The Conservation Alliance celebrates the Biden administration’s designation of the Camp Hale – Continental Divide National Monument and protections for Thompson Divide. Located near Leadville, CO, the newly designated Camp Hale – Continental Divide National Monument includes the former training grounds of the Army’s famous 10th Mountain Division and is considered by many to be the birthplace of the modern ski industry.
Camp Hale, the Continental Divide and Thompson Divide are all part of the CORE Act, which includes protections for other critical areas in Colorado. The Conservation Alliance has advocated for landscapes included in the CORE Act for more than 10 years and funded Conservation Colorado, San Juan Citizens Alliance, and Wilderness Workshop for their grassroots efforts on the bill during that time.
Shoren Brown, Interim Executive Director at The Conservation Alliance, joined President Biden for the signing of the designation. “We are thrilled and encouraged to see this administration take substantive action on protecting land and water, and hope this is the first step toward more community-led monument designations around the country,” said Brown. “Conserving Camp Hale, the Tenmile range, and Thompson Divide will support jobs and economic growth in Colorado, and provide opportunities for Coloradans from all walks of life to use, enjoy, and learn from these lands.”
“As a proudly Colorado-based company, Backpacker’s Pantry is thrilled that Camp Hale National Monument will join Colorado’s landscape of public lands,” says Tim Koehler, CFO of Backpacker’s Pantry. “The need to protect these wild spaces for public use has never been greater, and we firmly believe that the designation of the national monument ensures that the legacy of Camp Hale survives for future generations.”
