– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Nice Event at a 10th Mountain Hut Honors Vet. Bob Lewis

by Lou Dawson August 27, 2007
written by Lou Dawson August 27, 2007

Fritz Benedict hut
Benedict Hut stoke.

Okay, today we offer a bit of pre-season stoke — only with a different slant.

I’ve gotten to know a WWII veteran named Ralph Ball who lives a few blocks from here. He was in the 10th Mountain Division, and was one of the soldiers on the Trooper Traverse, when in 1944 they skied over the high Colorado mountains from Leadville to Aspen. Last week we joined Ralph and some of his 10th Mountain related friends to hang several Division paintings at the 10th Mountain Benedict Huts above Aspen. Along with that, the idea was to picnic, swap some stories, and sing a few trooper songs.

10th Mountain insignia painting
The object at hand.

Bob Lewis
Bob Lewis soldiering at Camp Hale, Colorado circa 1942.

First order of the day was the insignia painting.

This depiction of the 10th Mountain emblem was painted by 10th Veteran Bob Lewis’s daughter Katie’s husband, and had hung in Ralph’s office for years. The late Bob Lewis is an interesting fellow who lived in Aspen for more than fifty years, where he logged a career of environmental education and activism that few can equal.

“I’d been looking at the painting almost every day,” said Ralph, “and figured why should I be the only one enjoying it?”

 

Hanging the painting.
Ralph Ball hangs the painting at Fritz Benedict Hut.

10th Mountain director Ben Dodge worked with Ralph to select good locations for the artwork. It was immediately obvious that the insignia painting should hang in the Fritz hut, up high on the southerly wall over a set of windows looking out on the mountains Fritz loved. Ladder engineering was implemented by Robin, and 80-something old Ralph climbed up there like a 20-year-old construction worker and did the honors. As Bob Lewis’s daughter Katie looked on, an emotional moment was had by all.

Next, we headed over to the Fabi hut where we hung a signed and framed print of a beautiful Jacques Parker skiing soldiers painting.

Picnic was next, then some fun. Ralph had requested that we do two things during the trip. First we would “cabaret,” meaning each person would share a story, sing a song or recite a poem. After that we’d have a sing-along. Best story was John Trip’s.

For years I’d enjoyed hearing a specific legend about how during 10th Mountain training at Camp Hale the artillery shot down a gigantic avalanche that fell in a lake and shoved the icepack out in a spectacular event. Turns out John Trip was there. According to him, they were out on maneuvers and artillery decided to shoot a cornice down from Homestake Peak over Slide Lake, (near Leadville and now above several 10th Mountain Huts). The soldiers gathered at what they figured was a safe distance. The shells whistled in and nailed the cornice, which in turn triggered a large avalanche that fell to the lake below. When the avalanche hit the lake it blasted the icepack out with a thunderous roar. No soldiers were hit, but according to Trip they ended up being “too close for comfort.”

One can only imagine the glee of a bunch of 20-year-olds witnessing something like that. Oh boy…

Fritz Benedict hut
Ralph holds the song book, John Trip to his right.

After cabaret we sang a few oldtime ski and mountain troop songs. Ralph brought along a 10th Mountain songbook and rolled through a few classics, then it was time for the penultimate tune of the 10th: 90 Pounds of Ruck Sack.

We passed lyric sheets around so everyone could join in, then belted out the old tune about the barmaid up at a mountain inn, who innocently tried to warm up a cold skier and ended up with a son in the mountain infantry. Funny how those things happen.

In all, a good day in the mountains. Thanks Ralph.

 

Soldiers at Slide Lake
Years ago, well known extreme skiing pioneer Chris Landry gave me a set of negatives from his 10th vet father, which I retain in the WildSnow historical archives. The Landry shots include this one of soldiers pointing at an avalanche path on the mountainside above Slide Lake. While there is no evidence of recent avy activity in the photo, one can only assume that they’re pointing to the avalanche slope where the famous event happened, perhaps a few days before they were there.
6 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Classic Rando Binding — Secura Fix Touring Adapter for Backcountry Skiing
next post
Moving Alaskan Snow — Matt Shares Some Truck Stoke

6 comments

Mark August 27, 2007 - 10:54 am

Man, that shot of the 10th Mountain guys looking over the slope in their white gear is amazing! I still can’t think of a cooler way to be involved in the military.

pete anzalone August 27, 2007 - 1:29 pm

Lou,

Very enjoyable article, really enjoyed reading it. I’d love to see more of Chris Landry’s father’s photos … where are the “WildSnow historical archives?” … I’d love to traipse thru that attic!

Thanks,
PA

Lou August 27, 2007 - 4:27 pm

Hi Pete,
One wing of world HQ here is devoted to WildSnow, with a few cubic yards of historical material in various forms. Some things such as the Landry photos will end up at various museum or library collections some day… much of the stuff is an archive I created while writing the history book, and consists of both duplicates from museum collections as well as original material.

By the way, the history book needs a new edition — I’d better get going on that one of these days!

Skiing at Home dot com August 27, 2007 - 6:36 pm

WOW, those pictures are very cool!

Tom Gosiorowski August 27, 2007 - 7:01 pm

Really enjoyed the song lyrics and especially the photos. I love all of that 10th Mountain history and especially the mountain camraderie they shared. I really encourage Lou to get more of those Landry photos available on the web here of through a 10th Mountain history site of some sort. The photos look too special to not be shared with others.

Lou August 28, 2007 - 5:58 am

Hi Tom, I’ve shared those photos over the years in various places and will indeed continue to do so. Only a few show much of anything, and most are somewhat messed up from bad exposure settings and the camera having moisture inside or on the lens, so it’s not much of a trove.

If you really want the trove, the Denver Public Library 10th Mountain Collection is where the goods are. They charge good money to utilize their collection and everything they have is copyrighted and thus of limited use (that’s wrong, in my opinion), but it can be worth it to access their stuff. Their collection is where I found much of my Trooper Traverse material.

http://history.denverlibrary.org/collections/10th_description.html#access

Comments are closed.

Recent Comments

  • Marius on Ski Crampons — When To, When Not To and How
  • Clanicius on Spring Touring Essentials for Day Trips, Overnights, and Ski Mountaineering
  • DavidH on Exploring the Gem of Washington Pass
  • Gary on Exploring the Gem of Washington Pass
  • Jim Pace on Exploring the Gem of Washington Pass

Gear Reviews

  • Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 115 W Touring Boot Review

    April 7, 2021
  • BCA Scepter Ski Pole Review — Updated and Improved

    April 6, 2021
  • Spring Touring Essentials for Day Trips, Overnights, and Ski Mountaineering

    March 29, 2021

Trip Reports

  • Team WildSnow Recaps 2021 Grand Traverse Ski Race

    April 5, 2021
  • The Gothic Mountain Tour: Not Just a Training Race

    March 3, 2021
  • Making Turns and Skintracks at Bluebird Backcountry

    February 24, 2021

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Totally Deep Podcast 86 — Ross Herr of Dynafit

    March 9, 2021
  • Totally Deep Podcast 85 — Serious Powder Talk with Doug & Randy

    February 25, 2021
  • Drinking Beer with the Bench Girls — Totally Deep Podcast 84

    February 12, 2021

Tips & Tricks

  • Spring Avalanche Drama (and How to Avoid It!)

    April 2, 2021
  • Spring Touring Essentials for Day Trips, Overnights, and Ski Mountaineering

    March 29, 2021
  • Pocket Vs. Harness — Where Should You Wear Your Beacon?

    March 18, 2021

Ski Touring Stories

  • Envisioning a Friendly, Busier Backcountry — Shaun Deutschlander Q&A

    January 18, 2021
  • Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry

    January 15, 2021
  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    January 7, 2021

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Exploring the Gem of Washington Pass

April 15, 2021

Team WildSnow Recaps 2021 Grand Traverse...

April 5, 2021

Remembering Gary Allen Smith

March 23, 2021