When the Wolf Moon rises, a band of hikers will take to the trails, seeing anew wide pathways aglow in the moonlight.

Just as William Shakespeare gushed “How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank,” Venture Outdoors will offer an enchanting excursion with a full moon hike Saturday night at Deer Lakes Park.

According to the Farmers’ Almanac, the term “wolf moon” was coined by American Indians referring to the moon seen during deep snows of midwinter, when hungry packs of wolves howled outside their villages.

Although the Venture Outdoors hikers will not be threatened by wolves, they will see the woods like they never have before, promises hike leader Sara Walfoort, 49, of Emsworth.

A path that feels familiar during the day suddenly becomes strange and uncertain at night, she says.

“The light filters different; the sound carries different,” Walfoort says.

Most people’s eyes acclimate to the darkness, making flashlights optional, Walfoort says.

“It’s like being out in the middle of nowhere with an amazing sense of being in the wilderness when you are really only a half-mile away from a township road,” she says.

Although most wildlife scatter at the sound of hikers thrashing through the woods, signs of creatures abound.

Walfoort often will point out the tracks of raccoon, deer and rabbits.

She also will take hikers to grazing spots for deer.

“Sometimes, we’ll see several dozen deer at a time, and when you startle such a huge group, you get to see them racing across the hillside.”

Such scenes continue to captivate Walfoort, who has guided night hikes for four years with Venture Outdoors.

She got the idea when she waded into 3 feet of snow during a class reunion bonfire in upstate New York.

“We got an assortment of cross country skis and snowshoes, and we had to traipse through the woods for a quarter-mile to get down to the bonfire pit,” she says.

But after she and her friends saw how the moonlight illuminated the shapes of the trees, the snow and the entire landscape, they lost interest in the bonfire.

Walfoort has been ambling through the winter woods at night ever since.

During colder months, she will lead hikes and teach participants how to trek in snowshoes.

“It’s like walking in a pair of flip-flops that are too big on a surface that feels like sand, and it gives you that sense of floating,” Walfoort says.

She says moon walks are popular because of people’s primal fascination with the moon.

“Think about it: If you are in a culture where there is no artificial light, the moon is the brightest thing for half of the day,” Walfoort says.

To view the original article and photos click here.

“The relay ride was part of the Pittsburgh 250th celebration, which included 85 cyclists riding 335 miles from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh and 18 teams of relay riders who covered that distance in 24 hours. They were later joined by hundreds of cyclists in Mc- Keesport and Pittsburgh.”

Read the entire article.

“One of the best ways to see Pittsburgh and at least a dozen of its bridges is by kayak. After a brief tutorial, Kayak Pittsburgh puts you on the river for an easy paddle that lets you take in nature and see the cityscape from a unique perspective.”

Read the entire article.

“The Venture Outdoors 250 Bike Tour, a group of 85 cyclists, will leave Saturday to ride from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh in eight days along the C&O Towpath and the Great Allegheny Passage. Most will camp along the way.”

Read the entire article.

“Celebration Saturday will coincide with the start of the Venture Outdoors 250 Bike Tour, from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh the week of Sept. 27.”

Read the entire article.

“The first one, (PNC Legacy Trail Rides) organized by Venture Outdoors, will depart Washington on Saturday and arrive in Pittsburgh on Oct. 4.”

Read the entire article.