Meet the Guides

Kari McLennan (aka “Mucky Duck”) is the newest guide and director of Trailbound Trips. She began her love of nature as a child exploring the neighborhood creek and wild places of Palatine. After college, she began her thrill of taking 100’s of kids on adventures of backpacking, rock climbing, & biking, and watching how nature can how can have such a positive effect on people. She loved the community built on these trips, and how together on the trail, we can also bring out the best in each other. Kari has a wanderlust heart, which has taken her to beautiful places around the globe, yet she still loves America the best. Kari has been married 28 years, lives in Palatine, and is super proud of her 2 adult kids.

Karen Pogalz (aka “Cairn”) is a suburban girl with the soul of a wild woman. Her love of adventure was fostered by her parents and the scenery out the window of the family station wagon. Her travels have taken her to many places but her biggest adventure has been a marriage of thirty-five years and raising two boys. Guiding for Trailbound Trips during the 2016-2018 seasons fostered a path of self re-discovery that Karen hopes to cultivate for everyone who joins her on the trail. Karen’s trail name is Cairn…..(rocks that mark trail routes) and she is eager to discover new paths with you!

Marlene Tres (aka "River Rat") has guided for Trailbound’s day trips and getaways for many years. She grew up literally following in her father’s footsteps, as he took the family exploring and camping in America’s wild places, particularly the Southwest. Marlene earned her "River Rat" trail name on numerous whitewater rafting trips through the Grand Canyon. She serves as the early childhood director at a Lutheran school and is involved in church and community volunteer projects. Marlene and her husband are the proud parents of an adult son and daughter.

Julie Kanak (aka "Wander Woman") has been a guide for day trips, Midwest getaways, and weeklong trips. She spent most of her professional life in the non-profit world ... at a foster care agency, a hospice program, as a professional mediator and as executive director of an international peace organization. No matter where she was working, this "unabashed tree-hugger" always had time to get out into nature! She recently got certified as a Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapists {ANFT}. She loves to wander the world with her husband, family, friends, and also by herself. Julie lives in Barrington, is the proud mother of 4 wonderful young men and one gorgeous granddaughter. She loves reading and traveling, taking classes, singing (poorly) and dancing (wildly), and of course exploring with Trailbound Trips!