Tennessee Pass, Colorado
US-24 (10th Mountain Division Memorial Hwy.) north of Leadville
GPS coordinates: 39.36203,-106.31080
Take a photo of your rally flag and motorcycle with the above image.*

This memorial at the 10,424 foot summit of Tennessee Pass, primarily honors the 990 men who gave their lives on the World War II battlefields of the North Apennine Mountains and the Po Valley in Italy, and in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Their major battles were fought at Riva Ridge, Mt Della Spe, Mt Della Torraccia, Mt Grande, Mt Belvedere, Mt Della Castellan, Mt Moscoso, the Po River, and Lake Garda. Another marker honors the 99th Infantry Battalion and the Office of Strategic Services that served in Norway. Along the walk from the parking lot to the memorials are storyboards describing the Division’s WWII training at nearby Camp Hale and their combat history in Italy. For more of their fascinating story, click here.

Also in the area: Across the gravel road leading to Ski Cooper is another 1929-vintage bronze Colorado historical marker briefly telling the history of Tennessee Pass.

Five miles to the north, ride around Camp Hale where soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division trained during WWII. Still visible are foundations of some of the buildings (especially at the north end of the camp) and remains of ammunition bunkers at the southeast corner. There are signs at many of the street corners providing historical facts and photos. For a birds-eye-view of the camp, ride Jones Gulch Road, the old alignment of US-24, that runs from the southwest corner of camp by the group camping area (39.42121,-106.285257) back up to US-24 (39.396474,-106.317916).

Visit the Colorado Ski Museum in Vail, Colorado. This free museum, located on the south side of the parking structure (also free a/o summer 2012), includes an exhibit that highlights the 10th Mountain Division, credited with giving birth to recreational skiing. Other exhibits highlight the history of the Vail ski area, Olympic skiers, a Colorado skiing timeline, and the history of snowboarding.

Just to the south of the museum in the plaza area is a large statue honoring the ski troops.

Also nearby is a good ice cream shop.

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*If motorcycle, rally flag and above image can't be in the same photo, submit two photos: one with rally flag and above image, and another with rally flag and motorcycle nearby. If the site is CLOSED or inaccessible, submit a photo with rally flag and motorcycle nearby, along with an explanation.

Tour of Honor-Colorado is sponsored by Randy Bishop.