Dan Hohl

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 his 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 through the American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education. Dan spends his summers guiding alpine climbs in the Cascades, the Tetons, and the Alaska Range. He works as a backcountry ski guide and avalanche educator in Steamboat Springs during the winters. The shoulder seasons are spent rock climbing and guiding in the desert southwest.

Take 5 with the Guide

What was your first mountain?
Mt. Baldy, California.

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not guiding?
Ski powder, sport climb, and drink potentially dangerous amounts of coffee.

What’s always in your snack bag?
Gummy worms and peanut butter M&M’s.

If you could be stuck with anyone (past or present) at base camp for a week, who would you choose?
Larry David, let the shenanigans commence!

One piece of advice for aspiring mountaineers
It is not a failure when you do not reach the summit, it is a success to have made a safe decision to retreat.