Faces of Greenbelt: David Alden-St.Pierre — Conservation Advocate, Mountain Biker, and Outdoor Educator

David Alden-St.Pierre is a man of many talents, interests, and enthusiasms — so many, in fact, that finding time to pursue them all is an ongoing challenge. One he seems to embrace with good humor and enthusiasm.

A physician assistant in the busy Emergency Department at Beverly Hospital by day, his ever-growing list of pursuits outside work includes mountain biking, wilderness first aid (both human and canine), trail design and construction, sustainable landscaping, photography, and mapping — all focused, in one way or another, on connecting with nature and helping others do the same.

“It’s definitely a challenge to try to manage all these different activities and not overcommit myself,” he says with a knowing laugh. A self-described nerd with wide-ranging curiosity, he likes to go deep on any subject that catches his attention. Fortunately for Greenbelt, many of his interests directly intersect with land conservation, stewardship, and outdoor recreation.

A Photographer in Motion

As a volunteer, David has photographed numerous Greenbelt properties and events over the years. His specialty is cycling events — such as Tour de Greenbelt and the Gravel Bike Meetup — which he photographs while also riding.

“I love the challenge of trying to participate in an event and photograph it at the same time,” he says. “It’s kind of like the biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and target shooting. For me, it’s similar — I’m riding as fast as I can, then pulling over to take photos.”

This unique approach gives his images a first-person sense of motion and immediacy that would be difficult to capture from a fixed position along the course.

Collecting Data on Two Wheels

As a member of the Greenbelt Exploratory Mapping Squad (GEMS), David is also currently collecting GPS trail data at the newly acquired Chebacco Woods Gateway property in Hamilton and the surrounding trail network. Using a GPS receiver mounted on his bike helmet, he records trail routes and key features as he explores the landscape. The data collected will be used by Greenbelt to create accurate, up-to-date maps for the GreenbeltGo trails app and other public-facing resources.

BMX Stunt Rider Turned Mountain Biker

A resident of Beverly, where he lives with his wife and three dogs, David isn’t quite sure how his connection to the natural world first took root. His love of cycling began with BMX riding as a kid, eventually leading to a spot on the professional BMX stunt team Perfection on Wheels, which traveled the country during the height of BMX freestyle and X Games culture in the 1990s and early 2000s. During this period, he lived in both California and Florida.

Returning to Massachusetts some years later, David completed a degree in journalism before pursuing a clinical career and becoming a physician assistant. He was drawn to emergency medicine for its fast pace, variety of cases, and the opportunity to care for patients with a range of urgent conditions.

Community Engagement Beyond Greenbelt

In addition to his work with Greenbelt, which dates back more than a decade, David plays an active role with several organizations, including the New England Mountain Bike Association, where he serves as a board member, and the Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee. He also runs two side ventures: Safe Trails First Aid, which provides outdoor-focused first aid education, and Northeast Trailworks, a trail design and construction company.

“I honestly just love being outside — whether it’s a fast ride, a slow ride, or not even riding at all, just going for a hike with my wife or taking the dogs for a walk,” he says.