The video and photos give you an idea, but you have no idea how hot this really is in person unless you have been there. I lived in Annapolis for a couple of years in the 1970s and I was addicted to get to "The Plebe Recognition Ceremony", the official name for this competition. After I moved, for several years I stayed on their mailing list and did all I could to adjust my schedule to attend. Tried video a couple of times, which I'll have to unbury.
The competition is so fierce that it's no holds barred and the tradition is that the one to make it to the top and remove the plebe cover and replace it with that of an officer will be the first officer from that plebe class. Clearly the most popular and respected classmate will get more buddys to sacrifice to help him achieve the goal.
I've seen the gym shots ripped where the bulge in tighty-whities is in clear view, I've even seen in those years where they still had pubes, all but full exposure when someone would "blindly ?" reach above their head grabbing at whatever fabric they can find and pull... There are frequent hose downs of the guys climing to help cool them down and for those in white shorts you can imagine that they become virtually invisible.
It doesn't end after the climb either! From here they go over to an open area where they are all hosed down to get the grease and slime off of their bodies in a preliminary way before they go back inside.