PHOTO TOUR: This Is What Mountain Warfare Looks Like

Miles Clark |
Soldiers attending the US Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vermont, climb Smugglers' Notch as part of their final phase of the Basic Military Mountaineering Course, February 19, 2015.
Soldiers attending the US Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vermont, climb Smugglers’ Notch as part of their final phase of the Basic Military Mountaineering Course, February 19, 2015.

Fighting on flat land is hard enough.  Fighting in the mountains takes a special breed of soldier.

Bridgeport, California holds the USA’s only mountain warfare training center and the soldiers there are something special.

MWIs (aka Red Hats) conducting advanced-winter-mobility training in the Eastern Sierras (Evolution Loop), March 2005.

I was once skinning up a mountainside near Bridgeport, CA on Sonora Pass.  I paused in the shade of a tree to wait for my friends below.  While waiting, I heard “pssst, pssst.”  I looked around and saw nothing, no one.  After a few more “psssts”, a voice said, “lookup.”

Sgt. Sloan Seiler, Winter Mountain Leaders Course 1-15, student, Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, and 1st Lt. Mancelino Figueroa, WMLC 1-15, commander, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, lead a line of Marines pulling a block of ice back into Levitt Lake at the MCMWTC, Bridgeport Calif., Jan. 30, 2015. The blocks of ice that were cut out of the lake were returned after the Marines concluded training. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Charles Santamaria/Released)
Cpl. David McKenna, Winter Mountain Leaders Course 1-15, student, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, plunges into freezing water during an Ice-Breaker Drill as part of WMLC 1-15 at Levitt Lake, Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center training area in Bridgeport, Calif., Jan. 30, 2015. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Charles Santamaria/Released)

In the tree above me were four US soldiers dressed in all white with white guns and white backpacks.  I was startled and a bit confused.  The nearest guy whispered to me “have you seen any other guys like us?”.  I replied no.  He said, “ok, don’t tell anyone you saw us up here.”  I said ok.

Cpl. Jacob Mattison, Winter Mountain Leaders Course 1-15, student, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, native of Mankato, Minn., digs his ski poles into the ice to gain enough leverage to climb his way out of freezing water during an Ice-Breaker Drill as part of WMLC 1-15 at Levitt Lake, Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., Jan. 30, 2015. Once the students got out of the water, they sprinted to the warming tents, where they stripped off their wet clothing and put on dry clothes to restore their body’s normal temperature. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Charles Santamaria/Released)
Cpl. Jacob Mattison, Winter Mountain Leaders Course 1-15, student, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, native of Mankato, Minn., digs his ski poles into the ice to gain enough leverage to climb his way out of freezing water during an Ice-Breaker Drill as part of WMLC 1-15 at Levitt Lake, Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., Jan. 30, 2015. Once the students got out of the water, they sprinted to the warming tents, where they stripped off their wet clothing and put on dry clothes to restore their body’s normal temperature. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Charles Santamaria/Released)

These warriors were in the middle of a war game and you can’t blame them for attempting to cheat a little.  After all, if you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying.

Our hats go off to these brave soldiers.  It’s hard enough just being in the mountains for pleasure.  We can’t imagine how difficult these mountains would be during times of war.

Thanks, troops.

Cold Marines. Hot Food.
Cold Marines. Hot Food.

ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER:

“Welcome to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in beautiful Bridgeport, California. We are the premier training site for Marines preparing to serve in mountainous regions. Our emphasis on cold weather and high altitudes provides the Marines and Sailors stationed here the opportunity to experiment with state-of-the-art cold weather equipment.

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Our remote location affords anyone who passes through our gates many unique and exciting possibilities. Marines and Sailors and their families have access to a number of expanding Marine Corps Community Service programs and services including New Parent Support, Semper Fit and a recently upgraded Single Marine Program. Whether you’re camping in one of the 100 campgrounds located within a 50-mile radius or experiencing some of California’s finest fishing; exploring historic Bridgeport or hiking through neighboring Yosemite National Park, your experience here will always be filled with adventure. Welcome aboard! We hope you enjoy your time at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center.” – Marines

PHOTO TOUR:

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Eleanor H. Roper, front, pulls a weather infantry kit up a slope during a field exercise on Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., Jan. 31, 2014.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Eleanor H. Roper, front, pulls a weather infantry kit up a slope during a field exercise on Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., Jan. 31, 2014.
US Marines train to operate in medium- to high-altitudes, and severe weather and terrain conditions at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California, February 22, 2010.
US Marines train to operate in medium- to high-altitudes, and severe weather and terrain conditions at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California, February 22, 2010.
A shooter and his spotter prepare a shot during the Mountain Scout Sniper Course at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California.
A shooter and his spotter prepare a shot during the Mountain Scout Sniper Course at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California.
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Marines from Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division conduct combat-marksmanship-proficiency drills during the winter mountain operations course at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California.
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US soldiers with the Army Mountain Warfare Basic Mountaineering and Advanced Instructor courses climb Smugglers’ Notch in Cambridge, Vermont, February 20, 2014. Teamwork is key.
Posted by Miles Clark |

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4 thoughts on “PHOTO TOUR: This Is What Mountain Warfare Looks Like”

  1. I did my Mountain Warfare Training in VT.
    Where “The Gods of the Mountains are not the Gods of the Valleys.”
    What’s this about it being the ONLY MTN warfare tng ctr? No.

    Reply

  2. Sir,
    I was a red hat at MWTC for 4 years in the 90’s and i loved your article. Just one piece of constructive critism, there is a huge difference between “Soldiers” and “Marines” and you referred to the Marines many times as soldiers.

    Reply

    1. Robert, thanks for that info. I did not know that. I’ll make the changes now. Thanks and thanks for your service. If you ever get a wild hair I’d love to hear about your experience there. contact@snowbrains.com

      Reply

  3. They do free heel ski training at Mammoth mtn. They also know rock climbing skills. And of course avalanche skills.

    Reply

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