Mauri DiMeo: Tactical Alpinism - Ep. 108

Mauri DiMeo is an Infantry officer in the US Army currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Military Science (APMS) at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). He attended Ranger, Airborne, SFAS, the SFQC, and the Austrian High Alpine School. Mauri was a platoon leader in the 4th Infantry Division and Rifle Company Commander in the 10th Mountain Division. 

His career took a turn in the final Robin Sage stage of the SF Q course, which we discuss early in our conversation. The lessons he learned there are important for any officer going through the SF qualification process. 

Outside of the military, Mauri founded Tactical Alpinism in 2022 with the mission to expand the capability of individuals to go bigger in the mountains by teaching mountain navigation and planning best practices. Enabling people to go bigger in the mountains expands the military’s capability in this environment by focusing on the expertise of the individual within mountain and arctic units. He professionally guides in the mountains in the ski, rock, and alpine disciplines.

His mountain experience includes two decades of climbing across much of the world and multiple ski-based ascents and descents, including Mount Shasta, Mount Rainier, and Denali, all by multiple routes. His civilian mountain certifications include AIARE Avalanche Professional Level 2, AIARE Avalanche Instructor, AMGA Assistant Ski Guide, and AMGA Assistant Rock Guide.

More about Mauri:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tacticalalpinism/

Timestamps:

00:00:23 Introduction to Mauri DiMeo

00:01:49 Mauri DiMeo’s Career 

00:03:20 Final Year at West Point

00:04:26 Preparing for the Course

00:05:32 Junior West Point Cadet

00:08:45 Doing Too Much

00:10:54 10th Mountain Warfare Training

00:15:56 Ready in a Month

00:18:13 Conventional Units in Cold Environments

00:21:48 The Gap Between What Soldiers Are Taught and Tying Knots 

00:26:09 Practicing Skills Where They Matter

00:28:20 Tactical Avalanche Education

00:32:13 Avalanche Bell Curve Management

00:36:20 Speed is Safety

00:42:00 Time Recommended to Build Aerobic Capacity

00:46:50 Balancing Volume Training

00:51:03 Zone 2 Running vs Rucking

00:55:34 Getting the Body to Do What It’s Meant to Do

00:58:48 Effective Mental Frameworks in the Mountains

01:02:27 Filling Gaps in Military Training

01:05:34 Tactical Core Skills for Operating in the Snowy Mountains

01:10:25 What Does Mauri DiMeo Do with Tactical Alpinism?

01:12:20 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received

01:14:44 Outro