Photo: David Stubbs
For today’s conversation, I was thrilled to chat once again with Christian Beckwith, a Jackson, Wyoming-based writer, historian, conservationist, and entrepreneur. Christian’s latest project is “Ninety-Pound Rucksack: A podcast about the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division and the dawn of outdoor recreation in America.”
If you enjoy spending time up high in the mountains here in the American West, then you’ve surely heard at least a passing mention of the 10th Mountain Division. It’s nearly impossible to travel up and down the I-70 corridor here in Colorado without seeing a few references to the 10th. But if you’re like me, you probably do not have a sufficient appreciation for the exciting story of how and why the division was formed, and how its creation set the trajectory for climbing, skiing, and recreational outdoor adventure for decades to come.
Whether you’re a climber, skier, or simply a history buff who enjoys diving into untold stories from pivotal moments in our past, then I highly recommend Ninety-Pound Rucksack. The podcast starts out exploring the 1939 Russian invasion of Finland, and how, despite being outmatched on nearly every level, the Fins were able to put up a heroic fight thanks to their ability to efficiently maneuver through cold, snowy, rugged terrain on skis. The story then shifts to America, where a small group of young mountaineers and skiers recognized the importance of mountain warfare and began to lobby the government to focus on this unconventional approach to battle. I won’t give any more details away, but the podcast is just the kind of history I love: big adventures, one-of-a-kind characters, and people driven by causes larger than themselves.
To learn more about Christian’s personal background, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to our first conversation from many years ago. Because in this one, we talk all history, all the time– from the backstory of the 10th, to the adventurous young men who dreamed it up, to how that time period affects us still today. Toward the end of the conversation, Christian offers up some valuable wisdom on the need to be tenacious in all creative and entrepreneurial endeavors, and he also has some really great book recommendations.
Follow the links in the episode notes to listen to Ninety-Pound Rucksack, and please pass the podcast along to any of your history-loving friends. A big thanks to Christian for working so hard to create this podcast and for joining me for another conversation. Hope you enjoy!
Headshot by David Stubbs
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RESOURCES:
Topics Discussed:
- 3:15 – An overview of Christan’s background
- 13:15 – How the 10th Mountain Division was established
- 26:15 – How the 10th Mountain Division impacted the development of skiing in the US
- 32:15 – How digging into the history of the 10th impacted Christian’s thinking about the present
- 40:45 – Discussing Christian’s code switch from adventure writing to engaging history writing
- 45:15 – The podcast’s advisory council
- 50:15 – Christian’s advice for people who have an idea but feel they are not qualified to pursue it
- 54:45 – Discussing Christian’s tenacity
- 57:00 – What can we do to help get the word out about Christian’s work
- 1:00:00 – Christian’s book recommendations
Information Referenced:
- Christian Beckwith
- Chrsitan’s podcast, Ninety-Pound Rucksack
- Teton Range
- Yvon Chouinard
- Teton Boulder Park
- Snow King Mountain
- Jackson, WY
- Teton Climbers’ Coalition
- Climbing Area Modernization Project
- Joe Stettner
- Paul Stetner
- 10th Mountain Division
- Riva Ridge Operation
- Gothic Line
- John A. McCown II
- Grove McCown
- Camp Hale
- Russian invasion of Finland, the Winter War
- Charles Minot “Minnie” Dole
- National Ski Patrol System
- Roger Langley
- National Ski Association
- Alec Bright
- Robert Livermoore
- Bromley Mountain
- Champlain Valley
- US War Department
- American Alpine Club
- American Alpine Journal
- The American Alpine Journal 1946 edition
- H. Adams Carter
- Bob Bates
- Harvard Mountaineering Club
- Yukon
- Himalya
- General George C. Marshall
- Henry Stimson
- Dolomites
- Julian Alps
- Johann “Hannes” Schneider
- Arlberg technique
- Boston and Maine Ski Train
- Downhill ski racing
- Slalom ski racing
- Appalachian Mountain Club
- The Mountaineers
- Mazamas
- Colorado Mountain Club
- Molotov Cocktail
- Leslie McNair
- Henry Ford
- Narvik, Norway
- Narvik Netflix show
- Albania
- Italy’s invasion of Greece, the Greco-Italian War
- Rolf Monsen
- Harald Sorensen
- Hampton Sides
- Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides
- On Desperate Ground by Hampton Sides
- The Last Ridge by McKay Jenkins
- Chris Juergens
- History Colorado
- Jeff Leich
- New England Ski Museum
- David Little
- Sepp Scanlin
- 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Museum
- Denver Public Library
- Keli Schmid
- Doug Schmidt
- National Association of the 10th Mountain Division
- Lance Blyth
- NORAD
- 10th Mountain Division Foundation
- Outside Magazine
- Navajo Nation
- Sebastian Junger
- Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
- Louis Zampirini
- The Rock Warrior’s Way by Arno Ilgner
- Carlos Castaneda
Enjoy this episode? Then you might like these too:
- Douglas Brinkley – Exploring the Past to Find Inspiration for the Future
- Peter Stark – Tales of Adventure, Exploration, & Epic Battles
- Betsy Gaines Quammen – A Fascinating History of Public Lands in the West
- Elliott Woods – Stories from Dangerous Places
- Shane Doyle – Reverence for the Past, Hope for the Future
- Jason Gardner – A Life of Purpose & Service
- Hampton Sides, Part 2 – How to Tell a Damn Good Story
- David Gessner, Part 3 – A Confluence of Conservation Ideals
Visit the podcast page for a full, searchable list of episodes
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