 he signed on to carry the mail and almost perished in an avalanche. His book, The Snowshoe Itinerant, describes the pleasures and perils of traveling alone on skis across the roof of the continent." (from (
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The museum also features a Hall of Fame for both Colorado ski and snowboard athletes and supporting business leaders.
While the museum was closed when I took these photos, I have visited here at other time and it is a great resource. For hours and information: (
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