In the second of a three-part series, guest author Mary Stevens highlights the accomplishments of America’s 10th Mountain Division, a specially-trained Army unit that succeeded in combat in ways no one else had before. Post-war veterans set about changing Colorado’s image and economy well into the future. Look for “Part 1: Formation and Warfare” and “Part 3: A Legacy of Innovations.”
Ski Towns and Industry
The 10th Mountain Division had done their time in war, and now it was time to enjoy their life back home in the United States. Many men had a deep love for the mountains, and skiing in particular. Americans across the country felt their influence, and Colorado’s ski industry was influenced by those men who made their home in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Colorado: A State for Winter Sports. Colorado is one of the biggest centers for the sports of skiing and snowboarding. People travel from across the country to ski here, and the ski and snowboard industry supports the economy of the state. Aspen, Vail and Breckenridge are “ski towns” whose economy is centered around the ski season, which affects the dynamic of the state. Colorado winters can be long, with snow falling in the mountains as early as late September and as late as April. It might seem that skiing arose naturally because of these conditions, but the fact is, the ski industry of Colorado would not exist without the men of the 10th Mountain Division.
Arapahoe Basin, Aspen, and Vail. Colorado was home to the men of the 10th Mountain Division while they trained at Camp Hale; this training had a considerable influence on their lives. Even while training on skis all week for the army as part of their duty, some of the troops spent their off-duty days skiing wherever they could in the surrounding area. This led to a love of these mountains and a love for skiing. The 1996 documentary Fire on the Mountain exemplifies the spirit of the veterans of the 10th Mountain Division: “Approximately 2000 men of the 10th became ski instructors. Many of the rest designed the resorts, built the lifts and manufactured the equipment. In all, 62 American ski resorts were either founded, managed or had their ski schools directed by 10th Mountain men.”
The ski industry took off after World War II. Lawrence “Larry” Jump opened Arapahoe Basin, the first ski area in Colorado in 1946, just a year after his return to the state. He had the help of many other 10th Mountain Division veterans, including Earl Clark as a member of the Ski Patrol, Willfred Davis designing trail maps to minimally impact the nature in the area and Merrill Hastings who headed up construction.
Aspen Ski Company founded in 1946 by Friedl Pfeifer, Percy Rideout, Walter Paepcke and John Litchfield, began construction on the first ski lift that summer. Other veterans of the 10th including Fritz Benedict, Curtis Chase, Willfred Davis and Ted Ryan all had a hand in forming and running Aspen.
Peter Siebert, after working at many other ski areas in Colorado, opened Vail Mountain with Earl Eaton in 1962. They discovered “No-Name Mountain” in 1957 and climbed it for the first time, thinking it would be the perfect mountain for a ski area. Both were amazed to find a mountain so close to Denver that wasn’t already owned or developed for skiing. The town of Vail formed around this ski area.
10th Mountain Division veterans also influenced other major resorts in Colorado. Paul Duke served as executive manager at Breckenridge and is credited with helping increase the area’s popularity. Steamboat Springs had a youth ski program headed up by Gordon Wren, and he was “essential in creating the popular ‘Ski Town USA’.” Alfred Davis and Al Bennett formed another popular mountain into Loveland Basin. Harold Sorenson, a native of Norway, began the Winter Park Ski Jump School in 1958 and the school was free to kids ages 4-18. Ski Cooper boasts that men of the 10th carved the original trails for training exercises. These ski areas have had a major impact on the identity of the state and are known nationwide as wonderful places to ski.
Making Skiing Affordable. Before the 10th Mountain Division opened ski resorts all over the country, many people had never heard of or had the opportunity to ski. Before the war, skiing in America was only popular in the New England area. Because of social aspects and cost, it was considered a high-class sport. The resorts opened in Colorado by men from the 10th Mountain Division often included ski schools, where anyone who came could learn to ski, usually from a 10th Mountain veteran who had been hired to work there. Also, lift tickets were often much less expensive at these ski areas, which meant many of the men brought their families to learn as well. In turn, this helped encourage the next generation to be interested in the sport and further solidified Colorado’s identity.
My grandfather didn’t start a ski area or work at one, but his love for the mountains lives on in my family. My grandparents had a cabin near Florissant, Colorado for many years which had access to a lake for fishing, and areas for hiking and exploring. This love of the outdoors was passed on to my father, who has recently moved to the mountains with my step-mom, where they enjoy the peace and quiet that exists at 9,000 feet. Honestly, I visit every chance I get.
What other contributions to Colorado history did the 10th Mountain Division leave as a part of their legacy? Read “Part 3: A Legacy of Innovations” to find out.
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Mary Stevens is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational and Strategic Communication at UCCS. She enjoys spending time with family, especially her fiance, parents, and soon-to-be in-laws.
