Dan’s first trip to Yosemite was in the spring of ‘84. First hike up Half Dome, icy dips in the Merced River, climbing black oaks - That was it! - the Sierra was Dan’s new playground. He guided for Adventure Outings, CSU Chico’s adventure program - climbing Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen numerous times, backpacking all over the Sierra, Cascades, and Trinity Alps, and led ski-touring and winter mountaineering trips.

 

For 23 years Dan ran a wilderness program at Camp Kawanhee in Maine, and is now the camp director there. Hundreds of trips polished his skills as an interpretive leader. He is a NOLS certified Wilderness First Responder, and believes in prevention and preparation to ensure every trips success. Dan held naturalist positions at outdoor science schools in the mountains, and coast of California, and for 13 years ran an internship program training college graduates in science interpretation. Dan has led trips for the Association for Environmental Education, National Association for Interpretation, Central Sierra Audubon, and is the Naturalist for Strawberry Music Festival on the border of YNP at Camp Mather. Along with his wife and two sons, Dan finds endless happiness in the web of nature.

 

Dan loves birding and would be thrilled to show you where black swifts nest behind waterfalls, and where the American dipper dives into cool rapids to hunt for food. On a trip with Dan you could add birds to your life list, or discover the hiding places of Yosemite’s dazzling wildflowers. Sharing his knowledge and appreciation of the wild world with humor and a sense of wonder is his specialty.