Photo by Jeff Hoskinson

Discover and Wander with the Weekly Walking Club

By Liz McLaughlin, BikePGH volunteer

It’s no secret that walking is a great way to stay active, meet new people, and enjoy the fresh air. The Weekly Walking Club is a group that gets together on Sunday afternoons to walk in various locations around Western Pennsylvania to promote exploration, time spent outdoors, and community. I caught up with the group’s leader and organizer, Sophie Batchelor, to learn a little more about walking in Pittsburgh.

How did the Weekly Walking Club get started?
During the winter of 2013, I realized a fair number of people I knew were deep into the winter blahs. Getting outside with regularity was good for me and I thought it would be fun to wrangle up a group to go with! Everyone enjoyed socializing, getting sunshine, and being in nature, and regular occurrences eventually formed a community of people interested in exploring Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania by foot.

What can one expect from the walks?
Most of our members are in their twenties to forties and sometimes people bring their kids, dogs, or even frisbees, bubbles, and snacks to share. Walks last about two hours and take place in city, county, or state parks, but we also explore different neighborhoods around the city.

What are some memorable walks?
We did a night walk in Frick Park where we brought sparklers and made glowing jars by breaking glow sticks to light our way. Exploring a familiar environment by night is magical and those elements created an incredible ambiance. We also got some beautiful long exposure photographs that night.

Another is one of our annual traditions: the Easter Egg Beer Hunt in Allegheny Cemetery. We wrap bottles of beer in colorful tissue paper and a few people volunteer to show up early and hide them along with some eggs. We hunt them along our walk and have a nice collection to enjoy at the end.

What makes Pittsburgh a great or unique place to explore by foot?
Pittsburgh has a ton of character, whether exploring a one-way cobblestone street that leads to a new neighborhood or finding staircases buried in the woods. Last year we discovered an entirely new section of trails in Highland Park that leads all the way to the bike track on Washington Boulevard.

Anything else you’d like us to know about?
We walk all year round, even in the cold! Almost every event is free, and the walks are organized on Facebook. To get the invitations, join the Weekly Walking Club Facebook group. You can see photos of past walks, RSVP to events, or even request to lead a walk if you’d like to share a favorite place or secret spot in the city with others. Most importantly, come out on a walk!

Leave a comment about the walking groups that you know about and/or love! Is there a walking group at your place of worship, in your neighborhood, or at your workplace? Tell us in the comments.

This article was authored by Liz McLaughlin, a BikePGH volunteer. Interested in writing for the BikePGH blog? Check out our call for creatives and email volunteer@bikepgh.org.