Mary Jean is a New York State Licensed Guide (#5198) and a member of the Adirondack Mountain Club.  She has also completed the American Canoe Association’s River Canoe Skills Courses through Advanced Whitewater Canoeing (Level 5).  Whether hiking, canoeing, skiing, snowshoeing or cross country skiing, Mary Jean is happiest being out enjoying the wonders of Mother Nature.

Born and raised in upstate New York, summers were spent camping throughout the Adirondacks and New England.  After receiving her BS in mathematics from SUNY Brockport, MS in mathematic from SUNY Albany and additional course work in mathematics at University of New Hampshire, Mary Jean moved to Northern Virginia and a position as a statistician with the federal government.  After 21 years with the federal government she changed paths and headed to education, teaching high school mathematics for 13 years.  Upon retirement, she returned to where her heart and soul felt at home, the Adirondacks.

Photography is another passion of Mary Jean’s and notes that her hikes and canoe trips often get derailed while she pursues some interesting photographic opportunity.   Loons are a particular weakness of hers.   She cannot resist them.

Mary Jean believes that there is nothing better for the human spirit than spending time in the woods or on quiet waters, embracing and marveling at all that nature has to offer.