Dan Koepke

Dan Koepke was destined to enjoy lifelong mountaineering soon after his father ascended Mount Rainier while Dan was a toddler living in Seattle, and Dan always planned to follow in his father’s footsteps until Dan’s own Mount Rainier summit day finally came to fruition years later. Dan works as a Guide in addition to Program Operations Manager and Curriculum Director for the Colorado Mountain School, is an AMGA certified Single Pitch Instructor and Apprentice Alpine Guide, and he is also a Wilderness First Responder.

Dan has climbed on 4 continents and led expeditions and ascents around Alaska including the Aleutians and the Arctic Brooks Range, South America from Peru to Patagonia, and Asia in Himalayan Nepal and Thailand as well as many places in between including the Grand Teton with ski descents of Mount Rainier, Mount Shasta, and Mount Hood. Dan’s professional leadership experience and training also spans the globe from China to Europe and across our country from coast to coast. Dan has summited the tallest mountains in both North and South America on solo permits, and he also enjoys leadership roles and authoring publications highlighting the significance of camaraderie and international teamwork.

Dan competed in the 2022 UIAA Ice Climbing World Championships in Switzerland, 2020-2021 Ouray Elite Mixed Climbing Competitions, four UIAA Ice Climbing European Cups 2019 & 2021, and he was selected for UIAA Ice Climbing World Cups representing the USA Ice Climbing Team 2020-2022. Dan earned a Master of Science in Physics from Montana State University and from 2016-2021 taught Biology, Physics, and Astronomy as faculty and lab manager at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. When not working for CMS, Dan is probably eating, training, or sleeping.