Brian Oswald is a Board Member of the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association and the chairperson of the Pittsburgh StepTrek, an urban hike through the South Side Slopes on the public steps held on the first Saturday of October every year.  This year (the 17th year of the StepTrek), the event is on Saturday, October 7 from 11am-4pm; the event begins at South Side Park (Josephine & 21st Street).

Brian moved to Pittsburgh from Central PA in 2004; his country boy outdoorsyness drew him to the hillsides, and his preference for walking or biking (rather than driving) drew him to an urban neighborhood.  The South Side Slopes neighborhood is the perfect combination of urban convenience and outdoor hillsides (and includes the 65-acre South Side Park).   The South Side Slopes neighborhood has more public steps than any neighborhood in the world, and the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association wants people to be able to experience them now and forever.

The two StepTrek routes will take a tour of the hillsides and spectacular views that distinguish Pittsburgh. The family-friendly event combines photography, historic narrative and a sense of a neighborhood dependent upon steps. Each pre-registered trekker receives a map and a course narrative.  For more information about the StepTrek, visit www.steptrek.org or connect with them on Facebook using the Social Media links below.

Show Notes:
Brian Oswald and the Pittsburgh StepTrek, contact info:

Website: www.steptrek.org

E-mail: [email protected]

E-mail (South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association):

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthSideSlopes

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/SouthSideSlopes

Links mentioned in the Podcast:

Cup-Ka-Joe

www.cupkajoe.com

31 South 27th Street, Pittsburgh, PA (South Side Flats)

Yosemite National Park – Inspiration Point Trailhead

https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm

Steel City Slackers

https://www.facebook.com/steelcityslackers

See FitLabPGH Podcast featuring Steel City Slackers, released July 25, 2017

http://fitlabpgh.blubrry.com/2017/07/23/podcast-32-17-steel-city-slackers-wade-desai-travis-warner/

“Valley Uprising” (Yosemite Rock Climbing documentary),Produced by Sender Films

http://www.senderfilms.com/productions/details/809/Valley-Uprising

Pacific Crest Trail Association (Mexico to Canada)

https://www.pcta.org

Three Rivers Heritage Trail

https://friendsoftheriverfront.org/trails/three-rivers-heritage-trail/

Multi-use riverfront trail system in Pittsburgh region

Friends of South Side Park (South Side Park PGH)

https://www.facebook.com/SouthSideParkPGH/

Oakley Street Mosaic Steps Public Art Project (South Side Slopes)

http://www.southsideslopes.org/oakley-street-mosaic-steps-public-art-project/

Created under direction of artist Laura Jean McLaughlin, 2016