School of War Ep 240: Lance R. Blyth on Mountain Warfare
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Oct 17, 2025 Lance R. Blythe, a command historian at NORAD and author of Ski, Climb, Fight, dives into the captivating history of mountain warfare. He discusses how his Wyoming roots and Marine background fueled his interest in this niche battlefield. Blythe sheds light on the evolution of tactics, from early mountaineering to the formation of the 10th Mountain Division. He reveals the impact of the Winter War on U.S. ski troops and highlights critical battles in Italy, such as Riva Ridge, showcasing how elevation shapes military strategy.
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Modern Origins Of Mountain Warfare
- Modern mountain warfare emerges in the mid-19th century alongside sport mountaineering and improved firearms.
- Mountain units developed to move large forces through passes and glaciers, not just fight at valley chokepoints.
Winter War Prompted U.S. Ski Troop Interest
- The Winter War showed small, mobile ski units could defeat larger road-bound forces by bypassing roads.
- That conflict catalyzed U.S. interest and civilian skiers to lobby the Army for ski troops.
How Ski Patrol Leaders Influenced The Army
- Charles Minot 'Mini' Dole and the National Ski Patrol pushed the Army to consider ski troops in 1940.
- Dole leveraged Yale and political contacts to secure meetings and influence mobilization planning.
