If you thought a 35lb pack with an M4 strapped to the side would keep Bravo Team from some freshies, ya thought wrong.
After almost a week of nonstop training on the mountain we’re slowly dialing back and settling before race day. There are a few fighting off colds and one busted knee, but the vibes are high.
Two more days to train - more to follow.
This is SFC Tim “Mac” McLaughlin. Tim is a friend, and my first mentor in the art of Mountain Warfare. When I think of Tim, his infallible and sometimes unsettling grin is the first thing I think of. I’m not sure if it’s the latter as it’s usually the last thing I see before finding myself on a climbing route far above where I thought my capability ended, or maybe the avalanche.
When I came upon Tim on that day he had just been catapulted down the slope with 7 others. The first group we found were still dazed and partially buried - Tim and two others had unfortunately kept traveling over a cliff and into the trees a few meters further down the slope. As I descended to reach them I saw two severely injured soldiers - as you’d imagine having been carried over jagged rocks and tossed over a cliff at a rapid pace.
But I also saw the back of a soldier who was in the midst of building a tree anchor in anticipation of a high-angle CASEVAC. That soldier was SFC McLaughlin, and when he turned he shot me that massive grin - however this time he was short a few teeth and wore a mask of blood having sustained serious facial injuries. I’m not sure if it was shock, or just the man’s natural reaction to a fight, but in that moment it helped me clear my head and assist the Senior Instructors in completing an incredibly efficient evacuation.
I never planned on telling this story via a public forum, but as I sat in the briefing for the Edelweiss Raid last month I caught a glimpse of that grin. Again with a mixture of excitement and challenge.
As the brief wrapped up and we all shared nervous smiles, I turned to SFC McLaughlin, a Team Captain, and I asked him where he thinks we should focus our energy. Is it the uphill skiing? The downhill? The mountaineering? The rope rescue? The high-angle shooting?
He looked down at the elaborate rigging he’d just finished fixing to the CASEVAC sled at his feet. This sled would be traveling down the Tyrolean alps with a teammate strapped inside in just a few short weeks. Taking a moment to ponder the question before glancing up at me with that grin.
“All of it - we need to be good at all of it.”
Who likes rock climbing? ✋ ⛰️
The Alpini basic climbing course builds the fundamental foundations of technical climbing techniques. Soldiers stationed in Italy can meet mountaineering course requirements.
📹 Davide Dalla Massara - more information below.
Casevac rescue training. You must become your own ski patrollers, evacuating an “injured” teammate to an exchange point. Lucklily for us, @cef_iii was a ski patroller at Stowe Mountain. There were 2 major injuries during the Edelweiss Raid 2023 this year from other teams highlighting the importance and relevance of the training.
Hours training to move casualties in litters at @usamws culminated to a successful top 10 finish of our team USA from the @86thteam
Thank to the Pro-tographer: @maxarch@conationalguard@coguard1860@vtnationalguard@vtarng802@ctnationalguard@militarytimes@usarmy@usarmychiefofstaff@u.s.armynationalguard@usarmyeuraf@secretary_of_the_army@goarmy@nationalguard@us.nationalguard
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#ski #skiing #skimountain #skimountaineering #skimo #mountaineer #mountains #mountain #austria #austria🇦🇹 #kitzsteinhorn #glacier #rescue #skipatrol #team #teamusa #usa #us #military #army #usmilitary #usarmy #infantry #nationalguard #guard #patrol #kaprun #snow #training #race
On February 18, 2023 twenty soldiers from across the US Army National Guard departed for Austria with their rifles and skis in tow. I’d imagine this date wouldn’t mean much to most, but in regards to mountain warfare - it means everything.
At 7:30pm, 78 years ago to the day, 700 soldiers from the Army’s 10th Mountain Division were beginning their 2,000 foot climb of vertical rock in Northern Italy. Their mission was to seize and destroy a Nazi stronghold perched atop the summit of Riva Ridge. This region of Italy was previously uncontested as the Nazis knew of no soldier that could possibly navigate the terrain they stood atop.
Unbeknownst to them, a bunch of mad lads had already been preparing to do exactly that. For years the men of 10th Mountain trained in skiing, climbing, rope work, and mountain fitness in order to attack this very terrain. Their training paid off, successfully seizing Riva Ridge and much of the mountainous Gothic Line of Northern Italy in what would become one of the greatest demonstrations of mountain warfare to date.
Many from the unit returned home to start small businesses that some might still recognize, such as Vail Resorts, and Stowe Mountain. Today Mountain Warfare doesn’t quite get the love it once did, with most recent conflicts seeing far more sand than snow.
However, it prides me to say there is still a small group of soldiers that maintain a desire to control any and all terrain, however challenging it may be, and for the past two weeks I was lucky enough to watch them demonstrate just that.
Team USA sent two teams to the grueling Edelweiss Raid, with both successfully completing the 40km Skimo race to receive their Edelweiss - a feat in and of itself.
22 teams of mountain soldiers started the race, but only 18 finished. Team Alpha went for speed and came in strong at 10th overall, shaving hours off their 2019 time in the process.
With only a few weeks to train as a team, this group of 20 guardsmen made up of teachers, EMTs, businessmen, engineers, ski bums, restaurant managers, and students gave Europes finest a run for their money on their own turf. Our sights are already set on 2025, and training starts now.
Lizum-Walchen training area is home to the Austrian military’s esteemed alpine unit, one that has a yearly training quota of 40,000 troops. If the Mountain Warfare School hit 1,000 trainees a year, we’d be breaking records. Not only are we the away team, but it can sometimes feel as though we’re in completely different leagues up here.
For example, the word Lizum means “alpine pasture at the head of the valley” in Tyrolese, and to me, that leaves a bit to be desired. You feel small here. That pasture is many football fields in length and width, and despite sitting at 6,500 ft at its base, that valley still has you completely surrounded by thousand foot walls of vertical rock and snow.
They call it a pasture at the head of a valley. I’d call it an alpine arena, maybe a colosseum, and within that arena of rock and snow currently resides the best the world has to offer in military mountaineers. Nations from all over the world have been trickling in since Saturday, some friendlier than others, but all extremely capable in the mountains.
Tomorrow they begin their race to the top of that valley. As they weave their way from peak to peak they’ll be held only to the standard of the mountain they’re on, and yewwie is that standard high.
After months of preparation stateside and a long week of training here in Austria, Team USA seems fully prepared to meet that standard, in the process likely raising the bar for US Military Mountaineering as a whole. I won’t reiterate each and every task as I’m sure you’re tired of hearing them already, but I have zero doubt in my mind that both teams will finish strong despite battling illness and injuries.
The World Championship of Military Mountaineering, the Edelweiss Raid, is only a few hours away. See you at sunrise.
Bravo Team creates a T-trench ski anchor during a crevasse rescue drill on the Kitzsteinhorn. With only three more training days before the race, perfecting these tasks is a primary focus.
Team USA is only 6 days from race day and feeling good. I’m hoping to formally introduce you to Alpha and Bravo team this week but for now, here’s Alpha working on Ski-CASEVAC and roped skiing yesterday.
These are both essential tasks during the #edelweissraid and must be completed (for time) in order to move forward. Is your unit capable of completing these tasks in the mountains?
*More to follow*
This is Cadet Jack Lynch. Jack studies philosophy at UVM. That’s about all I can tell you folks about Jack as he was only discovered 5 days before we flew to Europe.
CDT Lynch was lucky enough to be getting some laps in on the new ski slope found just behind the Mountain Warfare School when MAJ Fry spotted him - remember MAJ Fry? (He’s the guy that makes stuff happen)
MAJ Fry was in a tough spot as he had just lost two of his best athletes only a week before departure - one of which was a former Olympic biathlete. These were big shoes to fill, but MAJ Fry was desperate. So, after seeing Jack in some nice equipment, he walked up and asked him if he was into Skimo. Jack said yes, so Jack got a flight to Europe.
And by yes he meant: I will end up being the fastest #edelweissraid team member up the slope during the grueling final time trial made to dictate who makes the Alpha Team for race day. This time trial was 5,700 vertical feet gained over 7 miles, as fast as you can, at altitude. The top 8 would make up Alpha and the following 8, Bravo. Despite the grueling nature - he smoked it.
For now, he goes by “The Lynchpin”.
*1 week until race day*
This is MAJ Nathan Fry. Nate’s the kind of person that always looks like he’s deep in thought when you get a picture of him (if you’re quick enough) - and that’s because he likely is. The Edelweiss Team has much of its opportunity due to this guy and I’ll give ya an idea why real quick.
Like Tim, MAJ Fry is also a friend, a mentor, and an Edelweiss Raid Co-Captain. He was also my first real Boss. His time as commander for Alpha Company 3-172 Infantry (shout out) was a bit transformative for my 18 year old brain. This guy came in and f*cked up our drill weekends because he expected us to work, train, and execute our mountain tasks at a level that justified the tab on our shoulders. This was new to me.
It was also just what I needed at the time so I took off running with the mountain thing. After Mac took me up the ice a few times, I jokingly mentioned to Nate that it was a dream to work at the coveted Mountain Warfare School, just barely across the parking lot from A co.
He essentially said “hold my beer”, and just a few weeks later I had my first set of orders.
These orders would turn into 4 incredible years of active duty at the AMWS. While there Nate would again become my boss, commanding the school for two years. I can’t put into words how much I respect that facility, and the folks that occupy it. Nate being one of them. The guy just makes shit happen, to include this race, despite braking his ankle just 8 weeks before race day. He kept his foot on the gas and leapt through the bureaucratic hurdles we all know and love in this here Army.
Nate, like Tim, has also taken me up climbs that I had absolutely no business being on (pls ref. slide 3). While politely declining his last attempt to do so, just a month or two before the Edelweiss Raid, I jokingly asked if they needed a camera person to capture the event. Nate again said - hold my beer. Now here I am, writing this in an Austrian chalet with a cold Steigl in front of me. Thanks Nate.
*Images from Day 1 of 5 for the team to acclimatize and train. The focus today - get some laps in on the skis and refresh the crew on Avy rescue. Tomorrow - Alpha and Bravo team selection day. More to follow.*
