What We Are

Urban Hike began as an idea by Ground Zero member Brian Maloney, who somehow once convinced his friends to take a 24-mile walking trek around the city of Pittsburgh. They actually didn't finish it. But they did find out that, as wacky as they already knew the city was, it's even wackier when you take the time to look at it up close.

So we took their idea, and... walked with it. Since we started hiking in 2003, we've visited places like an urban horse farm, a swimming pool in a library, a former church-turned-rock-and-roll B&B, and a restaurant where they encourage you to throw peanut shells on the floor.

Our hikes are usually around three to five miles, and they focus on one or two neighborhoods at a time. We spend a few weeks planning for each hike, finding some points and people of interest, and mapping a route.

And then all you have to do is show up. We hike about once a month. You can find out about upcoming hikes on our website, sign up for our notices on thisishappening.com, or write to info@urbanhike.org and we'll put you on our e-mail list.

Other questions? Email us.

Who We Are

Sean Beasley is an architect who doesn't like to write about himself. So here's some stuff that's made up: Sean can juggle underwater, has met the Dalai Lama, and can chew 20 pieces of bubble gum at the same time.

Nels Beckman is a computer science graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University. He helps add fanciness to the web site, and loves learning more about Pittsburgh.

Kate Fink is a reporter for WDUQ radio. She started walking Pittsburgh neighborhoods shortly after moving here in 2001 because driving them seemed too confusing at the time.

Allison Fromm studied history as an undergraduate and graduate student and enjoys using her research background to track down interesting historical facts about hike neighborhoods.

Emily Keebler is a native Pittsburgher who has always loved exploring her city and showing it off to others. Emily works for Neighborhood Housing Services, where she does outreach and coordinates financial literacy workshops.

Urban Hike Alumni

Mark Hoffman