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Carolina Yahne has lived in Albuquerque almost 40 years, but when she learned the Pat Hurley neighborhood would be included in a series of walking tours she would help lead, she thought to herself: Where on Earth is that?

"I'd never even heard of it, and I've lived here since 1971," said Yahne, one of three guides for "Walking and Rolling Around ABQ," a course offered by the University of New Mexico's Continuing Education Department to encourage walking and awareness of pedestrian issues.

As it turns out, the neighborhood is "from way up on the West Mesa to the slope down and it's really beautiful," said Yahne, a member of the executive committee of WALK Albuquerque, a nonprofit organization that advocates for pedestrian safety.

That's one small example of how, even if you're an avid walker such as Yahne, you can miss a great deal that Albuquerque has to offer if you don't explore outside of your own neighborhood — and outside your vehicle.

It's also a good reason to sign up for the class, which includes Saturday morning tours of the Pat Hurley, Raynolds, West Park, Duranes and Nob Hill neighborhoods, beginning this weekend and running through March 8. (Limited late registration is still available; see information box.)

The tours will be led by Yahne and fellow longtime city residents Kathy Chilton and Diane Scena. Each tour covers up to two miles over a leisurely three-hour period, and students are "buddied up" with guides who walk at the students' customary pace.

In its second year, the course is meant not only to encourage city residents to walk more — and more attentively — but also to learn just what "pedestrian friendly" means. Those in wheelchairs or with visual impairments or other accessibility issues are especially encouraged to join in.

"You'll learn a lot about walking and what makes for a walkable environment," said Claude Morelli, executive director of WALK Albuquerque, "but you also gain an understanding and appreciation for the wonder of walking and the discoveries to be made. What you see on foot is so far different from what you see out your car window."

For example, did you know that Albuquerque is a "treehouse city," with numbers you would never notice from the car?

"That's something I didn't know until I started walking," said Chilton, who has lived here 33 years and is the unofficial architecture/botany/quirky details expert of the tours.

You may also find out, as Chilton has, that Albuquerque is "definitely not walker-friendly."

"Our sidewalks are too narrow, there are too many obstacles, and the intersections are perilous," she said. "We've learned a lot about what is possible and what is not if you're in a wheelchair."

During one tour last year, the group, including one student in a wheelchair, met up with a parking kiosk that had been installed in the middle of a sidewalk. It left no room for wheeled passage on either side and forced the group to detour onto the street.

The students took photos of the structure and sent them — along with their complaints — to the city. The kiosk was later removed.

"That was one small triumph," Yahne said.

Sidewalks aren't the only problems, however. After hearing students express fears about unfriendly dogs, Yahne this year decided to fill a small zip-lock bag with dog biscuits for each walker. Her advice to them?

"When you see the dog approaching, take out a biscuit," she said. "Then, throw it as far away as you possibly can."

Armed with biscuits, comfortable shoes and layers of clothing — walks will take place regardless of the weather conditions — this year's trekkers will cover the following territory:

Feb. 9: Raynolds Neighborhood

This area, just west of Downtown between Eighth Street and 17th Street, is a mix of business and residential. There are both recent and historic buildings, including the remodeled Southern Union Gas Co. that houses the Downtown Flying Star restaurant. Front porches encourage interaction between walkers and residents.

Feb. 16: West Park Neighborhood

This tiny residential area sandwiched between the Albuquerque Country Club, Route 66 and the Rio Grande is an eclectic mix of single family homes, duplexes and apartment buildings, in architectural styles ranging from quirky Southwestern to chic moderne. It's within walking distance of many popular tourist attractions, including the Albuquerque Bio Park, Tingley Beach and Old Town.

Feb. 23: Pat Hurley Neighborhood

North of Central, above and below the steep bluffs lining the west banks of the Rio Grande, is where you'll find this little-known area of fields, irrigation ditches and narrow winding roads with a distinctly rural feel. The upper section offers spectacular views of the city and the Sandia Mountains.

March 1: Duranes Neighborhood

North of Old Town from Rio Grande Boulevard to the river, this old-time neighborhood includes funky homes, orchards, goats — and the occasional territorial dog. The semiagricultural feel of the farms and small gardens is offset by the retail businesses on Rio Grande Boulevard.

March 8: Nob Hill Neighborhood

This well-known shopping and residential district east of the University of New Mexico is one of the more walker-friendly areas of the city. A mixed use community, with many restaurants and boutiques along Central Avenue, surrounded by residences with a diversity of architecture and occupants.