07 Dec Langs shares the love by supporting trails

Trails Council board member Karen Langs loves the place where she was planted back in 1970. She and her husband Russ raised two children in Petoskey, and though her adult children have moved on (one to Florida, the other to Colorado), Langs is embracing her life in Northern Michigan. She reports that after Russ passed, she resolved to continue living the life of joy that he had shared with her during their 53-year marriage.

Karen coached tennis at Petoskey High School for 25 years, an experience that left her with many wonderful memories and lifelong friends. She began working at McLean & Eakin Booksellers in 1992 (the year the store opened), and they have allowed her to keep her foot in the door ever since, leading book club discussions. She also enjoys working part-time in the summer at Ward & Eis Gallery.

Her passion for outdoor recreation includes the joy of hiking and biking, which she loves to share with friends. This passion led her to say YES when she was asked to join the Board of Directors of the Trails Council in 2014. In her words, “This board not only has great expertise and great ideas, but they are ‘doers’, all with the same commitment to making our slice of the planet a better place to live.” Karen has stepped up numerous times to volunteer for TOMTC events and programs, including Kids Biking outings, our Annual Dinners, and, most notably, she has acted as our Volunteer Coordinator for our Top of Michigan Festival of Races for the past three years.

When asked what her dream for our trail network would be, she said her vision was in two parts: 1) to see our north-south trails joined with east-west connectors, and 2) to offer more and more activities that encourage folks to get out and enjoy these trails.