A former U.S. Army training facility located deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado is now the country's newest national monument, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week.
Pres. Joseph Biden established the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument on Oct. 12, the USDA reported at the time. The 53,804-acre monument is on land managed by the USDA's Forest Service; the designation preserves "a unique era of military history, as well as a visually and culturally rich landscape with broad recreation opportunities," the USDA states.
The area was the training site of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, the Army's only mountain infantry division. The Camp Hale monument shares the story of the 10th Mountain Division soldiers, who "helped liberate Europe during World War II," and after returning from the war, used their skills and experiences to establish the country's skiing industry, according to the announcement.
“Camp Hale and the 10th Mountain Division are unique in our military history," USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack said in the announcement. "The men and women who served and trained in this beautiful but punishing landscape made sacrifices for our country and made their mark on the history of the free world."
Ute tribes traveled in the area since ancient human history, the announcement states, and they continue to return to their homelands to hold ceremonies to pray and honor their ancestors, and to fish, hunt and harvest plants for ceremonial and medicinal use, according to the report.
“This area was also home to the Ute people long before recorded history," Vilsack said, "and their unique cultural perspective and historical knowledge is critical to ensuring that we maintain this area’s many priceless characteristics for generations to come.”
Camp Hale and the Tenmile Range feature natural attractions such as tarns, waterfalls, alpine tundra and rare plants and wildlife, the USDA reports, and is a popular area for outdoor recreation.
“The stunning Camp Hale and Tenmile landscape is a recreation mecca where visitors enjoy alpine hiking, snowmobiling, skiing, camping and more," Vilsack said. "It is an honored obligation for us to protect this treasured piece of our national heritage.”
