Ski training, 87th Regiment, DPL: TMD-390 CAMP HALE AND EAGLE RIVER HEADWATERS AREA INTERPRETIVE PLAN 2 STAKEHOLDERS 6 - 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 8 - 15 INTRODUCTION 16 - 23 INTERPRETIVE PROCESS 24 - 69 INTERPRETIVE PLANNING 24 MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW 24 - 27 MARKET ANALYSIS 28 - 29 MESSAGE 30 - 47 UNIVERSAL STORY 30 - 31 INTERNATIONAL: World War 32 NATIONAL: Preparing for War 33 COLORADO: Convergence of Forces 34 REGIONAL: Proving Ground 35 CAMP HALE/ BASE CAMP 36 A River Channeled/ A River Restored 36 - 37 Camaraderie and Teamwork 38 - 39 Individual Experience of War 40 - 43 AFTER THE WAR: Elevating Recreation 44 - 47 MECHANICS/ STORY EXPERIENCE 48 - 63 MEDIA / COMMUNICATING STORY 64 - 69 Media Kit-of-Parts 64 - 65 Media Chart 66 - 67 Pictorial Camp Hale Photo Timeline 68 - 69 APPENDIX 70 - 99 Supporting Images 72 - 91 Existing Interpretation 92 - 93 Meeting Notes 94 - 99 3 A SKI GLOSSARY Bindings: Gelandesprung: Ski Poles: A masochistic leather device which assures A system for getting you safely over everything Props to keep you from falling down. The that no matter how many times your ski turns except the top strand of a barbed-wire fence. trouble is that you have only two of them, around, your ankle will turn with it. and there are at least four directions in Instructor: which you can fall. Controlled Skiing: A Dartmouth man who falls down only when Pretty much a contradiction in terms. The only no one is looking. Telemark: control you have over skiing is when you walk One way of making a turn in deep snow. A Parka: by a pair of skis in a sporting goods store and much surer way is to sit down and get up A light, closely knit garment that keeps snow buy a bowling ball instead. facing the direction you want to go. from getting out, once it has got in. Crouch: Schuss: Unbreakable Crust: A stance for getting as close to the ground To shoot a hill straight. Introduced by the A person who discourses for fifteen minutes as possible without tobogganing. The more Germans some years ago to get rid of as on the merits of various ski waxes, and then experienced the skier, the lower the crouch; many American youths as possible before borrows your last hunk of paraffin. he knows what’s coming. the war started. Expert: Skins: A skier who, when you see him coming, has Something that can be attached to the bottom already passed you. of skis to permit you to go up grades you won’t dare come down. —David H. Beetle Camp Hale Ski-Zette January 21, 1944 Saturday Evening Post, copyright 1944, The Curtis Publishing Company: 4 Dave Christie and Nancy Kramer (far right), descendants of 10th Mountain Division soldiers, at the base of Chicago Ridge above Vance’s Hut, joined by ROTC team, unit leader and family members, the group salutes the 10th with a field medic flag brought home from Italy by Nancy Kramer’s father, William “Ropesole” Robertson, 87G, Medic. 5 STAKEHOLDERS In February 2016, a dedicated group of Gary Burton Spencer Plumb Garett Reppenhagan stakeholders from the: 10th Mountain 10th Mountain Division Foundation National Forest Foundation Vet Voice Foundation Division Foundation, National Forest Consolidate legacy to make it accessible “Involve today’s vets in perpetuating legacy.” Marcus Selig Foundation, National Park Service, to more and more people. National Forest Foundation White River National Forest, Colorado “…During restoration, place interpretive signs Andrea Brogan Historical Society, State Historic to tell the story.” White River National Forest Christy Dickenson Preservation Office, the Office of “Camp Hale is well-loved by the public as Nancy Kramer National Park Service Senator Michael Bennet, and Vet a recreational destination.” 10th Mountain Division Foundation “Interpretation as preservation of Voice Foundation, met to share their “As a descendant: I feel compelled to carry on historic precedent.” Donna Graham knowledge and insights, and to give the story.” White River National Forest Shirl Kasper guidance to the interpretive priorities “Tie Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway and stories for Camp Hale and the David Little National Park Service to the interpretive story.” Eagle River Headwaters. 10th Mountain Division Foundation “As a National Historic Landmark—tell the story of Camp Hale, World War II, and the Matt Klein “Camp Hale offers the opportunity to: Ski in the ski industry.” White River National Forest Later, in July 2016 Stakeholders and footsteps of the 10th Mountain Division.” Collaborative Partners from the Camp Noah Koerper Jennifer Bryan Hale and Eagle River Headwaters Ben Dodge Senator Bennett Office Colorado Historic Society Restoration Project: Collaborative 10th Mountain Division Hut Association Recommendations for Restoration “Place interpretive signs on hut to hut trails.” Amy Polanti and Management met to review this State Historic Preservation Office interpretive plan and critique it in terms of meeting the Restoration and Management Plan recommendation to: highlight “the rich history of the area, including its geologic formation and natural ecosystems, use by native people and early settlers, and its military use. 6 COLLABORATIVE PARTICIPANTS Kathy Kitzmann Chris Sturm Melissa Macdonald Tom Allender Aurora Water and Homestake Partners Colorado Water Conservation Board Nonprofit Plan (Former representative of Vail Resorts & Eagle Park Reservoir Eagle River Watershed Council) Bryce Romig Cliff Simonton Markian Feduschak Climax Molybdenum Eagle County Steve Pittel Walking Mountains Science Center NOVA Guides Kim Langmaid Ken Vogler Holly Loff Walking Mountains Science Center Colorado Department of Public Eagle River Watershed Council Lee Rimel Health and the Environment Private Landowner Pete Wadden Todd Fessenden Walking Mountains Science Center Erica Garcia Eagle River Water & Sanitation District Sam Robinson Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum Sheep Grazing Permittee Adam Little Maria Pastore US Army Corps of Engineers Bill Andree Grand River Consultants on behalf Bob Egan Colorado Parks and Wildlife of the cities of Aurora and Colorado Trail Preservation Alliance & Rocky Mountain Matt Grove Springs and the Homestake Partners Sports Riders USFS Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District Kendall Bakich Colorado Parks and Wildlife Kerry Sundeen Charlie Sherwood Dave Neely Grand River Consultants on behalf Trail Preservation Alliance & Rocky USFS Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District Mike Eytel of the cities of Aurora and Colorado Mountain Sports Riders Paula Peterson Colorado River Water Conservation District Springs and the Homestake Partners USFS Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District Rob Firth Steve Staley Tambi Katieb Trout Unlimited Patrick Uphus Colorado Trail Foundation Land Planning Collaborative USFS White River National Forest (Former representative of Eagle River Jim White Mark Weinhold Jan Crosby Watershed Council) Town of Minturn USFS White River National Forest Colorado Springs Utilities/Homestake Partners Mary Mitsos Scott Burgess Pat Wells National Forest Foundation Town of Red Cliff Colorado Springs Utilities/Homestake Partners Interpretive Plan prepared by: Noble Erickson Inc Root House Studio 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Eagle River Headwaters/Camp Hale History What do audiences seek to experience? Rich in resources, the Colorado mountain In the early 1900s, resources were harnessed new T15 light cargo carrier, universally called of the Mountain and Cold Weather Training terrain of the Eagle River region has attracted for growing produce and grazing sheep. the ‘Weasel.’ …Some innovations were Command at Camp Hale from 1951 to 1958. “They seek background, the history behind people for millennia: Ute people sheltered made by members of the Battalion…First was Jamesway huts—a portable, easy-to-assemble an object, event or practice. They seek along the waterways and hunted elk, mountain Then, in 1942, during a time of world war, the a mount made for a heavy machine from two version of the Quonset hut occupied the connections between their interests and bison, and mule deer in summer; later, miners region’s high altitude environment and “white skis—a mount from which the gun could be grided streets of Camp Hale, planes landed bigger picture issues. They want the chance arrived seeking gold, mining towns were gold” or snow was commandeered for the placed into immediate action. Second, a on the valley floor, and the remaining Field to build and expand on what they know established, and roadways and railways were war effort—the Eagle River was channeled, three-ski sled for litter bearers. This difficult House sometimes served as a hangar. From or on their previous experience.” built to transport the region’s gold and timber the valley leveled, and a temporary mountain training hinted at the battalions future 1959 through 1965, the Central Intelligence resources. Fortuitously, in 1891, the White troop training camp, the size of 1940s Boulder, deployment, a possible invasion of Norway Agency (CIA) secretly trained Tibetan soldiers Why do people value resources? River Plateau Timberland Reserve, precursor was built in just seven months. From 1942 to from the north. The battalions excellent at Camp Hale. The camp was “deactivated” “They are special places that give us the chance of the White River National Forest, was set late 1944, when the 10th Mountain Division performance in training would serve as a again in 1965. Control of the land was returned to connect with things bigger than ourselves.” aside by President Benjamin Harrison. left for Camp Swift in Texas before shipping blueprint for other units to follow.” to the