Authorities announced Tuesday that a Colorado hiker discovered a neglected land mine while trekking through a forest near a World War II-era U.S. Army training facility. On July 20, a hiker from the Denver area discovered what he believed to be an ancient training land mine while hiking near Camp Hale, according to the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the sheriff’s office, he took precautions to avoid tampering with the mine while photographing and documenting its location for authorities. The Fort Carson Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was deployed and destroyed the device.
The sheriff’s office stated, “The Team wanted to convey that even training devices can be dangerous and could cause serious injury or death if tampered with.”
Officials verified that the device was abandoned by the 10th Mountain Division’s training exercises at Camp Hale during World War II.
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Built-in 1942, the training facility housed as many as 14,000 soldiers who were instructed in skiing, mountain scaling, and winter survival and combat.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the camp’s open valley could accommodate more than 1,000 buildings and structures, including parade grounds and weapons ranges.
Camp Hale only operated for three years, until November 1945, when the 10th Mountain Division moved to Texas. In October 2022, the site was officially designated a national monument.
Over the years, the sheriff’s office has received reports of surplus equipment being discovered at Camp Hale. Officials cautioned tourists to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious items to the sheriff’s office.
