Cadets compete in the Northern Warfare Challenge, La Crosse, Wis., Feb. 22, 2025. More than 50 ROTC teams participated in the two-day cold weather military skills competition, culminating in a 12-mile ruck march through the trails of Grandad Bluff.

LA CROSSE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Army ROTC program hosted its 10th annual Northern Warfare Challenge Feb. 21-22, 2025. The event tested more than 50 teams, comprised of nearly 250 cadets, on their ability to operate in a cold weather environment. The competition was broken up into two phases: an endurance and skills test held a Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, and 12-mile ruck race through Grandad Bluff Park through about 2,000 feet of snow-covered elevation gain.

The Northen Warfare Challenge, coined the toughest race in ROTC, began 10 years ago with just the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse but it has since expanded to hosting schools from as far away as New Mexico, Arizona and New York.

Cadets compete in the Northern Warfare Challenge, La Crosse, Wis., Feb. 22, 2025. More than 50 ROTC teams participated in the two-day cold weather military skills competition, culminating in a 12-mile ruck march through the trails of Grandad Bluff.

Cadets compete in the Northern Warfare Challenge, La Crosse, Wis., Feb. 22, 2025. More than 50 ROTC teams participated in the two-day cold weather military skills competition, culminating in a 12-mile ruck march through the trails of Grandad Bluff.

“The Northern Warfare Challenge is a competition designed to test cadet teams on knowledge and skills dealing with cold weather survival,” said Lt. Col. Brian Knutson, professor of military science at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. “The first phase of the competition is the skills portion, specifically skills that would be employed in a cold weather environment. They are tested on knots, cold weather injuries, cold weather clothing, and the evacuation of a simulated cold weather casualty.”

Following less than a half day to recover, cadets started their morning before 4 a.m. in less than 2-degree temperatures at the bottom of Granddad Bluff Park to begin a grueling 12-mile race.

Cadets compete in the Northern Warfare Challenge, La Crosse, Wis., Feb. 22, 2025. More than 50 ROTC teams participated in the two-day cold weather military skills competition, culminating in a 12-mile ruck march through the trails of Grandad Bluff.

Cadets compete in the Northern Warfare Challenge, La Crosse, Wis., Feb. 22, 2025. More than 50 ROTC teams participated in the two-day cold weather military skills competition, culminating in a 12-mile ruck march through the trails of Grandad Bluff.

“We have done this competition for 10 years now and we specifically use the bluffs of La Crosse because… it's horrible,” laughed Knutson. “But seriously, it provides extra cold weather challenges with the uneven snowy terrain and the dramatic elevation changes.”

After braving the snow-covered bluff and temperatures cold enough to freeze their sweat, the cadets finished the race at the scenic outlook on the highest point of Granddad Bluff Park. Regardless of their place in the competition every team finished by placing their hands on the symbolic flagpole finish line, proving that they have the grit needed to thrive operating in a cold weather environment.

Cadets compete in the Northern Warfare Challenge, La Crosse, Wis., Feb. 22, 2025. More than 50 ROTC teams participated in the two-day cold weather military skills competition, culminating in a 12-mile ruck march through the trails of Grandad Bluff.

“I mean Ranger Challenge is an amazing competition, it goes over all the basic tasks, it is a great competition,” said Karp. “But Northern Warfare? It’s the bread and butter of competitions, it has technical skills, this going one step above Ranger Challenge. It’s called the toughest race in ROTC for a reason.”

Competition Results and Ruck Times
  • 1st Place: United States Military Academy — West Point, New York | 2:56
  • 2nd Place: Wheaton College — Wheaton, Illinois | 2:57
  • 3rd Place: University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, Wisconsin | 2:58