Erik sits down with Christian Beckwith, the creative force behind the 90 Pound Rucksack podcast, to pull back the curtain on one of America’s most legendary, yet under-told, stories—The 10th Mountain Division and it’s role in the dawn of America’s outdoor recreation industry. Think: high-altitude grit, audacious problem-solving, and a relentless spirit of innovation, all under impossible odds.
An unprecedented unit of World War Two climbers and skiers, the 10th was dispatched to fight axis powers in extreme cold and mountainous terrain. Not only were their efforts critical to Germany’s surrender, these veterans returned home to develop ski areas across the country, and start companies like Nike and National Outdoor Leadership School.
Erik and Christian are about to blast open some history, challenge your assumptions, and remind us all what it means to build something extraordinary when the world needs it most.