CLIMB: The 10th Mountain Division and the Evolution of Climbing After WWII by American Alpine Club Podcast published on 2022-11-09T22:09:57Z You’ve probably heard of the 10th Mountain Division, but did you know that climbing is just as or MORE important than skiing in shaping this division of expert mountaineering troops? In this episode, we sat down with Christian Beckwith, the creator of the 90 Pound Rucksack Podcast, and writer of a book by the same name, to talk about how climbers influenced the creation of the 10th Mountain Division, how climbing itself was critical to a battle in Italy that helped facilitate the end of the WWII, and the many gear developments that evolved from the 10th Mountain Division that shaped the climbing and mountaineering boom after the war. If you’re a history buff, you are going to especially love this episode. But even as someone who doesn’t have a particular connection to history, or especially military history, you can’t deny that tracing the impact of climbing on a world scale hits the spot for anyone who loves this sport. Listen to more history of the 10th Mountain Division and their impact on climbing history on The Ninety Pound Rucksack podcast: https://christianbeckwith.com Genre Storytelling Comment by Dave DePodwin '...Whether you like or love history (military or otherwise), the outdoors, the lore and legacy of the 10th, or just love a great story, this podcast interview of Christian Beckwith is a must listen, on your next podcast session, or...right now;)! It is that good. Hint: bookmark it now! The connections to what we enjoy today outside, that are a direct result of the multitude of the efforts by members of the 10th--cold weather gear, Vibram rubber soled footwear, the advancement of climbing gear--plus the defeat of the Nazi's 'Gothic Line' in part due to the climbing prowess of the 10th and the subsequent crushing of a German geographic stronghold and their supply lines, are breathtaking. And after you listen, maybe you will agree, that in terms of the outcome of WWII and the major part that the 10th played in closing this gruesome part of world history, 'climbing troops' and maybe not 'ski troops' seems more apropos. Enjoy...sempre avanti, onward and upward!' 2023-01-11T17:34:43Z Comment by Dave DePodwin Hi Christian and the AAC, three-quarters of the way thru this landmark podcast, I was so ecstatic about the research content and passion that went into it, I had to email my family (descendants of the 10th as our father served with the 85th as Sergeant Major)). Here is what I said: 'one of the best stories I have heard in decades' and have to it shout from the mountaintops: THIS IS IT! (cont'd...) 2023-01-11T17:34:28Z
