We had the good fortune of connecting with Dan Zokaites and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dan, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I have gone from a very simple life with my wife and I owning a small 600 sq ft house in Ridgway. We have now expanded to having a daughter, two vibrant businesses in the San Juans, and more space to accommodate the family unit.

Throughout the course of these changes we are still focused on what truly matters to us and continue the same framework of keeping life simple. Although we have more things in motion our priority continues to embrace our outdoor lifestyle, parent thoughtfully, and embark or adventures and life experiences with friends and as a family unit.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I established Cirque Guides five years ago. My value for relationships and dedication to the mountain craft led me to branch out and build a very custom mountain guiding service. We specialize is personalized outings, whether ice climbing or backcountry skiing in the winter or high altitude expeditions to the Himalaya. We offer something for every demographic of outdoor enthusiast. Family friendly rock climbing and via ferrata trips in the summer to capstone alpine objectives in Alaska.

I have been guiding for over 18 years. I began my guiding career traveling from venue to venue working for other guiding services and building both my professional experience and becoming a fully licensed international mountain guide. I used my background and experiences in the industry to create a business where its core value is building personal relationships with the guests that climb with us. The majority of our guests climb/ski with our ownership team and guides year after year and we are able to not only advance our guests skill set and meet their outdoor goals but also keep up with what is happening in their personal lives and develop goals and aspirations that meet them where they are at.

It has been a two decade process recruiting and maintaining a clientele base for myself and my business partners. My dedication to this industry and fierce passion for climbing and skiing has built resiliency to weather through economic recessions, low snow seasons, natural disasters and pandemics.

I have learned over the years to surround myself with the right people. I realize as a business owner I have to wear many different hats. Some of those are easy to wear and some of them my partners wear much better than me. I think it is essential to know what I do well and areas of growth. My business partners and my guests that climb with us are truly human beings that I enjoy and look forward to spending time with. It took me a long time to master this art but it is the most fulfilling way of doing business.

Our business has coined the phrase “your partner in the mountains” This could not be a more fitting statement to our brand and business motto. We share in a climbing, skiing or mountain experience with our guests. We truly offer something unique and unbranded.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hahahaha. We are based in the San Juan Mountains. I live in a small community in Ridgway, Colorado so night life shuts down around 9:00pm.

If friends visit the area and we want to get out of our ski pants and have a night on the town I would probably venture out for a soak in the vapor caves at the bottom of the Weisbaden Hotel. This is the origination of the hot springs that are sprinkled all over the San Juans. Afterwards I would grab a cocktail and dinner at The Western Hotel. This old building in Ouray has been restored with a contemporary charm all the while keeping its historical flavor. Gotta try the Beetnik cocktail and any number of their amazing entries.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife Kelly Ryan and our daughter Lena. They truly empower and enable me to be the best version of myself and challenge me to be a balanced father, husband and business owner.

If I could recommend one book to young parents that has been influential: Hunt Gather Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff

Website: https://www.cirqueguides.com

Instagram: @cirqueguides

Image Credits
Photos property of Cirque Guides

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