The World War II night climb where 700 American ski troops scaled an impossible cliff to attack Germans

America’s Night Climb That Stunned Nazi Forces

High in the Colorado Rockies sits the 10th Mountain Division Hut, a memorial to some of America’s most elite soldiers.

The hut honors the legendary ski troops who trained at nearby Camp Hale during World War II, learning mountain warfare techniques that would prove crucial in the Italian Alps.

On February 18, 1945, 700 men from the 10th Mountain Division climbed 2,000 feet of sheer rock at Riva Ridge, changing the course of the Italian campaign.

Here’s how America’s mountain soldiers achieved what the Germans thought could never be done.

Germans Thought No One Could Climb the Steep Cliff

German officers put most of their troops on the gentler slopes of Riva Ridge, leaving the 2,000-foot vertical cliff almost unguarded. They thought no one could climb it.

American scouts from the 86th Regiment spotted this weakness and spent weeks secretly setting up five climbing routes. They put ropes and metal spikes on the steepest parts without Germans noticing.

The Germans felt so sure about this natural wall that they focused on guarding other areas. Earlier Allied attacks on Mount Belvedere failed because German spotters on Riva Ridge helped aim their artillery.

Colorado Mountains Turned Regular Soldiers into Mountain Experts

The 10th Mountain Division trained hard at Camp Hale in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. They lived in tough conditions at 9,200 feet, learning mountain fighting skills no other American unit had.

Every day, they practiced rock climbing, sliding down ropes, skiing, and living in freezing weather while carrying 90-pound packs through deep snow.

They tested some of the first nylon climbing ropes, metal spikes, and other climbing gear they would need later. The unit mixed college ski team members with tough outdoorsmen who all knew mountain skills.

Leaders Told Soldiers to Stay Completely Quiet During Attack

On February 18, 1945, commanders told 700 soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment and F Company about their bold plan.

General George Hays explained they needed to take Riva Ridge first to remove German spotters who could see everything below. Unlike normal attacks, they wouldn’t fire artillery first because it would warn the enemy.

Soldiers got strict orders to keep their guns unloaded during the climb to avoid any shots that might give away their positions. The whole plan depended on sneaking up on an enemy who felt safe.

Night and Fog Hid Soldiers During Their Dangerous Climb

At 7:30 PM on February 18, soldiers started climbing four separate routes up the steep cliff. The night was very cold with patches of snow and ice covering the rocks.

Each man carried weapons, bullets, climbing gear, food, and survival tools. The extra weight made the hard climb even harder.

Luckily, a natural fog rolled in that evening, giving extra cover from German guards who might spot movement on the slopes. The men moved slowly but steadily upward in the dark.

One Wrong Step Could Kill Climbers on the Frozen Cliff

The men climbed single-file up the dangerous cliff, using ropes and metal spikes placed during earlier scouting trips.

Commanders sent several medics with the attack group, showing they expected many injuries if things went wrong.

Every soldier knew that if Germans spotted them before they reached the top, machine gun fire would rain down while they hung onto the cliff.

The climb needed real rock climbing skills while carrying full combat gear, in darkness, during winter. One slip meant death from falling or alerting the enemy above.

Morning Light Showed Americans Standing Over Shocked Germans

When the sun rose on February 19, American soldiers reached the top and caught German guards completely by surprise. Most Germans were still sleeping in their bunkers and foxholes, many rushing to grab their weapons.

“They hadn’t even had their first cup of coffee yet,” one mountain soldier later said. The shock on German faces showed they truly believed no one could climb the cliff.

Some tried to fight back but found Americans already held the high ground. The surprise worked perfectly, just as planned.

Surprised Germans Ran to Fight in Their Underwear

Off-duty German soldiers rushed from their bunkers on the back slope, many half-dressed, when they heard the alarm. American troops immediately shot at them as they tried to organize any defense.

During the chaotic first minutes, some American soldiers accidentally slid down the icy German side of the ridge while chasing retreating enemies. The fighting was fierce but short in most areas.

Within hours, Americans controlled the entire ridgeline. Only one American got wounded during the first attack, showing how valuable surprise can be.

Germans Attacked Again and Again to Test the Mountain Men

German commanders quickly launched counterattacks to retake the key ridgeline once they realized what happened.

Battles continued non-stop for five days as Germans threw everything they had against the mountain positions. American injuries grew much higher during this long defensive fighting than during the initial climb.

Moving wounded men down the steep terrain proved incredibly difficult, with 8-10 men needed per stretcher due to the dangerous slopes.

The mountain troops dug in and fought off wave after wave of determined German attacks.

Taking Riva Ridge Made Mount Belvedere’s Capture Possible

With Riva Ridge secured, the 85th and 87th Regiments attacked Mount Belvedere the next night on February 19-20. This time, German artillery spotters could no longer call in accurate fire on the advancing Americans.

Previous attempts to take Belvedere failed specifically because German spotters on Riva Ridge directed devastating artillery against attacking troops.

Removing these enemy spotters made all the difference for the main assault.

After months of failed attempts by other units, the mountain troops finally captured the strategic peak.

Hitler’s Mountain Defense Fell Apart After the Bold Climb

The capture of both ridges broke German defensive positions in the northern Apennine mountains that had held firm for months.

The 10th Mountain Division led the Fifth Army’s advance into the Po Valley, northern Italy’s industrial heart. German forces started retreating toward the Alps as their carefully built mountain stronghold collapsed.

The breakthrough marked the beginning of the end for German resistance in Italy. What Germans thought impossible became the key to breaking their entire defensive line.

America’s Ski Industry Boomed Thanks to These Mountain Warriors

Many veterans of the 10th Mountain Division took their wartime skills and transformed American recreation after returning home.

Soldiers who once climbed Riva Ridge went on to found or develop over 60 ski resorts across the country, including Vail, Aspen, and Sugarbush.

They created the National Ski Patrol system based on their military medical training.

The operation proved that supposedly “impossible” military objectives could be achieved with proper training and bold planning.

Today, Riva Ridge remains Vail’s longest ski run, named by 10th Mountain veteran Pete Seibert to honor the remarkable climb that changed the course of the Italian campaign.

Visiting 10th Mountain Division Hut, Colorado

The 10th Mountain Division Hut in Colorado gives you a real feel for where America’s ski troops trained before their famous WWII climb up Riva Ridge.

You can stay overnight in rustic huts similar to what soldiers used, and hike the same mountain terrain they practiced on. The trails have signs about their training and equipment.

In winter, you can ski the slopes where troops learned the skills they used for their surprise nighttime attack against German forces in Italy.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• The mysterious exodus that emptied Mesa Verde’s ancient cliff cities after 700 years
• William Bent’s revenge: dynamiting America’s biggest frontier fort in 1849 to spite government officials
• 12 Phrases Only a True Kentuckian Says and Understands