President Biden visited Colorado on Wednesday, Oct. 12, to designate Camp Hale as a National Monument, providing long overdue recognition to the World War II veterans who trained there in preparation for joining the war in Europe to defeat Hitler’s Nazi regime. Tucked in a high mountain valley 17 miles north of Leadville, Camp Hale was home base for the renowned 10th Mountain Division.[1]

From November 1942 through June 1944 Camp Hale housed 14,000 troops—along with 4,000 mules and 250 sled dogs—of the 10th Mountain Division, who learned to rock climb, perform military maneuvers on skis, and endure a brutal climate in preparation for mountain warfare. Over 18 grueling months soldiers trained to fight at high altitudes.[2]

After completing their training in Colorado, they deployed to the mountains of Italy and fought with distinction. The 10th Mountain Division was deactivated in 1945 and subsequently re-activated in 1985, based out of Fort Drum, New York. Since then, the 10th has deployed to Iraq, Somalia, Bosnia and Afghanistan, but no matter where they’re based, members honor their alpine legacy by retaining the Mountain tab on their sleeve insignia.

“Valuable wildlife habitat in central Colorado will be permanently conserved following today’s designation of Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument by President Joe Biden,” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) stated in a press release. “Encompassing more than 10,000 acres of critical winter range for elk as well as mule deer habitat, migration corridors and headwaters fisheries, the area also is home to a historic military site, Camp Hale …”[3]

Pro-hunting and fishing conservation groups had pushed for the monument designation, which was previously included in a conservation bill known as Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act, or CORE Act. The House of Representatives has passed the bill five times, but it has so far been stymied by the Senate. Creating official protections for Camp Hale was just one part of the bill, which would have protected more than 400,000 acres of public lands in Colorado.[4]

“The CORE Act is largely a community-driven piece of legislation supported by local sportsmen,” says Kaden McArthur, Government Relations Manager for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “We’re still pushing—and so are Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Joe Neguse—to get this legislation passed. But this designation is a fail-safe to get as much as we can done, even if it’s through administrative action, because these landscapes deserve protection.”[5]

“National monument designations offer a means to conserve large landscapes important to fish and wildlife and valued by sportsmen,” said Land Tawney, president and CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA). “Numerous monuments are open to hunting and fishing, with … designations—such as Berryessa-Snow Mountain in California and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks in New Mexico—specifying that sportsmen can continue to pursue our passions within their boundaries.”[6]

“Conserving large tracts of undeveloped public lands as national monuments is essential to America’s hunting and fishing traditions,” explained BHA Conservation Director John Gale.[7] “Our national monuments provide some of the greatest hunting opportunities in the world,” added Hal Herring, Field & Stream contributing editor and host of BHA’s Podcast & Blast. “They will remain so as long as hunters get involved, and stay involved, in the public process.”[8]

“The Antiquities Act is one of our most powerful tools to conserve large landscapes, secure important fish and wildlife habitat and safeguard hunting and angling opportunities on public lands and waters,” Land Tawney added. “Signed into law by Theodore Roosevelt, it’s been used by 16 presidents–eight Republicans and eight Democrats–to permanently sustain great places to hunt and fish.”[9]

In 2016, BHA and a consortium of outdoor groups and businesses released a report on how national monument designations can sustain important fish and wildlife habitat while maintaining traditional hunting and fishing access.[10] For additional information, see the resources/links below.

• Dennis Webb. “'These guys were true heroes': Descendants of Camp Hale trainees welcome recognition of dads' service in World War II.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 10/22/22.
• “How Camp Hale National Monument will protect elk.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 10/16/22 (scroll down).
• “Designation long overdue.” Aspen Daily News: 10/14/22.
• Nick Gann. “Military, mountains, and a new monument.” Trout Unlimited: 10/13/22.
• The White House. “A Proclamation on Establishment of the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument.” Briefing Room-Presidential Actions: 10/12/22.
• Katie McKalip. “BHA Commends Administration Designation of National Monument in Colorado.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/12/22.
• Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) Report. “Hunter & Angler Tenets for New Monuments.” BHA: 10/12/22.
• Thomas Novelly. “Army’s Historic WWII Training Grounds Named America’s Newest National Monument.” Military.com: 10/12/22.
• Tennessee Pass 10th Mountain Division Memorial (8/19/22).
• Colorado Snowsports Museum & Hall of Fame (includes 10^th Mt. Div.) in Vail (8/20/22).
• “The CORE Act & Camp Hale.” Backcountry Journal: Fall 2022, p. 39.
• “CORE Act Will Honor Camp Hale, Provide Habitat Protections for Wildlife.” Pagosa Daily Post: 7/29/22.
• “The CORE Act (& Camp Hale).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/29/22.
• “Final steps for crucial preservation of over 400,000 acres in Colorado: The CORE Act would honor Cape Hale legacy and provide important habitat protections for wildlife.” Colorado Newsline: 7/27/22.
• “Antiquities Act protects hunting and angling on public lands.” Greeley Tribune: 4/26/17.
• “National Monuments Report.” Backcountry Hunters & Angers: 2/19/16.

David Lien is a former Air Force officer and co-chairman of the Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. He’s the author of six books including “Hunting for Experience: Tales of Hunting & Habitat Conservation.”[11]

[1] “Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers 10th Annual State Gathering Recap.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/9/18.

[2] “Preserve Camp Hale and other public lands for future generations: Wilderness bill will protect Colorado’s robust outdoor recreation economy.” Colorado Newsline: 9/24/21.

[3] Katie McKalip. “BHA Commends Administration Designation of National Monument in Colorado.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/12/22.

[4] Sage Marshall. “Conservation Groups Cheer Biden Administration’s National Monument Designation: The Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument permanently protects an iconic former Army Base—and critical habitat for elk and mule deer in Colorado.” Field &Stream: 10/19/22.

[5] Sage Marshall. “Conservation Groups Cheer Biden Administration’s National Monument Designation: The Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument permanently protects an iconic former Army Base—and critical habitat for elk and mule deer in Colorado.” Field &Stream: 10/19/22.

[6] Katie McKalip. “Sportsmen Present Path Forward for National Monument Proposals.” National Monuments: A Sportsmen’s Perspective: 1/21/16. http://backcountryhunters.org/images/national_monuments_report_final.pdf

[7] Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA). “BHA Maps Hunting Opportunity in At-Risk National Monuments.” AmmoLand.com: 11/17/17.

[8] Wes Siler. “Why Hikers Need Hunters and Vice Versa.” Outside: 2/7/17.

[9] Land Tawney, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers President and CEO. Backcountry Beat: October 2021.

[10] Katie McKalip. “BHA Commends Administration Designation of National Monument in Colorado.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/12/22.

[11] https://outskirtspress.com/huntforexperience