World War II Skiers-- Part 2: "Camp Hell"

The 10th Mountain Division is now stationed at Fort Drum in New York.  The division was the brainchild of Charles Minot Dole, founder of the National Ski Patrol.  He convince the U.S. government to create a special infantry force that was trained in winter warfare.

Under a special contract with the War department, the ski patrol hand-picked recruits from among the country's greatest skiers, mountaineers and outdoorsmen.

They spent several brutal winters training in skiing, snowshoeing, rock climbing and other elements of winter combat at Camp Hale in Colorado.  Conditions were such that they nicknamed it "Camp Hell."  Richard Calvert remembers a two-week stretch there were temperatures never rose above -10 degrees.

He recalls: "It was tough.  We buried down in the snow, cut branches, threw our sleeping bags down, climbed in, got some sleep-- maybe.  No fires.  It was not fun and games.  It was probably the worst experience we all had.  I like camping out, but that was not fun.

--GreGen