In Part 2 of our deep dive into Camp Hale, host Christian Beckwith explores the rocky beginnings of the mountain troops' high-altitude military encampment. From the soldiers' grueling acclimatization to the challenges of uniting skiers, mountaineers, and draftees under the harshest of conditions, Episode 12 uncovers the untold stories of struggle, frustration and resilience that emerged from the smog-fil...
Ninety-Pound Rucksack
Ninety-Pound Rucksack is a podcast about the US Army's legendary 10th Mountain Division, a 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. Equal parts real-time research, intimate conversation and revelatory journalism, Ninety-Pound Rucksack explores not only the stories that made the unit famous, but also 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.
Episodes
July 2, 2026 • 124 mins
Featuring all-original research, this episode uncovers the Army's little-known low-mountain warfare program and the role the mountain troops played in preparing ordinary infantrymen for the Italian campaign.
In the spring of 1943, with Allied forces preparing to invade Sicily, the U.S. Army turned to the Mountain Training Center to answer a critical question: Could standard infantry...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 3, 2025 • 92 mins
Featuring all-original research, this revelatory episode reveals how David Brower helped revolutionize American climbing from within the ranks of the 10th Mountain Division.
The story also examines the extraordinary new recruits who made up the 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment and the parallel development of the 10th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop and the Mountain Training Group.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
July 24, 2025 • 103 mins
In Part 3 of our Camp Hale series, host Christian Beckwith explores America's military mountaineering experiment during the pivotal winter of 1942–43. Following Second Lieutenant John McCown, the episode traces early training frustrations, the media frenzy that made the "mountain warriors" famous, and the disastrous Homestake Peak Maneuvers—an ex...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
January 27, 2025 • 75 mins
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
September 16, 2024 • 92 mins
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 proces...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
July 23, 2024 • 53 mins
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: www.christianbeckwith.com
The episode includes interviews with Ninety-Pound Rucksack Adv...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
March 25, 2024 • 141 mins
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 ind...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
January 12, 2024 • 73 mins
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.
...Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 26, 2023 • 67 mins
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-intel...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
July 27, 2023 • 88 mins
Episode 6 follows the mountain troops toMount 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: https://christianbeckwith.com/ninety-pound-rucksack-episodes/ninety-pounds-of-rucksack/
Available only to patrons, the Unabridged version of Episode...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
June 7, 2023 • 59 mins
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-ep...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
March 23, 2023 • 70 mins
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.
Read more
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
February 4, 2023 • 64 mins
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 Chris Juergens, PhD, the Anschutz Curator of Military History at History Colorado, on the history of Germany's mountain troops, and Sepp Scanlin, the former director of the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Museum, on the resistance the i...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 22, 2022 • 79 mins
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: h...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 28, 2022 • 62 mins
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 Read more
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 19, 2022 • 56 mins
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: https://christianbeckwith.com/ninety-pound-rucksack-podcast/the-winter-war/
Please consider becoming a patron. Patrons allow us to...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 11, 2022 • 1 min
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 Ame...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
August 29, 2022 • 21 mins
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.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.