Spending a week skiing might sound like recreation to some, but for the Army's 10th Special Forces Group, it's a critical part of their work. Based out of Fort Carson, they're high altitude-cold weather specialists. Like the legendary 10th Mountain Division troops who pioneered winter warfare during World War II, the 10th Special Forces Group has to be ready to conduct military operations in heavy snow or on a steep mountainside.
So recently, a few hundred Special Forces soldiers headed up to train at Monarch Mountain near Salida. It's the first battalion level cold weather training they've had in years and the soldiers only have five days on the slopes to get competent, regardless of their ski experience. Reporter Shanna Lewis grabbed her skis and headed out to the slopes to file this report.
Monarch Mountain is a financial supporter of KRCC. Financial supporters have no editorial influence.
