A walk through willow shrubs and a number of muddy spring crossings keeps our focus on how and where we step. Within a half mile from the TH, we reach the first major drainage, this is Wilder Gulch. From here, we begin the steady climb up to the saddle, and on to Machine Gun Ridge.
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| Ed1 leads the way thru willow and a bog-like section, followed by Raheal, Marsha, Jill, Betty, Ed2, Mary Ky, and Kathy |
The swoooosh of fast-moving vehicles begins to dissapate. The sounds of civilization are replaced with the flapping noise of a bird and occasional chatter of a pocket of hikers.
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| Last view of I-70 at least for a few hours. |
Here, a stream is punctuated with a number of meticulusly constructed beaver ponds.
Trail is not difficult today. In fact this trail is rated "easy" in a number of on-line sites.
Twelve HCH members, including two first-timers (Jill and Ed2) enjoyed the day. Our destination, a saddle in the distance between Ptarmigian Hill (12,143') and Machine Gun Ridge. On the day, just over 1,000' elevation gain would be achieved..
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| Trail follows the contour of the slope. |
After 2.3 mi. trail continues to climb on a dirt road, that winds its way to Ptarmigan Pass (11,765'). The Pass offers a good view of the Sawatch Range and the west side of the Gore Range.
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| On approach to the saddle below Machine Gun Ridge, Mary Kay and Jill (midway up the slope) are followed by Kathy (foreground). |
At the top of the gulch, the dirt road continues down the back side of the pass. A number of people on ATV's arrive, take a break, then move on. While we are having lunch, a family of tourists arrives. They are on a jeep tour based in Leadville.
Despite the stiff cool breeze, four hearty trekkers, including first time hiker, Ed Ryan decide to continue another mile+ up to the top of Ptarmigan Pass. As we watch them climb, their images become nothing more than a mere black dot on the horizon.
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| The scene looking down from the saddle. |
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| From the saddle, three hikers scouted the top at x,xxx' el. |
Note: The 10th Mountain Division was first formed in 1943, at Camp Hale, Colorado. Troops trained for a year in this area, honing their skiing, rock climbing, and cold weather survival skills. The area was chosen because of its terrain and harsh winter conditions. Skills learned here would prove to be vital to men in the 10th. They would soon be tested in combat.
The division entered combat in January, 1945, in the North Apennine Mountains of Italy. They faced German positions along a 5 mile long ridge. Scouting reports indicated if the men could make a 1,500' vertical assent, they would surprise the Germans. What made their job difficult and risky, the assent would be made at night.
On February 18, 1945, all the training they had done in Colorado paid off. The Germans never thought allied troops would make such a risky move. The night assent was successful.
The fighting was fierce as German troops made seven counter attacks over two days. Over 500 men of the 10th were killed, wounded or missing after the first day.
Despite heavy losses, their training, discipline, and determination helped the 10th destroy five elite German divisions. In 114 days of combat, the 10th Dvision suffered 992 killed in action, 4,154 wounded.
The unit was sent to Camp Carson, Colorado, where on November 30, 1945, the 10th Mountain Division was disbanded. The unit was officially reactivated, in 1985, at Fort Drum, New York, as the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).
It was a privilege to walk the grounds where boys became men. One of many stories is that of PFC John D. Magrath. After killing two, wounding three, and capturing one German soldier, as he was crossing an open field, two mortar rounds landed at his feet, killing him instantly. Magrath, age 19, was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
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| Seated L to R: Kathy, Betty, Marsha, Johanna;Standing, L to R: John, Mary Kay, Gary1 (peeking oiut from behind), Ed2, Raheel, Ed1, and Jill |
Total Miles = 7.6
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