05/24/2026
Yesterday at Camp Hale, a small group gathered beneath the historic Practice Wall for the inaugural 10th Mountain Division Memorial Day Weekend Climb-In, reconnecting with the mountain heritage that shaped generations of Soldiers, mountaineers, guides, and outdoor leaders.
For many Americans, Camp Hale is simply a beautiful valley outside Leadville, but for the 10th Mountain Division community, it is sacred ground.
This is where more than 15,000 Soldiers trained during World War II in mountain and winter warfare. On these cliffs, climbers-turned-instructors taught knot tying, belaying, rappelling, and movement across steep alpine terrain. The lessons learned here helped enable the Division’s legendary ascent of Riva Ridge in Italy in February 1945, a nighttime climb once believed impossible.
But the climbing itself was only part of the story yesterday.
What made the day special was the people.
Mauri DiMeo, 10th Mountain Division veteran, professional mountain guide, and recipient of a 10th Mountain Division Foundation mentorship grant, led the effort alongside two aspiring AMGA guides: one an active-duty Air Force member and the other a U.S. Army veteran.
Joining the group were Lance R. Blyth, historian and author of Ski, Climb, Fight; Michael “Chief” Coss, longtime 10th Mountain leader and veteran; descendants of WWII 10th Mountain Soldiers, including a great-granddaughter now pursuing the AMGA guide pathway herself; Denise Taylor, President of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the 10th Mountain Division Descendants; and family members spanning generations.
At one point, it struck me how fitting the scene was: children playing nearby, people exploring the valley, climbers moving across the same rock faces used during WWII training, and veterans and descendants sharing stories together beneath Colorado blue skies.
One thing that stood out throughout the day was how many people were already connected to, or familiar with, the 10th Mountain Alpine Club. Several conversations naturally turned toward the same conclusion: we need to get a Colorado chapter stood up as soon as possible. Please contact us if you are interested in supporting the establishment of 10th MAC-Colorado!
There is clearly energy for it here, and Camp Hale feels like exactly the kind of place where that community should continue growing. We also need to make sure we get more East Coast 10MAC members out here next year.
This inaugural Climb-In was intentionally small, but it represents something worth building: a living connection between past and present 10th Mountain Soldiers, veterans, descendants, historians, outdoor professionals, and community members.
Camp Hale helped shape modern military mountaineering and much of America’s outdoor recreation culture. Yesterday felt like a reminder that its story is still being written.
Sempre Avanti!
-Marc C.
