Battalion’s yearly ascent to remember and honor the fallen

Photo By Staff Sgt. Dustin Miller | Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), of group 4 pause at the entrance of Barr Camp for the quick photo oportunity before they continue on their way to the summit. The battalion Soldiers commit every year to the 12.9 mile ascent to the summit of Pikes Peak to honor and remember their fallen team members. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Brandon Franklin)  

MANITOU SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

09.07.2018

Story by Sgt. Dustin Miller 

10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Manitou Springs, Colorado. - Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conducted their 8th annual Pikes Peak memorial ascent, to remember and honor their fallen team members September 7, 2018.
This year's mountain ascent was run by the battalion's current U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Bejamin Reed and religious support NCO Staff. Sgt. Durkee, Angel. The ascenders were split into six different groups, each group starting five minutes apart.
There were two rally points during the Pikes Peak summit hike. The first was six and a half miles at Bar Camp. The camp was built between 1922 and 1924 as an overnight rest stop for hikers hiking to the summit.
The second point was nine miles in at the A Frame, The last stop before the ascenders tackled the hardest part which was the last three miles to the summit. The A Frame was built as an emergency shelter by the forest service in 1964 for hikers caught in the ever shifting micro climates of America’s Mountain.
The chaplain as one of the ascenders, carried a large wooden cross strapped to his pack during the hike. The cross is a historical part of the event as it has been carried up by 3rd battalion chaplains for the past eight year. It also signifies that it was a chaplain led event and that the event was both physical in nature as well as spiritual.
"The purpose of the Pikes Peak memorial ascent is to uphold 3rd Battalion's promise to never forget our brothers who gave their lives in defense of freedom," said U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Bejamin Reed."To reaffirm our commitment to care for those they left behind; and inspire the men and women of third battalion to serve, so as to honor those who've gone before them."
Sgt. Connor Mendez, a Combat Documentation/Production Specialist, assigned to 10th Special Forces Group volunteered to be part of the ascent to honor the fallen with 3rd battalion.
"It was an opportunity to reflect on those that have fallen and to really appreciate their sacrifice," said Mendez. "It helps to serve as a reminder that this is why we fight and why we are still fighting 17 years after 9/11."
Pikes Peak sits at 14,115 feet elevation and the walk to the summit is 12.9 miles from the beginning of bar trail all the way to the top. A constant uphill walk with no flat ground to speak of. It's a challenge that the Soldiers of 3rd Battalion choose to go through every year so reaffirm their promise to their fallen brothers and sisters sacrifice and that they will always be remembered.
"We struggle together through a challenging hike and solemnly remind one another that freedom is not free," said Reed.

• Date Taken: 09.07.2018
• Date Posted: 09.14.2018 17:28
• Story ID: 292921
• Location: MANITOU SPRINGS, CO, US