Daniel Hagaman 2016
Since 1992, Daniel has moved seasonally between opposite ends of the earth. Living in Alaska and Patagonia, he migrates with the sun and the birds, spending many of his northern summers with bears in Alaska and his southern summers in the temperate Patagonian rain forests of Chile and Argentina. A naturalist and teacher, he has lived and worked throughout Latin America, including Mexico, Bolivia, Chile and Costa Rica. He continues his northerly summer migration as a guide for Nat Hab’s Alaska wildlife safaris.
Dan's special connection to bears sprang from his work on an Andean Spectacled Bear study in Bolivia. He followed it up with four summers of living and working in Denali National Park, where he gained a deep knowledge of and appreciation for the region as he found ample time to observe bears in the wild. He started guiding in college, leading snorkeling and diving trips in the Florida Keys. He currently teaches university field study courses in Chile, an extension of programs that he has organized and led throughout the Central and Southern Andes in Bolivia, Chile and Argentina since 2008. He has also guided field studies in New Zealand.
Raised in Wisconsin’s cold North Woods, Daniel realized early on that there were other equally impressive places with larger mountains to climb and rich cultures to learn about. Mountains lured him to Colorado, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a focus on Latin American archaeology. In graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, his focus turned to mountain ecology, agro-ecology and changing forest ecosystems in Bolivia’s high Andes. He remains keenly interested in botany, and in the practical and traditional uses of plants by both animals and people.
Currently, Dan lives with his family in Paonia, Colorado, surrounded by the mountains and irrigated deserts of the state's Western Slope. He spends his free time gardening, taking photographs and exploring the mountains and canyons of the American Southwest. In addition to gazing upon breathtaking mountains and fjords, Dan’s primary interests include ornithology and sustainable resource management for protected areas and wilderness.
What Our Guests Say
Dan is an amazing Expedition Leader. He handled all trip details with ease and certainly ensured that our journey moved expeditiously. His knowledge of the area, its geology, the flora and fauna ensured that the trip was always detailed and fascinating. But beyond his high level of expertise, Dan is just a great human being. He is funny, patient and always kind. I have been on many tours with a variety of companies, and Dan is the best Expedition Leader I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.
Dan made this trip extraordinary! He was always offering information and observations about the flora, fauna and activities of the animals we were observing. I would have missed the aggressive and submissive behaviors of the grizzlies as they unfurled at Brooks Falls, if he had not alerted me to watch as the dominant bear arrived. I would not have seen the bald eagle watching the salmon morsels and then swooping in to take them from the gulls. Everyone in the group agreed that Dan is an exceptional guide. He was always willing to make our expectations happen or solve our concerns. His level of knowledge about the history, culture, animals, whales and frankly everything was unbelievable.
Dan went above and beyond from the moment he picked us up from the airport (even though we were a day early.) He answered questions thoughtfully, and if he did not know the answer, he researched the answer and informed the group. He is constantly trying to improve, and it shows! He takes notes when other guides give information, makes notes about the bears at Katmai and basically is a sponge for knowledge. In addition, he is kind to all the bus drivers, guides, park rangers, etc., which ensures future Nat Hab trips will receive great service. He moved easily between members of the group, ensuring everyone was comfortable. If an individual expressed a food preference, he would pop up and consult with the kitchen 'in the background' so as not to disrupt the flow. He was up late and early, preparing for the day. Dan is experienced, knowledgeable, easy to be with, fun and in short, a gem.
