Competitors take the ski lift to the top of Fort

Competitors take the ski lift to the top of Fort Wainwright's Birch Hill to begin the downhill ski event of the USARAK Winter Games Jan. 27, 2016. As America’s Arctic Warriors, USARAK Soldiers train hard to cultivate the knowledge and experience necessary to survive, train, operate, fight and win in extreme cold weather and high altitude environments. The games are an annual opportunity for USARAK units to test their skills, validate their expertise and set a benchmark of excellence for all Arctic Warriors to strive for. Battalions from both Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fort Wainwright were represented by 10-man teams for a total of 210 competing Soldiers in this year’s games. (Army photo/John Pennell)