Climb to Conquer

Peter Shelton's "Climb to Conquer" offers a comprehensive examination of the 10th Mountain Division, one of World War II's most distinctive military units. This meticulously researched work chronicles the formation, training, and combat experiences of American soldiers who combined military prowess with elite skiing and mountaineering skills. Shelton, himself an accomplished skier and outdoor writer, brings both expertise and passion to a subject that has long deserved fuller treatment in the historical record.

The book traces the division's origins to the late 1930s, when Charles Minot Dole, founder of the National Ski Patrol, recognized the strategic importance of mountain warfare following the Soviet Union's struggles against Finnish ski troops during the Winter War. Dole's advocacy led to the creation of a specialized unit capable of operating in extreme alpine conditions. Shelton details how the Army established training facilities at Camp Hale, Colorado, situated at 9,200 feet elevation in the Rocky Mountains. The harsh environment and demanding training regimen transformed civilian skiers, mountaineers, and outdoor enthusiasts into a formidable fighting force.

One of the book's strengths lies in its attention to the human dimension of this extraordinary unit. Shelton draws upon extensive interviews, personal correspondence, and archival materials to present the soldiers as individuals rather than faceless military statistics. The division attracted an unusual cross-section of recruits, including Ivy League students, ski instructors, forest rangers, and European émigrés who brought valuable mountain experience. This diverse composition created a unit with exceptional educational levels and specialized skills uncommon in conventional infantry divisions.

The training sequences receive substantial coverage, illustrating the grueling preparation required for mountain combat. Soldiers learned to ski with full packs, conduct winter survival techniques, navigate treacherous terrain, and execute military operations in conditions that would incapacitate ordinary troops. Shelton effectively conveys the physical and psychological demands of preparing for warfare in some of the world's most challenging environments. The Camp Hale experience forged bonds among the soldiers that would endure long after the war ended.

When the narrative shifts to combat operations in Italy's Apennine Mountains during the winter of 1945, Shelton provides detailed accounts of the division's role in breaking through German defensive positions. The assault on Riva Ridge and the subsequent attack on Monte Belvedere represent the division's defining moments. These operations required soldiers to scale near-vertical cliffs at night while carrying weapons and equipment, then engage enemy forces entrenched in fortified positions. Shelton balances tactical descriptions with personal accounts, giving readers insight into both the strategic significance and the individual experiences of these battles.

The book does not romanticize combat or minimize the costs of mountain warfare. Shelton documents the casualties, the brutal conditions, and the toll that sustained operations took on the soldiers. The division suffered significant losses during its relatively brief combat period, and the author treats these sacrifices with appropriate gravity while maintaining his narrative momentum.

Beyond the wartime story, Shelton explores the division's remarkable postwar legacy. Veterans of the 10th Mountain Division played pivotal roles in developing America's ski industry, founding or managing numerous ski resorts, establishing outdoor equipment companies, and promoting winter sports across the country. This transformation of military training into peacetime enterprise represents an often-overlooked aspect of postwar American development.

Shelton's prose remains accessible throughout, avoiding excessive military jargon while maintaining historical precision. The book benefits from his personal familiarity with skiing and mountaineering, enabling him to explain technical aspects without condescension or oversimplification. His research appears thorough, incorporating primary sources and firsthand accounts that lend authenticity to the narrative.

Some readers might find certain sections of the training chapters repetitive, as Shelton occasionally circles back to similar themes regarding the difficulty and uniqueness of the soldiers' preparation. However, this repetition serves to emphasize the extraordinary nature of the division's creation and the challenges overcome during its formation.

"Climb to Conquer" fills an important gap in World War II literature by providing a detailed, well-researched account of a unique military unit. The book serves both as military history and as a chronicle of American innovation in specialized warfare. Shelton has produced a work that honors the 10th Mountain Division's achievements while making their story accessible to general readers interested in World War II, military history, or the development of American skiing culture. The book stands as a fitting tribute to soldiers whose skills and courage in mountain warfare contributed to Allied victory in Italy.