Ninety-Pound Rucksack
Ninety-Pound Rucksack is a podcast about the US Army's legendary 10th Mountain Division, the gritty unit of World War II climbers and skiers who trained for more than two years in the Colorado Rockies (often wearing ninety-pound “rucksacks,” or backpacks) to fight the Axis powers in extreme cold and mountainous terrain. Not only did the Division's insertion into the war help end Germany’s occupation of Italy; post-war, its veterans founded and developed ski areas across America, started companies like NOLS and Nike and launched the fields of avalanche science and wilderness rescue. Ninety-Pound Rucksack examines the stories that made the unit famous as well as those history has forgotten. Equal parts real-time research, intimate conversation and revelatory journalism, Ninety-Pound Rucksack explores not only the conventional wisdom about the 10th, but the transformative power of the mountains to forge a collective identity among the mountain troops—and to ignite a passion for the outdoors that reshaped American society in the process.
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Camp Hale, Part 1: Episode 11
09/16/2024
Camp Hale, Part 1: Episode 11
In Episode 11 of Ninety-Pound Rucksack, host Christian Beckwith explores the origins of Camp Hale, the high-altitude training ground where the mountain troops were transformed into the elite mountain warfare unit of the U.S. Army. The episode covers the decision-making process behind the camp’s selection, the incredible logistical challenges of building it, and the impact Camp Hale's development had on both the 10th Mountain Division and the nearby town of Leadville. Show Notes and Resources: https://christianbeckwith.com/camp-hale-part-1-episode-11/ Key Points: Origins of Camp Hale: How the U.S. Army scouted, selected, and developed the high-altitude Pando Valley site to create a training ground for mountain warfare. Key Figures: Brigadier General Harry Lewis Twaddle and Colonel Onslow Rolfe were instrumental in bringing Camp Hale to life. Challenges of Construction: The environmental and logistical challenges involved in building a base for 15,000 soldiers and 5,000 mules at 9,200 feet in just seven months. John McCown’s Story: The personal journey of John Andrew McCown II, a climber-turned-soldier, whose rise through the ranks paralleled the evolution of the 10th Mountain Division. Leadville’s Origins & Relationship to Camp Hale: The rich history of Leadville, once a booming silver mining town, and how the proximity to Camp Hale redefined its role during WWII. The town’s "triple iniquities" (saloons, gambling, and prostitution) posed unique challenges for the military, leading to a strained yet interdependent relationship between the base and the community. Featured Segments: Opening Segment: Christian Beckwith introduces the episode and highlights the significance of Camp Hale in the 10th Mountain Division’s history. Interview with Lance Blyth: Military historian and Ninety-Pound Rucksack advisory board member Lance Blyth discusses the requirements for selecting Camp Hale and the challenges involved in its development. On the Ground: A vivid description of the construction process at Camp Hale, bringing to life the stories of the workers, engineers, and military personnel who made it happen. Expert Insights: Ninety-Pound Rucksack Advisory Board members Sepp Scanlin and Chris Juergens provide context on the camp's construction and its impact on Leadville, Colorado, while Colorado ski mountaineering pioneer Lou Dawson describes the topography and climactic challenges of Camp Hale. John McCown's Journey: A narrative that ties McCown’s personal climbing experiences to his role in the formation of the 10th Mountain Division. Patron Support: A special thank you to our community of patrons for making our research possible. Join us at to support the show and access exclusive content. Sponsorship Acknowledgments: CiloGear: Makers of the finest alpine backpacks. Visit and use code "rucksack" for a 5% discount and a matching donation to the 10th Mountain Alpine Club. Snake River Brewing: Wyoming's oldest and America's most award-winning small craft brewery. Discover their beers at . Partnership Acknowledgments: 's mission is to honor and perpetuate the legacy of the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division past, present, and future by doing good works that exemplify the ideals by which they lived. The Denver Public Library's is the official repository for all records and artifacts related to the World War II-era 10th Mountain Division. The exists to preserve and enhance the legacy of the WWII 10th Mountain Division and 10th Mountain Division (LI) for future generations. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing alpinism in the 10th Mountain Division community. Call to Action: If you enjoyed this episode, please give us five stars on your podcast app, leave a review, and share it with your friends. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook for the latest updates and behind-the-scenes content.
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The Old And The New: Episode 10
07/23/2024
The Old And The New: Episode 10
In Episode 10 of Ninety-Pound Rucksack, host Christian Beckwith explores how John McCown and his fellow citizen-soldiers overcame traditional military doctrine to prepare for mountain warfare—and in the process, reshaped the Old Army into one of the mightiest forces the world had ever known. Show Notes and Resources: The episode includes interviews with Ninety-Pound Rucksack Advisory Board Members: : Command Historian of (NORAD) and (USNORTHCOM); Adjunct Professor of History at the . : “living historian” for the . : military historian and museum professional; served as the Museum Director. Key Points: The draft and the enlistment of citizen soldiers changed the US Army from a rigid, authoritarian, all-volunteer institution into one of the mightiest forces the world had ever known. The development of Officer Candidate School (OCS) created an industrial-style assembly line that produced junior leaders to lead the citizen army into combat. The innovative Junior Officers’ Plan, which was developed to train officers for the mountain troops and then return them to the unit, preserved institutional knowledge critical to the mountain troops' ability to fight in cold weather and mountainous terrain. A specialized division designed to fight in extreme conditions had to adapt the Army's standard flatland, warm-weather military strategies to mountain warfare. Featured Segments: A vivid recreation of a conversation between John McCown and his peers at Ft. Benning, Georgia, highlighting: their takeaways from Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union and the impact of winter on his army's defeat their frustrations with traditional Army tactics and its inability to recognize the importance of specialized training their resolve to embody the change they knew the mountain troops would need in order to fulfill its mandate An overview of the Army's transformation from an all-volunteer force into one led by citizen-soldiers like John McCown. Detailed analyses of Officer Candidate School, the Junior Officers Plan and the need for a purpose-built encampment for the mountain troops. Patron Support: A special thank you to our community of patrons for making our research possible. Join us at to support the show and access exclusive content. Sponsorship Acknowledgments: CiloGear: Makers of the finest alpine backpacks. Visit and use code "rucksack" for a 5% discount and a matching donation to the American Alpine Club. Snake River Brewing: Wyoming's oldest and America's most award-winning small craft brewery. Discover their beers at . Partnership Acknowledgments: The 10th Mountain Division Foundation: The mission of the is to honor and perpetuate the legacy of the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division past, present, and future by doing good works that exemplify the ideals by which they lived. American Alpine Club: Supporting climbers and preserving climbing history for over 120 years. Learn more at . The Denver Public Library: The Denver Public Library: The Denver Public Library's is the official repository for all records and artifacts related to the World War II-era 10th Mountain Division. The 10th Mountain Division Descendants: The 10th Mountain Division Descendants: The exists to preserve and enhance the legacy of the WWII 10th Mountain Division and 10th Mountain Division (LI) for future generations.
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Gear Heads, Part 2: Episode 09
03/25/2024
Gear Heads, Part 2: Episode 09
Illuminating a pivotal moment in both military and outdoor recreation history, this groundbreaking episode reveals the collaborative efforts of America’s leading mountaineers to equip the 10th Mountain Division for war. Featuring original research and exclusive interviews, the episode details the audacious climbs and expeditions used to test the mountain troops' gear—and that revolutionized the American outdoor recreation industry in the process. Show notes and resources: https://christianbeckwith.com/ninety-pound-rucksack-episodes/gear-heads-part-2-episode-09/
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Gear Heads, Part 1: Episode 08
01/12/2024
Gear Heads, Part 1: Episode 08
Episode 8: Gear Heads, Part 1 is the first segment of our two-part mini-series that examines the equipment, clothing and food developed, at great expense, for the 10th Mountain Division. Not only did this development make the soldiers’ ability to train for cold-weather and mountain offensives like Riva Ridge possible; post-war, it catalyzed the explosive growth of America’s nascent outdoor recreation industry as well. Show notes and resources: https://christianbeckwith.com/ninety-pound-rucksack-episodes/gear-heads/
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Bonus Episode: The 10th, Then and Now
01/11/2024
Bonus Episode: The 10th, Then and Now
With this special bonus episode, the 10th Mountain Division’s commanding officer, Major General Greg Anderson, and its Command Sergeant Major Nema Mobar identify some of the lessons learned from the Division’s World War II inception and the relevance of those lessons to its efforts to rebuild its military mountaineering identity, culture and capacities. What has changed between the original division and its contemporary counterpart, and what remains the same? What has the current division learned from its own history and how is it using those lessons to guide its rebuilding process? And how can America’s climbers and skiers, inspired by the service of our forebears, support the division as it strives to reconnect with its roots? Show notes and resources: https://christianbeckwith.com/ninety-pound-rucksack-podcast/10th-mountain-division/
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Mountain Intelligence: Episode 07
10/26/2023
Mountain Intelligence: Episode 07
Featuring original and previously unpublished research, Episode 7 reveals the untold story of H. Adams Carter, the Harvard Five, and their groundbreaking efforts to make the 10th Mountain Division the best-trained, best-fed, best-equipped mountain unit in the world. Show notes and resources: https://christianbeckwith.com/ninety-pound-rucksack-episodes/mountain-intelligence-episode-07/ The Harvard Five—Carter, Bob Bates, Terry Moore, Charlie Houston and Bradford Washburn—were pioneers of American mountaineering during the 1930s. When World War II erupted, they harnessed their extensive expertise on the mountain troops’s behalf. The hub of their efforts was Carter’s intelligence work, which established the cornerstone of American mountain warfare doctrine. Despite their pivotal roles in the 10th’s development, their contributions have remained hidden from the public eye—until now. Join us as we uncover the forgotten saga of these trailblazers and their profound impact on the foundations of American mountain warfare. the Unabridged version of Episode 7 features the complete transcript of the episode, as well as bonus content for this and all other episodes. To become a patron and unlock these and other perks, go to Patrons allow us to pursue the show’s journalistic and educational objectives as we inform and inspire the public about the Division’s living legacy. In return, patrons receive access to all Unabridged episodes, including bonus content, supporting documentation, historic imagery and exclusive interviews.
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Ninety Pounds of Rucksack: Episode 06
07/27/2023
Ninety Pounds of Rucksack: Episode 06
Episode 6 follows the mountain troops to Mount Rainier National Park where, in the middle of February 1942, they began their ski training at one of the best places a soldier could ever learn to ski—a place called, appropriately enough, Paradise. Show notes and resources: the Unabridged version of Episode 6 features the following exclusive interviews: an interview with professional trainer and world-renowned alpinist on the training protocol put together for the mountain troops by The American Alpine Club an interview with, the first woman to ski the seven summits, on the regiment’s ski mountaineering training from the perspective of the modern ski mountaineer The original recordings of the songs the 87th's Regimental Glee Club used to sing at Paradise Lodge on Mount Rainier, including the one that gave Ninety-Pound Rucksack our title To become a patron and unlock these and other perks, go to https://www.patreon.com/NinetyPoundRucksack
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Paradise: Episode 05
06/07/2023
Paradise: Episode 05
Episode 5 explores the pivotal period from late 1941 until early 1942 when the War Department activated the 87th Infantry Mountain Regiment, America’s very first test force for cold-weather and mountain warfare, and it prepared to train in Paradise Valley on the flanks of Mount Rainier. Show notes and resources: https://christianbeckwith.com/ninety-pound-rucksack-episodes/ninety-pounds-of-rucksack-episode-05/ The episode includes interviews with McKay Jenkins, the author of , and Lance Blyth, the Command Historian of (NORAD) and (USNORTHCOM) and an Adjunct Professor of History at the . the Unabridged version of Episode 5 features the complete interviews with Jenkins and Blyth, as well as historic photos, a transcript of the episode and a complete chronology of events leading up to the ski training that began in Paradise Valley in Mount Rainier National Park in February 1942. Patrons are the heart of Ninety-Pound Rucksack. Their support allows us to pursue the show’s journalistic and educational objectives as we detail the Division’s living legacy. In return, patrons receive exclusive access to Unabridged content for all episodes. . Our goal with Ninety-Pound Rucksack is to inform and inspire the public about the Division’s living legacy. Patrons make that possible. In return, they receive access to all Unabridged content.
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The Ski Patrols: Episode 04
03/23/2023
The Ski Patrols: Episode 04
Episode 4 takes a deep dive into the US Army's experimental ski patrols of 1940-1941, as well as the events that led to the activation of the 1st Battalion (Reinforced), 87th Mountain Infantry at Ft. Lewis, Washington—the unit that would eventually become the 10th Mountain Division. The episode also explores John McCown's 1941 expedition to British Columbia's Coast Range, which he made before enlisting with the mountain troops, and features an interview with writer Will Holland, who has been working on a screenplay about McCown for over two decades. For show notes and additional resources, including an overview of characters introduced in this episode, For those who want more, an unabridged version of Episode 4 is available exclusively to our patrons. By becoming a patron, you not only get access to all unabridged episodes, including historic photos and bonus content not available anywhere else; you allow us to pursue the show’s journalistic and educational objectives as we inform and inspire the public about the Division’s living legacy. Thank you to our patrons for supporting the podcast and helping us to continue producing engaging and informative content.
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The Drumbeats of War: Episode 03
02/04/2023
The Drumbeats of War: Episode 03
The Drumbeats of War: Episode 3 explores the 10th Mountain Division’s backstory in the lead-up to America’s entry into World War II. The episode includes abridged interviews with , the Anschutz Curator of Military History at History Colorado, on the history of Germany’s mountain troops, and , the former director of the , on the resistance the idea of an American mountain division faced from within the War Department. The episode also includes an overview of Minnie Dole’s Herculean efforts to establish a ski division, as well as the way world events—and America’s climbers—helped persuade military leaders that maybe we really did need a mountain division after all. the Unabridged episode of Episode 3 also includes: Unabridged versions of both interviews A complete chronology of events leading up to General George Marshall’s decision to conduct exploratory ski patrols in the winter of 1940-41. A narrative account of the involvement of The American Alpine Club members H. Adams Carter, Bob Bates, Bill House, Walter Wood Jr. and Dr. James Grafton Rogers in the lobbying efforts for a mountain division.
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The State of The Art Part 2: Episode 02 Part 2
12/22/2022
The State of The Art Part 2: Episode 02 Part 2
Episode 2, Part 2 delivers a deep dive into the state of American and European climbing before the war, as well as how the rise of the Third Reich caused some of the best German and Austro-Hungarian mountaineers to emigrate, influencing climbing and skiing in America and contributing to 10th Mountain Division’s fighting skills. Show notes and resources: The episode, which is told through the experiences of John Andrew McCown II, includes interviews with Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard; Chris Jones, the author of Climbing in North America; and Howard Koch, a veteran of the 10th who learned to climb with fellow 10th soldier David Brower before the war, and who fought alongside John McCown on Italy’s Riva Ridge during it. Patrons allow us to pursue the show’s journalistic and educational objectives as we inform and inspire the public about the Division’s living legacy. In return, patrons receive access to all Unabridged episodes, including exclusive content, supporting documentation, historic imagery and unique interviews.
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The State of the Art Part 1: Episode 02 Part 1
11/29/2022
The State of the Art Part 1: Episode 02 Part 1
Episode 2, Part 1 provides a sweeping overview of the history of skiing in America as told through the experiences of one of the 10th Mountain Division’s greatest unsung heroes, John Andrew McCown II. Episode includes interview excerpts with Paul Petzoldt, the Teton climbing legend who would join the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale in 1942 and be put in charge of developing its mountain rescue system. Episode also includes an extended interview with Dr. E. John B. Allen, professor emeritus of history at New Hampshire’s Plymouth State University and the author of numerous books, including From Skisport to Skiing: One Hundred Years of an American Sport, 1840–1940, on the evolution of skiing in America before the war. Show notes and resources: https://christianbeckwith.com/ninety-pound-rucksack-podcast/state-of-the-art-skiing-part-1/ Patrons allow us to pursue the show's journalistic and educational objectives as we inform and inspire the public about the Division’s living legacy. In return, patrons receive access to all Unabridged episodes, including exclusive content, supporting documentation, historic imagery and unique interviews.
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The Winter War: Episode 01
10/19/2022
The Winter War: Episode 01
This episode explores how the 1939 Soviet invasion of Finland catalyzed the creation of the 10th Mountain Division… with a little help from the National Ski Patrol System, the United States Army, and a couple of twenty-something climbers from The American Alpine Club. Show notes and resources: Patrons allow us to pursue the show's journalistic and educational objectives as we inform and inspire the public about the Division’s living legacy. In return, patrons receive access to all Unabridged episodes, including exclusive content, supporting documentation, historic imagery and unique interviews such as this.
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Ninety-Pound Rucksack Teaser
10/11/2022
Ninety-Pound Rucksack Teaser
Ninety-Pound Rucksack is a podcast about the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division and the dawn of outdoor recreation in America. Join host Christian Beckwith, former editor of The American Alpine Journal and founding editor of Alpinist Magazine, and an advisory board of the 10th Mountain Division’s foremost experts as we immerse ourselves in the living legacy of America’s original mountain warriors.
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The Genesis of Ninety-Pound Rucksack
08/29/2022
The Genesis of Ninety-Pound Rucksack
In this episode, podcast host Christian Beckwith details how a search for the roots of Teton mountaineering led to a podcast (and book) about the US Army's 10th Mountain Division and the dawn of outdoor recreation in America.
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