Episode 13 continues our deep dive into America’s high-altitude military experiment as it unfolded at Camp Hale during the pivotal winter of 1942–43. The episode details the Mountain Training Center’s daunting task of expanding the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment into the country’s first full-fledged mountain division—all while battling altitude sickness, low morale, brutal conditions, and an influx of recruits who often had no love for winter or the mountains.
Camp Hale Part 3 takes us deep into America’s high-altitude military experiment during the pivotal winter of 1942–43. Host Christian Beckwith follows Second Lieutenant John McCown through early training frustrations at Camp Hale and a nationwide PR blitz that made the “mountain warriors” famous. The episode climaxes with the Homestake Peak Maneuvers, a disastrous field exercise plagued by frostbite, blizzards, and equipment failures—so severe it drew comparisons to Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow.
Behind-the-Scenes Insights
Through interviews with Ninety-Pound Rucksack advisory board members Lance Blyth, David Little, and Sepp Scanlin, we gain unique insights into the 10th Mountain Division’s growing pains and the cultural impact that would later shape outdoor recreation in America.
Highlights Include:
- Recruitment Push: Minnie Dole’s National Ski Patrol System, John Jay’s PR campaigns, and Deborah Bankart’s film tour brought thousands of recruits with real winter skills.
- The Birth of the 86th Regiment: McCown transitions from the elite 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment to the newly formed 86th, shaping the next generation of mountain soldiers.
- Special Missions: The Columbia Icefield Expedition leads to Studebaker’s M29 Weasel, a groundbreaking over-snow vehicle essential to Camp Hale’s training.
- Homestake Peak Maneuvers: A grueling February 1943 exercise exposes leadership flaws and training gaps, prompting a scathing report from Army Ground Forces.
- Cultural Legacy: How climbers like David Brower and innovations from the Quartermaster Corps laid the foundation for America’s postwar outdoor recreation boom.
Resources & Links:
- Episode 12 – Camp Hale Part 2
- Episode 11 – Camp Hale Part 1
- Support the show on Patreon for early access, bonus interviews, and illustrated transcripts.
- Learn more about the 10th Mountain Division Foundation and the 10th Mountain Alpine Club, key partners in this project.
Sponsors:
- CiloGear: Makers of the finest alpine backpacks. Visit cilogear.com 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 snakeriverbrewing.com.