When you first see him at a distance, your impression is that he’s real. Walking on the bank of Gore Creek is a white garbed figure carrying skis and… a rifle?!? You do a double take and realize it’s an amazing life-sized, life-like work of art.
‘Ski Trooper’ is a tribute to the brave soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division who trained and lived in the nearby mountains at Camp Hale, between Vail and Leadville. These troops were equipped to survive in the harsh winter mountain environment and were key in defeating Nazi strongholds in the Italian mountains. The 10th Mountain endured high casualities, but many who survived returned to the mountains near Vail. They had developed an intense love for the Rockies and once they were civilians, played important roles in developing ski resorts and ski equipment for “the masses”. Before WWII, skiing was a sport of social elites — no more!
