rpeters
Active Member
I was a bit skeptical when I saw this thread title was an oxymoron but those rouge park shots proved me wrong. what a great place to experience nature!
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- Thread starter EVCco
- Start date
EVCco
Senior Member
^It's certainly the greatest expanse of nature in the city, but by no means is it the only place to experience it!
As mawkish as the Toronto PFR slogan "City within a Park" might sound, I've found it is, in many ways, true.
Interesting question! As the crow flies, I would think it might be Claireport Cr, in the far northwest of Etobicoke, down to Rouge Hill GO station, in the southeast corner of Scarborough. The most direct route (as your TTC transfer requires) would mean either...
a #73C Royal York bus to Lawrence Avenue West;
then a #52 Lawrence West bus to Lawrence subway station;
then down a stop, from Lawrence to Eglinton station;
then the #54 Lawrence East bus to Rouge Hill.
Or...
the Royal York bus down to Royal York subway station;
then Royal York to Kennedy SRT station;
then Kennedy to Lawrence East station;
then finally the Lawrence East bus to Rouge Hill.
Not sure which would be faster, or how long it would take - though I'm thinking I'll probably get home to London for the holidays quicker than either! Of course, there could be even longer trips out there due to factors such as traffic, manner of transit used (bus/subway/streetcar), number of stops, number of transfers, or just the circuitousness of the routes involved...
As mawkish as the Toronto PFR slogan "City within a Park" might sound, I've found it is, in many ways, true.
Interesting question! As the crow flies, I would think it might be Claireport Cr, in the far northwest of Etobicoke, down to Rouge Hill GO station, in the southeast corner of Scarborough. The most direct route (as your TTC transfer requires) would mean either...
a #73C Royal York bus to Lawrence Avenue West;
then a #52 Lawrence West bus to Lawrence subway station;
then down a stop, from Lawrence to Eglinton station;
then the #54 Lawrence East bus to Rouge Hill.
Or...
the Royal York bus down to Royal York subway station;
then Royal York to Kennedy SRT station;
then Kennedy to Lawrence East station;
then finally the Lawrence East bus to Rouge Hill.
Not sure which would be faster, or how long it would take - though I'm thinking I'll probably get home to London for the holidays quicker than either! Of course, there could be even longer trips out there due to factors such as traffic, manner of transit used (bus/subway/streetcar), number of stops, number of transfers, or just the circuitousness of the routes involved...
EVCco
Senior Member
That's a long, gravel-ly walk down the shoulder of Steeles, without much scenery (unless you like looking at corn fields).
I did half the distance, from Reesor Road to Staines, a few months back - and got to the stop just in time to see the bus pulling away!
mattelderca
Active Member
EVCco
Senior Member
^If only we all had enough free time for that kind of fun!
In other news, if anyone's interested, I've recently employed this forum's blog function to supplement the directory on the first page and do a sort of summary of all my prior travels, making the posts easier to find.
You can access it here: http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/blog.php/7509-EVCco or click the "Blog Entries" link in my avatar header.
Unfortunately the "tag cloud" on the blog isn't alphabetical, so it's not quite as handy to navigate as I would have hoped.
(Anyone know if this can be fixed?)
In other news, if anyone's interested, I've recently employed this forum's blog function to supplement the directory on the first page and do a sort of summary of all my prior travels, making the posts easier to find.
You can access it here: http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/blog.php/7509-EVCco or click the "Blog Entries" link in my avatar header.
Unfortunately the "tag cloud" on the blog isn't alphabetical, so it's not quite as handy to navigate as I would have hoped.
(Anyone know if this can be fixed?)
EVCco
Senior Member
Black Creek Branches II - surprise, surprise
Well, it should come as no surprise that, once again, I find myself back in the Black Creek watershed. Truly, it is the creek that keeps on giving. It seems every few months I'm out here strolling its banks, or those of one of its many appendages. In fact, it was just a little over 2 months ago that I was covering the previous "Black Creek Branches" of Heathrow Creek and the Downsview Dells ravines. This time, however, I'm a little further north to document what should be the last of it's Toronto tributaries - the Driftwood and Hoover creeks. But before getting that far I'm surprised to find this unmapped nub of a stream down at the foot of London Green Court:
Having done that, I'm off to the Driftwood Creek which descends to the Black just up the trail in Derrydowns Park:
A brief interlude between Finch Avenue and Potsdam Road:
Out past the backyards of Wilmont Drive, then on to the Finch hydro corridor and Driftwood Park:
The final stages of the Driftwood Creek, beyond Driftwood Avenue, where it fizzles out in Edgeley Park:
Across Black Creek, to its eastern side now, into the grounds of York University to pick up the trail of the Hoover Creek by Rexall Centre:
Across Pond Road, and another pond - Stong Pond. After digging through my archives I find another pic of this place from way back in 2002. See if you can guess which one it is!:
Back to the creek itself, heading down through Saywell Woods, where the Hoover finally empties into Black Creek:
On the heels of today's little trek, I end as I began, with another little surprise - this unmapped pond off Boot Terrace:
Well, it should come as no surprise that, once again, I find myself back in the Black Creek watershed. Truly, it is the creek that keeps on giving. It seems every few months I'm out here strolling its banks, or those of one of its many appendages. In fact, it was just a little over 2 months ago that I was covering the previous "Black Creek Branches" of Heathrow Creek and the Downsview Dells ravines. This time, however, I'm a little further north to document what should be the last of it's Toronto tributaries - the Driftwood and Hoover creeks. But before getting that far I'm surprised to find this unmapped nub of a stream down at the foot of London Green Court:
Having done that, I'm off to the Driftwood Creek which descends to the Black just up the trail in Derrydowns Park:
A brief interlude between Finch Avenue and Potsdam Road:
Out past the backyards of Wilmont Drive, then on to the Finch hydro corridor and Driftwood Park:
The final stages of the Driftwood Creek, beyond Driftwood Avenue, where it fizzles out in Edgeley Park:
Across Black Creek, to its eastern side now, into the grounds of York University to pick up the trail of the Hoover Creek by Rexall Centre:
Across Pond Road, and another pond - Stong Pond. After digging through my archives I find another pic of this place from way back in 2002. See if you can guess which one it is!:
Back to the creek itself, heading down through Saywell Woods, where the Hoover finally empties into Black Creek:
On the heels of today's little trek, I end as I began, with another little surprise - this unmapped pond off Boot Terrace:
EVCco
Senior Member
West Don Tributaries - commemoration
This week I return to the same area I visited a year ago this month to ring in the new year, commemorate my 9,000th picture on Panoramio, and remember certain things past/passed. I'm back at the York Mills stretch of the West Don, in and around the Don Valley Golf Course, to pick up on a couple of tiny tributaries that my street map failed to mention, but that Google Maps suggested I seek out. The first is a branch of the DeHavilland Creek which I'm lead to believe roughly follows the course of Westgate Boulevard into Earl Bales Park. I must say I found little evidence of any such stream still remaining there - however, I did find much evidence of the recent ice storm as my way was littered with countless fallen boughs:
Now in the golf course, I head south along the Don past even more arboreal carnage:
Stop me if you've heard this one... For the third time in my travels I encounter the behemoth Hogg's Hollow Bridge - not only Hogtown's busiest span above, but also probably the most active one below. There always seems to be something going on under here:
The final piece of today's puzzle is another brief branch supposedly sprouting off from the Don at Wilson Avenue. Again, though, I find only the vaguest idea of a waterway heading up this frozen ravine...:
...As you know, I typically like to follow each river, creek, and stream to its bitter end - especially in winter where I find gaining traction in steep terrain somewhat easier with the aid of a thick layer of snow. However, in this bitterly cold landscape, I found I could barley gain any footing at all as the slopes of this ravine had turned to a veritable vertical skating rink! So, in this instance, I presumed discretion to be the better part of valour and headed back while I still could, leaving you with a rather distant shot of what looked to be hopefully something close to the end.
This week I return to the same area I visited a year ago this month to ring in the new year, commemorate my 9,000th picture on Panoramio, and remember certain things past/passed. I'm back at the York Mills stretch of the West Don, in and around the Don Valley Golf Course, to pick up on a couple of tiny tributaries that my street map failed to mention, but that Google Maps suggested I seek out. The first is a branch of the DeHavilland Creek which I'm lead to believe roughly follows the course of Westgate Boulevard into Earl Bales Park. I must say I found little evidence of any such stream still remaining there - however, I did find much evidence of the recent ice storm as my way was littered with countless fallen boughs:
Now in the golf course, I head south along the Don past even more arboreal carnage:
Stop me if you've heard this one... For the third time in my travels I encounter the behemoth Hogg's Hollow Bridge - not only Hogtown's busiest span above, but also probably the most active one below. There always seems to be something going on under here:
The final piece of today's puzzle is another brief branch supposedly sprouting off from the Don at Wilson Avenue. Again, though, I find only the vaguest idea of a waterway heading up this frozen ravine...:
...As you know, I typically like to follow each river, creek, and stream to its bitter end - especially in winter where I find gaining traction in steep terrain somewhat easier with the aid of a thick layer of snow. However, in this bitterly cold landscape, I found I could barley gain any footing at all as the slopes of this ravine had turned to a veritable vertical skating rink! So, in this instance, I presumed discretion to be the better part of valour and headed back while I still could, leaving you with a rather distant shot of what looked to be hopefully something close to the end.
datgtatrailsguy
Active Member
Great update as usual EVCco. An invaluable thread to a fellow urban nature lover 
EVCco
Senior Member
Likewise to your thread, 'trailsguy!
EVCco
Senior Member
West Don Tributaries - deja vu
I can't help feeling like I've done this before... Another wintery day, and another trip down to the West Don River to cover a couple of creeks that I managed to miss the first time around. This week I begin in the tony Teddington Park area, where I descend into the Riverside Drive Ravine off the tip of Glenforest Road:
Just as before I find myself meeting the main river by the grounds of a golf course - this time the Rosedale Golf Club. And also, just as before, I find myself treading through the wake of much sylvan devastation. In this case, however, the ice storm can't take all the blame. As I head south, through the grounds of the Toronto French School, I can't help but notice the handywork of our industrious national mascot:
Wow, this is getting spooky! First the river, then a golf course, and now the underbelly of another massive bridge! And I thought Groundhog Day wasn't until next month... But there's something different about this bridge - aside from it literally being a different bridge (Bayview Avenue, to be precise). No, there's something different from the last time I was here. I seem to pass from deja vu into jamais vu, as in that uncanny feeling of something familiar suddenly feeling almost alien. I wonder what it could be...
...ah, that's it! Looks like it's undergone a bit of a paint job since my previous visit...:
...I wonder how long that will last? Anyways, on to pay tribute to the next tributary. From Teddington Park I head even further upscale to the million dollar mansions of The Bridle Path. As you may recall, I had already managed to infiltrate the eastern section of this area while covering Wilket Creek a few years back. Now I tackle another stream running along the neighbourhood's west side, between Park Lane Circle and the campus of The Crescent School. I'm sure this stream has a proper name, but, try as I might, I'm unable to find one. This is always a frustrating predicament - not unlike the sensation of presque vu, I suppose, where one seeks some notion or concept seemingly lost in the labyrinthian ravines of the mind, like an elusive word on the tip of your tongue:
In a fitting end to this doppelganger of last week's trek, I find myself once again falling just short of my final goal. This time, though, it's not treacherous terrain that bars my way, but a simple fence. Of course, I rarely let such feable impediments stand in the way of urban wilderness documentation. But scaling this one, in full sight of a wall of ravine-view suites, I felt would be pushing my luck. I'm sure that I'm already on some illuminati watch-list due to my prior visit to 'The Path,' so I leave things here, just south of Post Road, and head back to my rather more modest accomodations.
I can't help feeling like I've done this before... Another wintery day, and another trip down to the West Don River to cover a couple of creeks that I managed to miss the first time around. This week I begin in the tony Teddington Park area, where I descend into the Riverside Drive Ravine off the tip of Glenforest Road:
Just as before I find myself meeting the main river by the grounds of a golf course - this time the Rosedale Golf Club. And also, just as before, I find myself treading through the wake of much sylvan devastation. In this case, however, the ice storm can't take all the blame. As I head south, through the grounds of the Toronto French School, I can't help but notice the handywork of our industrious national mascot:
Wow, this is getting spooky! First the river, then a golf course, and now the underbelly of another massive bridge! And I thought Groundhog Day wasn't until next month... But there's something different about this bridge - aside from it literally being a different bridge (Bayview Avenue, to be precise). No, there's something different from the last time I was here. I seem to pass from deja vu into jamais vu, as in that uncanny feeling of something familiar suddenly feeling almost alien. I wonder what it could be...
...ah, that's it! Looks like it's undergone a bit of a paint job since my previous visit...:
...I wonder how long that will last? Anyways, on to pay tribute to the next tributary. From Teddington Park I head even further upscale to the million dollar mansions of The Bridle Path. As you may recall, I had already managed to infiltrate the eastern section of this area while covering Wilket Creek a few years back. Now I tackle another stream running along the neighbourhood's west side, between Park Lane Circle and the campus of The Crescent School. I'm sure this stream has a proper name, but, try as I might, I'm unable to find one. This is always a frustrating predicament - not unlike the sensation of presque vu, I suppose, where one seeks some notion or concept seemingly lost in the labyrinthian ravines of the mind, like an elusive word on the tip of your tongue:
In a fitting end to this doppelganger of last week's trek, I find myself once again falling just short of my final goal. This time, though, it's not treacherous terrain that bars my way, but a simple fence. Of course, I rarely let such feable impediments stand in the way of urban wilderness documentation. But scaling this one, in full sight of a wall of ravine-view suites, I felt would be pushing my luck. I'm sure that I'm already on some illuminati watch-list due to my prior visit to 'The Path,' so I leave things here, just south of Post Road, and head back to my rather more modest accomodations.
EVCco
Senior Member
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