Hundreds of men, women and children voluntarily trekked up and down hundreds of steps and dozens of steep hills yesterday, and most of them were downright gleeful for the opportunity to do so. At least one family traveled from another county to participate in Pittsburgh StepTrek 8 on the South Side Slopes.

Traveling from Washington, Pa., were Gerald Florian, accompanied by his son, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren and a dog.

"This is my third trek," he said, with some pride. "I came to the first one, again in 2006 and now this year. I just think it's really cool, and every year is different."

Yesterday was the eighth trek, an annual event organized and hosted by the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association, with an assist from corporate sponsors. Adults pay $15 to participate in the trek, which benefits the association, which works to improve the neighborhood.

Azriel Florian, 8, lost a tooth during the trek, and her grandfather told her he thought the tooth fairy would pay extra because of the circumstances. Other family trekkers were her brother, Gabriel, 6, her parents, Greg and Sarah Florian, and the family dog, a Samoyed named Tundra.

Trekkers get a book that outlines three walking routes. The Gold Route was 2.86 miles and the Black Route was 1.93 miles. Each could be navigated at a brisk pace in about an hour. A shorter Church Route was also offered.

The trek guide provides background information about the homes, churches, gardens and other sights along the walking route. Realtors offered open houses at six stops featuring houses with sale prices of $160,000 to $439,000.

Everyone gets a T-shirt, with a new design each year. The 2008 shirt features a copy of a painting, "Sunrise on the Slopes" by artist Johno Prascak, whose art studio is located on the Gold Route.

The main draw, according to most trekkers, is the panoramic views available from atop the high hills and steps -- from Downtown near the Point to the far reaches of Oakland, including the Cathedral of Learning.

The trek featured two new parks this year -- one a memorial to war veterans and the other a garden with art. The All Wars Memorial is located on Pius Steet. The Brosville-Monastery Welcome Garden is a fabricated steel plate with artwork representing neighborhood buildings, parks and steps. It was created by board member and architect Peter Kreuthmeier.

Both parks were the result of Elm Street grants from the state. They're designed "to strengthen communities that border a Main Street District."

John and Beth Silvestro of McCandless have traveled from the suburbs to the slopes for seven treks.

"I enjoy seeing the views of the city, the gardens and the rehabbed homes," Mrs. Silvestro said. Over the years more and more homes have been have been fixed up and remodeled, she noted.

The trek is popular with South Side residents as well.

Richard Ripley, a slopes resident and a trek volunteer, was popular with children who stopped to pet his dog, a 200-pound St. Bernard named Jack Cooper.

"I moved here five years ago from Brookline, where I lived for 30 years," Mr. Ripley said. "I actually grew up on Pius Street in the South Side Slopes, and it's good to be back."

Jen Funa lives on 13th Street in the South Side Flats and brought her dog Bauer to the trek for exercise.

"This is our first trek, though we regularly walk the steps in the slopes for fun and exercise," Ms. Funa said. Her 7-year-old Australian cattle dog mix "really does pull me up the hills."