The first thing I notice about Dan Cooke: his eyes catch everything.
"Wild turkeys right over there," Dan says. "You've got a male all puffed up.”
Dan is the founder of Expedition Detroit, an outdoor company operating exclusively within Metro Detroit that provides guided hikes and other immersive outdoor experiences. Expedition Detroit’s goal: make nature accessible to everyone, regardless of the season, the time of day or the hiker’s experience level.
I've met Dan at Troy's Stage Nature Center to see what an Expedition Detroit hike is like. As we walk, Dan stops and points.
“You’ve got two whitetails right through there. Oh, and a third too in the grass. Man, that’s the longest tail I've ever seen on a deer, the one on the right.”
I ask Dan about his keen eyesight.
“Two things have happened as I've spent more and more time in the woods. One is I pick up animals immediately. And the second: bugs, like mosquitoes, gnats—I don’t even notice them. Working in the woods this long, you just get used to things flying around your head.”
Dan's passion for the outdoors began in childhood, where he found solace and joy in the woods near his home in northern Virginia. It wasn't until later in life, inspired by tales of adventure from his cousin's extensive hiking expeditions, that Dan fully embraced his love of exploration.
“My sophomore year of high school, there was this computer program where you put in your interests and then it gave you a recommended career path. So I did mine. Number one was outdoor wilderness guide. Number two was park ranger. It's like the machine knew me better than I knew myself back then.”
Expedition Detroit offers day hikes, night hiking 'safaris,' backpacking trips, snowshoeing and guided trail running.
“On a night hike,” Dan says, "you’ll potentially see coyotes, birds of prey, raccoons, great herons. And the biggest bucks that I've ever seen in my life in Maybury State Park. We're talking average 10 points, maybe 12. Those things look like elk.”
I wonder, other than quality footwear, what first-time hikers need for an Expedition Detroit hike.
“All you have to do is sign up. Our guides take care of the rest. We provide the equipment, we know the trails.”
I ask Dan what kind of benefits hiking offers. He starts by pointing to his legs.
“See how my ankles are making those little stabilizing adjustments with each step?” Dan answers. “Walking on a natural trail strengthens the micro-muscles in your legs, because it’s not a sterile exercise environment. It's not a treadmill. And exercise gives you an autoimmune and cellular boost too.
“But also mental and emotional boosts, you know?” Dan continues. “If you come out of the woods angry ever, literally ever, then you've done something fundamentally wrong. Being in nature increases your sense of being present, the feeling that you're living a more fulfilled life. The organic sound of nature allows all of your senses to decompress, thanks to the disconnection from technology and the lack of noise. That increases serotonin and decreases cortisol, the stress hormone. I mean, even just looking at the color green inspires creativity.”
Dan stops again.
“There's garlic mustard right here. This is public enemy number one right now in Michigan. A super invasive plant. The only interesting thing about it is it's actually edible.”
He offers me a leaf, warning that it tastes terrible. I actually like it. But I wouldn’t have known it was safe to eat. Heck, I would have never even considered eating it.
“So experiences like that, knowledge like that,” Dan says. “Knowledge to make the experience not only physical, but educational and intellectually stimulating. That’s what our guided hikes aim to provide.”
I ask Dan what a typical Expedition Detroit experience is like. Dan says he personalizes every hike.
“I start by saying, ‘Hey, this is your hike. If you want to go fast, if you want to go slow, if you want to do yoga for 10 minutes or just forest bathe, this is your experience.’”
If you saw the safari hat that I brought for our walk, you’d know I avoid hiking. Dan assures me, though: newbies are not only welcome, but encouraged.
“Most of our clients are women in their 20s to 40s, trying to get into the outdoors for the first time. But on one particular hike, I led a guy in his mid-40s. He had always wanted to get into hiking, but never felt fit enough or confident enough. He booked a night hike. His review afterward said, ‘Expedition Detroit left me feeling empowered and eager to explore further.’ That’s what it’s all about – easily my most impactful experience on the trail.”
We come upon a fallen tree.
“This is from the storm the other day,” Dan tells me. “When trees fall, a new ecosystem is created for all of the micro-fauna, all the animals that eat the decaying wood, use it for shelter, for cover from predators. So it's actually a beautiful thing when a tree falls. Leave it. Nature will take its course.”
As Dan and I part ways, I suddenly realize I enjoyed myself hiking. Apparently, Dan’s guidance helped nature take its course on me too.
To book your personalized or group hike, go to expeditiondetroit.com/guided-outdoor-adventures