Urban Wilderness!

[EVCco]

West Highland Creek - return to the scene of the crime

Despite the ominous overtones of this installment's subtitle, it was not morbid curiosity which lead me back this week to the West Highland Creek, where (as discussed in previous posts) some doings most foul had recently transpired. Rather, in a rare instance of foresight, I had in fact planned over a week ago to return to this spot and complete a trek from nearly a year ago when, as some of you may recall, the crime of a faulty camera battery cut my journey short. So on with this week's mission - to locate the 3 sources of the West Highland Creek, beginning with the western-most branch which issues from just north of Huntingwood at Garrybrook Drive:

Through Warden Ave, and north to Collingsbrook Boulevard:

From Collingswood to Pinemeadow, and north towards Finch:

Just below Finch, at Bridletowne Circle, the first source of the West Highland is revealed:

To locate the second, central source of the creek, one merely needs to make a quick hike from Finch to Brookmill Boulevard - a trip so short it hardly seems worth the bother. But a little treasure of the trail which I find at the very end of my trek makes it all worthwhile:

Thusly armed with my newly found 1994 Victorinox "Soldier" (that's the official issue Swiss Army knife, mind you) I feel now prepared for anything, and venture on into L'Amoreaux Park South towards the final source of the West Highland:

Following along what an old trail-side map identifies as the "Bendale Branch of the Highland Creek," through McNicoll Avenue and into L'Amoreaux Park North, I encounter the Passmore Forest and L'Amoreaux Pond; both recently detailed in the previously mentioned "Toronto Ravines & Trails with Abbey" blog:

At the north end of the pond is the final source of the West Highland. From here it heads underground, leaving only the faintest trace of a former creekbed, which continues northeast to Kennedy Road:

And so, at last, ends the West Highland Creek.
Check another one off the list.

 

[Mustapha]

Another great tour. I'd have to be carried out after one of these hikes; so thanks. The Swiss Army knife was a great find. The dead carp.. reminds me of how hardy they are; although perhaps not so much for this particular individual.

 

[EVCco]

The pleasure, as always, was mine.
Although, a little while longer and I might have had to been carried out as well. It was a hot one that day!

I've actually been on a bit of a role lately with regards to finding stuff.
A few days prior to the knife I also found a vintage Sony Walkman WM-11 - the rare Canadian version (though probably not that rare in Canada).

 

[EVCco]

East Don River - another one bites the dust

Back last October when UT member brewster suggested I check out the wilderness around the "southeast section of Bayview/Steeles" I said that I hoped to get out there soon. I'm sure, however, that neither of us thought "soon" would turn out to be nearly a year later! My sincerest apologies for the delay. I do tend to lose track of time out here. But, better late than never. I'm off to finish another Toronto waterway. This one's for you brewster...

On a related note, over the course of that near-year I've gone on about 35 other hikes and, in the process, have gone through 3 cameras, untold numbers of socks, and now 3 pairs of shoes. Yes, after 5 months and 18 wilderness treks my Zellers hiking shoes, much like the chain itself, have pretty well bitten the dust. Over the past few hikes I've found myself getting more and more into the water itself (and subsequently coming home more and more water-logged from the knees down), so this time I opted for function over comfort and settled on a pair of rubber hunting boots from Canadian Tire. So, to inaugurate this new set of footwear, and this hike, I begin my trip standing right in the middle of the river - in the East Don Parkland, at the northwest section of Leslie/Sheppard:

Shortly into my northbound journey the East Don Parkland is interpolated by Villaways Park and a CN Rail bridge, before reverting back to the East Don Parkland again:

Just south of Alamosa Park, the river spurts out a little oxbow pond:

Back to the river, heading towards Finch:

Under Finch Avenue East, where I upload my 4,000th T.O. photo to Google Earth:

Emerging on the other side I suddenly find myself in the Finch East Greenbelt; then, past the Finch Hydro Corridor, I'm back in the East Don Parkland once again:

On through Cummer Ave:

As I come to the confluence of the East Don River and German Mills Creek, I become slightly disoriented. While minding not to head up the latter I find myself following neither, ending up somehow in Bestview Park. After retracing my steps I finally locate the "trail" along the Don which shortly becomes not more than a faint animal track - and then, nothing at all. Perhaps I should drop the city a line:

Up to this point my new boots had been keeping my feet nice and dry. But shortly after passing Garnier Court I find a fatal flaw in their design - they only keep out water below the top of the boot! Somewhere in the "southeast section of Bayview/Steeles" I step down into some thigh-high wet stuff and, all of a sudden, my feet are floating in fluid. That'll teach me for taking so long to get out here!:

Sloshing my way to the finish line - from Bayview to Steeles - through the diminutive Creekside Park:

And down goes the East Don! ...or, at least, the Toronto portion of it.
Another problem with rubber boots is once the water gets in, there's no way for it to get out except from whence it came.
I squish and squash my way back to Bayview to empty my boots at the bus stop.

"Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet ... Another one bites the dust."

 

[DSC]

Another great travelogue! You are quite the explorer (and product tester for boots!)

Not to be too demanding but have you thought of adding a map to each of your "tours" and then a page/posting that offers links to all maps and postings? It's a bit hard to navigate UT and this might help if one wants to see pictures and descriptions of trail X.

 

[EVCco]

Thanks DSC!

That's not a bad idea. I did actually think about making little maps for each hike, but since uploading all the pics and doing each post already takes so long, and everyone (hopefully) seems to know pretty much where I'm describing, I never bothered.

I probably should start a directory of links to each trip/post however - maybe on the first page of this thread. That will take a while though...

In the meantime, all my photos are organized by location and theme with tags on my Panoramio page:
http://www.panoramio.com/user/2045784
Just click your desired destination under where it says "E. Victor C.'s tags" on the right side of the page. The photos are all listed chronologically, pretty much in the order of my trips. Here, for example, are all my East Don pics. And, of course, if you click on a pic it will show where exactly (or roughly) on the map each photo was taken.

 

[RC8]

Fascinating stuff. What types of boots do you wear for these?

 

[EVCco]

This time I got some classic Canadian Kamik boots; insulated for the winter ahead. Hopefully they'll last until then!
(I actually forgot to remove the insulation when I got back so they're still wet...)

Also, as per DSC's request, I just finished making a "Trip Directory" on the first page. Let me know if there's any ommissions or glitches.
It didn't take that long after all, so I used my free time to supplement some of my earlier, less detailed posts on that page with some extra pictures.
Check them out...

 

[DSC]

I see that 'my wish is your command" :-> very nice job, thank you - it will make it far easier to locate particular segments. What's your next project?

 

[EVCco]

Your guess is as good as mine right now - stay tuned!

 

[TrickyRicky]

Perhaps not yet but in the future (since you are putting so much effort into it) you should consider publishing a book on our urban wilderness. There are some books outlining people's experiences hiking in Toronto but the visual component of the books are not great.

 

[r937]

There are some books outlining people's experiences hiking in Toronto but the visual component of the books are not great.

so, so true

i borrowed "Toronto's Ravines" (isbn 1-55046-322-5) from the library recently, and it's all words, words, words

the author gives detailed instructions for following (or sometimes deviating from) trails and paths, through 34 different walks, covering etobicoke creek, mimico creek, the humber, the don(s), highland creek, and the rouge

three or four of the walks i am intimately familiar with, and to be honest, his wayfaring directions just don't describe them well enough

it's an ambitious work -- for example, one of the walks is up the west bank of the west don

but clearly, pictures would help this sort of project immensely

 

[EVCco]

Hmm. I wouldn't hold your breath on a book. It was suggested that I do a book for my street sign photos too - that was over two years ago, and I'm still only mulling the idea over.

If anyone else want's to write a book about Toronto hiking, though, and needs pictures, I'm your guy (some of the more recent pics with my new cheapo camera, however, may not quite be up to publication standards)...

 

[TrickyRicky]

If you want to brainstorm the idea or collaborate with someone who has experience publishing about Toronto EVCco you could contact someone who does that kind of think like Shawn Micallef. I don't know him personally but we've met at a few parties and he seems like an approachable and interesting guy.

 

[EVCco]

Maybe if I can find a hook that combines street signs and wilderness somehow?
One of these days...

Anyways, on to more internet publishing!