Dan grew up in the powder-starved wasteland of Southern California, where nobody owns a ski touring setup but seemingly everybody owns a convertible and tiny dog. Fortunately, his parents had an old A-frame ski cabin in the Sierra Nevada’s, and that is where Dan’s dad taught him to ski by abandoning him atop runs far beyond a 3-year old’s capabilities. After surviving this trial by fire, Dan attended the University of California, Berkeley where he was introduced to rock climbing and ski touring. It was during this time that any semblance of a straight-and-narrow career path was lost.

Under the guise of continuing his education, Dan completed a Master of Science at the University of Utah, writing a thesis on the relationship between climbing, environmental advocacy, and climate change. He promptly moved to Colorado and dove into the American Mountain Guides Association certification process and continued his avalanche education in the premier location to learn all about persistent weak layers.

Dan has guided rock and alpine climbs all over the Rockies, Southwest desert, and in the North Cascades. In the spring time Dan answers Alaska’s calling and guides an expedition up the West Buttress of Denali. He has ski guided throughout Colorado and is an equal opportunity powder hound whether it be hippy turns in low angle meadows or the steep couloirs of the San Juans. When Dan is not on the job, he can be found scheming over Caltopo, consuming potentially unhealthy amounts of coffee, falling off of sport climbs, and attempting without success to set the perfect skin track.