EVCco
Senior Member
Ha! How about that. Looks like I just missed you.
Thanks for the translation. Its like a little bit of the Berlin Wall transported to Forest Hill...
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Urban Wilderness!
- Thread starter EVCco
- Start date
Ha! How about that. Looks like I just missed you.
Thanks for the translation. Its like a little bit of the Berlin Wall transported to Forest Hill...
EVCco
Senior Member
Black Creek - back in black
Way back in January, forum moderator ShonTron mused: "One watercourse that I think would be fascinating to walk would be Black Creek from the Pioneer Village to where it meets the Humber." To this I boastfully replied that I'd "already done the southern half of that trek" and that I thought I'd "try the rest in the spring." Well, time to put my money where my mouth is - starting in Chalkfarm Park, and heading north:
I largely bypass the manicured lawns of Oakdale Golf Club and head down into the (mostly) untamed terrain east of Jane Street:
Past a massive rock dam the creek breaks up into a confusing, braided labyrinth of interlocking streams through which I wander aimlessly for what seemed like the better part of an hour:
At last, signs of civilization in Downsview Dells:
Under Sheppard Ave and into Northwood Park:
Over Grandravine Drive and into Derrydowns Park:
From my momentous 2,000th Panoramio photo to the monumental Finch Avenue culvert:
Continuing north through the Black Creek Parkland:
Past Shoreham Drive and the end of my journey is in sight...:
...but just as I reach Black Creek Pioneer Village I find, to my great disappointment, that it's closed! Well, as clearly demonstrated by my earlier bypassing of Oakdale I'm no advocate of trespassing. That being said, however, I somehow manage to make it to the finish line under Steeles Ave:
Way back in January, forum moderator ShonTron mused: "One watercourse that I think would be fascinating to walk would be Black Creek from the Pioneer Village to where it meets the Humber." To this I boastfully replied that I'd "already done the southern half of that trek" and that I thought I'd "try the rest in the spring." Well, time to put my money where my mouth is - starting in Chalkfarm Park, and heading north:
I largely bypass the manicured lawns of Oakdale Golf Club and head down into the (mostly) untamed terrain east of Jane Street:
Past a massive rock dam the creek breaks up into a confusing, braided labyrinth of interlocking streams through which I wander aimlessly for what seemed like the better part of an hour:
At last, signs of civilization in Downsview Dells:
Under Sheppard Ave and into Northwood Park:
Over Grandravine Drive and into Derrydowns Park:
From my momentous 2,000th Panoramio photo to the monumental Finch Avenue culvert:
Continuing north through the Black Creek Parkland:
Past Shoreham Drive and the end of my journey is in sight...:
...but just as I reach Black Creek Pioneer Village I find, to my great disappointment, that it's closed! Well, as clearly demonstrated by my earlier bypassing of Oakdale I'm no advocate of trespassing. That being said, however, I somehow manage to make it to the finish line under Steeles Ave:
Goldie
Senior Member
Wonderful tour - I enjoyed every image!
EVCco
Senior Member
Thanks Goldie!
ShonTron
Moderator
Member Bio
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Nice stuff, EVCco!
What kind of footwear do you have for these jaunts?
I actually like the early spring for these kinds of discoveries - the lack of greenery can reveal so much.
What kind of footwear do you have for these jaunts?
I actually like the early spring for these kinds of discoveries - the lack of greenery can reveal so much.
EVCco
Senior Member
Thanks!
Funny you should ask that! On that trip I was actually just breaking in a new pair of $30 Sportek hiking shoes from Zellers which I bought after the soles of the boots I've been wearing on almost all my previous hikes finally gave way.
They actually held up pretty well for their first trip, considering their "pedigree."
I'll be interested to see how many more hikes they can handle...
EVCco
Senior Member
West Highland Creek - highland games, part 1
Back in Scarborough. Back in the Highland Creek system. Picking up from my last visit to the West branch at the Scarborough Golf & Country Club:
In behind the Cedar Ridge Creative Centre:
I'm starting to feel a little silly about never seeing a deer in Toronto until recently, because now it seems I can't stop seeing them! Just after taking the previous picture 2 deer startle the heck out of me by jumping right out across the trail about 10 feet away. Before I can reach my camera they're gone. But as I turn to see where they came from I spot another one in the distance, striking this classic "deer in the headlights" pose:
Onward now through Highland Creek Park:
Under Lawrence Ave...:
...and into Morningside Park...:
...where I reach the confluence of the West Highland and the Highland proper. Hey, good lookin'! I'll be back to pick you up later:
Back in Scarborough. Back in the Highland Creek system. Picking up from my last visit to the West branch at the Scarborough Golf & Country Club:
In behind the Cedar Ridge Creative Centre:
I'm starting to feel a little silly about never seeing a deer in Toronto until recently, because now it seems I can't stop seeing them! Just after taking the previous picture 2 deer startle the heck out of me by jumping right out across the trail about 10 feet away. Before I can reach my camera they're gone. But as I turn to see where they came from I spot another one in the distance, striking this classic "deer in the headlights" pose:
Onward now through Highland Creek Park:
Under Lawrence Ave...:
...and into Morningside Park...:
...where I reach the confluence of the West Highland and the Highland proper. Hey, good lookin'! I'll be back to pick you up later:
EVCco
Senior Member
Highland Creek - highland games, part 2
After meeting up with the Highland I continue east for a ways:
I head as far as Morningside Ave...:
...then turn back to the forks where I continue northwest through a landscape currently undergoing some significant re-landscaping:
Further north I enter what Goldie earlier identified as the former grounds of the Camp of the Crooked Creek. I wonder what those scouts would make of their camp site today?:
Through Ellesmere Road into an unnamed chunk of hydro corridor:
I end up just past Military Trail where I left off a previous Highland trek in January:
After meeting up with the Highland I continue east for a ways:
I head as far as Morningside Ave...:
...then turn back to the forks where I continue northwest through a landscape currently undergoing some significant re-landscaping:
Further north I enter what Goldie earlier identified as the former grounds of the Camp of the Crooked Creek. I wonder what those scouts would make of their camp site today?:
Through Ellesmere Road into an unnamed chunk of hydro corridor:
I end up just past Military Trail where I left off a previous Highland trek in January:
Northern Light
Superstar
Great tour as always, EVCco!
A few notes for you.
The tributary creek you went up, where the major 'landscaping' is; is the 'Markham Branch" of Highland Creek.
The 'landscaping' is the culmination of a massive emergency project after the trunk sewer failed in that major storm a few years ago and dumped raw sewage in the creek (as in many thousands of gallons)
This is because the erosive force of the creek exposed the pipe previously, then smashed the pipe itself.
The project entailed rebuilding the sewer, some relocation of it; moving the creek, and reshaping the creek channel to reduce its erosive force; then putting then restoring the landscape.
***
The Hydro Corridor is named, that's the Gatineau Corridor (same one that meets the East and West Don Valley(s) just south of Eglinton.
You can see the connection via Google Maps.
A few notes for you.
The tributary creek you went up, where the major 'landscaping' is; is the 'Markham Branch" of Highland Creek.
The 'landscaping' is the culmination of a massive emergency project after the trunk sewer failed in that major storm a few years ago and dumped raw sewage in the creek (as in many thousands of gallons)
This is because the erosive force of the creek exposed the pipe previously, then smashed the pipe itself.
The project entailed rebuilding the sewer, some relocation of it; moving the creek, and reshaping the creek channel to reduce its erosive force; then putting then restoring the landscape.
***
The Hydro Corridor is named, that's the Gatineau Corridor (same one that meets the East and West Don Valley(s) just south of Eglinton.
You can see the connection via Google Maps.
EVCco
Senior Member
Ah ha! I take it that would explain this contraption then:
***
I actually already knew about the Gatineau corridor as a whole, I just wasn't sure about that specific little piece between Ellesmere and Military Trail.
jaycola
Active Member
EVCco.
I've really enjoyed following your photo tours.
I have one simple request that could help us enjoy visiting the sites you have so thoroughly documented.
Could you create a map where your routes are outlined? I know it would be time consuming but given the amount of time you have spent on it already, I don't think the task would be too onerous.
If you did it on an open google map could others contribute to the process?
I've really enjoyed following your photo tours.
I have one simple request that could help us enjoy visiting the sites you have so thoroughly documented.
Could you create a map where your routes are outlined? I know it would be time consuming but given the amount of time you have spent on it already, I don't think the task would be too onerous.
If you did it on an open google map could others contribute to the process?
EVCco
Senior Member
Thanks jaycola..
I actually have been making a map, of sorts. It's the street map I've been using for both my wilderness tours and other trips for collecting street signs and whatnot over the past couple of years:
The map has clearly seen better days, and is currently in about 20 different pieces. But you can see where I've traced out most of my recent trips, as well as some other points of interest from the past. Here's the segment covering my latest tour:
And until I get around to making something better you can also always use my Panoramio map:
http://www.panoramio.com/map/?user=2045784
Just keep zooming in and you can see where each individual photo was taken.
I actually have been making a map, of sorts. It's the street map I've been using for both my wilderness tours and other trips for collecting street signs and whatnot over the past couple of years:
The map has clearly seen better days, and is currently in about 20 different pieces. But you can see where I've traced out most of my recent trips, as well as some other points of interest from the past. Here's the segment covering my latest tour:
And until I get around to making something better you can also always use my Panoramio map:
http://www.panoramio.com/map/?user=2045784
Just keep zooming in and you can see where each individual photo was taken.
mattelderca
Active Member
jaycola
Active Member
EVCco. Your Panoramio is excellent. It looks like you have covered around half of the cities ravines on foot.
What do you mean collecting street signs? Photos or a collection?
What do you mean collecting street signs? Photos or a collection?
EVCco
Senior Member
Just photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/e_victor_c
As much as I like street signs, I haven't resorted to actually stealing them...yet
