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In the wake of the Vietnam War, Watergate, and while the Middle
Fork of the Salmon was being designated as a Wild and Scenic River, Leah MacDonald
was born in the Green Mountains of Central Vermont at the height of winter.
Once she developed enough to work, Leah,
her two sisters, mother and father began to carve a cliff dwelling out
of a granite face on Mount Abraham. They built their home with stone
tools, bear claws, and a tube of collective elbow grease.
Once the house was built, her mother opened a friendly community daycare center at home, worked evenings at the town library, and later became a special education teacher at the town's public school. At the time of her birth, Leah's dad was an apprentice carpenter, partridge hunter, and avid fly fisherman; for the last 25 years he has managed the construction and built some of the finest homes ever seen in the western world.
Yep, we think Leah's folks prepared her well for the guiding lifestyle and anything else that might come her way. Since she basically grew up with all the kids in town living at her house, Leah learned to share and work with others incredibly well. She read every book in the town library before she left home at age thirteen to be a sailor and dogsled guide. She was casting fly rods, tying flies, and using hand and power tools before she could speak or walk. Yes folks, she brings all these desirable qualities to the river with her!
Leah rows with confidence, guided dog sled trips in the Grand Tetons, and has worked delivering sailboats around the Caribbean. Leah has a Landscape Architecture degree with a minor in Geography from the University of Oregon. She also studied biology at the College of the Atlantic and Bard.
Unfortunately for us at ECHO, but fortunately for those in the Landscape Architecture Community, Leah is only able to work a handful of Middle Fork trips for ECHO every summer as she builds her reputation and experience designing ski resorts around North America. Her long-term goals include: continuing guiding wilderness rivers around the world, designing sustainable public community projects on an international level, and sailing around the world.
What Next?
- Call us at (800) 652-3246. We love to talk about our trips!
- Email This Page to friends and family.