Women In Nature

By: Sheila Stagnitta

Women in Nature (WIN) hikes are by women for women – all the leaders and participants come together and bond as only women can. The October WIN hike started off with a bit of adventure – the road to the starting point was closed for a charity run. Just by luck, three of the leaders arrived at the same time. Quick change to the plan – Sara started calling everyone to give them a nearby meeting point. Pauline stood at the corner before the closed road to flag down our participants. I walked to the meeting location and rounded up three people who were already there. After that little snafu, we had a great gathering of women as five leaders reached out and greeted our group of hikers. After a quick opening and intros, we set out to explore North Park’s trails. It was a beautiful fall day, perfect for enjoying nature and getting some exercise. We learned how to follow blazes, the painted marks on trees, to navigate the trails. Pauline told us about the Virtual Senior Academy, an online way to attend diverse classes and chat with others. Learn more here!

We learned about how a parks system – starting with local, city, county, state, and national parks – comes together to allow everyone to get outdoors and play. We’re thankful for the visionaries in the early 1900s who saw the need for North and South Park. These parks were originally conceived as “the people’s country clubs” where average people could access all the amenities of a country club. These two parks today anchor the ring of county parks that encircle Pittsburgh As if nature, hiking, and learning weren’t enough, we wrapped up the outing with treats and beverages at a shelter, before everyone headed off to enjoy the rest of a beautiful fall day. The next WIN hike is Dec 3 at North Park. Come join us!