Urban Wilderness!

[EVCco]

Small's Creek - small post

As an addendum to my previous post, and to a prior post previous to that, I felt I should finish off what remains of Small's Creek (and, indeed, there's not much left). I begin my trip at East Lynn Park, just off Danforth Ave. I'm not sure if this park was ever part of the creek itself, but it's vaguely ravine-like topology, and the manner in which it clefts Lynn Avenue into East and West, suggests that it might have:

The first traces of the creek itself can be found sneaking out beneath a row of backyard fences off of West Lynn Avenue:

It then heads past an elaborate boardwalk and trail system through Merrill Bridge Park:

Near the middle of the park the creek heads underground, but the path leads on along the north edge of the CN railway:

South of the tracks the creek continues for a stretch through Williamson Park, which I previously covered here. Then it goes back under and we're left only to imagine it's former course through the old neighbourhood of Berkley - from Fairmount Park, south to the unremarkable Orchard Park where Small's Pond once stood, then down past Woodbine Park where the creek at last opened up into Ashbridge's Bay:

 

[EVCco]

Glen Stewart Ravine - glenstewart glen manor

With time on my hands after that quick jaunt, I head east to cover another one of the Beaches' burried streams. Beginning with a brief glance south, down Glen Manor Drive where this particular stream once ran, I turn north to start my trek through Glen Stewart Park:

At Pine Crescent, Glen Manor, like Lynn Avenue, divides in two and the park continue inbetween where we head under a bridge over bare ground:

Across Glen Manor Drive East the park opens up into some proper wilderness, and the stream emerges from the brick base of a manhole into the light of day:

Suddenly the stream breaks off into 3 or 4 separate forks. I follow as many as I can decipher to their ends (or, more accurately, their beginnings) but there's no fancy grates or outfalls to be found. Each one just sort of seeps out of the mucky earth:

 

[datgtatrailsguy]

Ok, instant fan of your thread here EVCco. I've been a 'Toronto (and beyond) Trail Walker' for a short time after discovering two sections of the Humber Trail system in my area. I stumbled upon your thread here after looking for a forum to post my adventures as well and have to say that your posts make me want to walk every one of them! Great shots, very thorough, and very informative. I look forward to sitting down with a nice cup of coffee and taking the time to properly take in each post. Thanks for taking the time to share these with everyone.

 

[EVCco]

Thanks back at you, 'Guy...
I must say I'm quite impressed with your Youtube site as well!
It's like taking a hike from the comfort of my laptop - makes me want to get back out too,
but this damn weather has kept me inside all week

 

[EVCco]

Humber River - triple threat, pt. 1

The storm has finally passed and I'm raring to get back out there. But where should "there" be this time? Well, as datgtatrailsguy recently took inspiration from the Humber, why not take inspiration from him? So I headed back out west to the boarder of North York and Etobicoke. However, my previous point of departure from this river leaves me with something of a problem as to how to approach this trek. From where I last left the Humber, at Albion Road, the river busts out into a plethora of tributaries - two creeks head west just south of Albion; a couple more break east a little ways to the north; then, of course, there's the Humber's vast West Branch which, itself, soon spurts forth the Albion Creek - and that's just what my map shows. Which course(s) shall I follow, and in which direction(s)? Still undecided, as the 73C Royal York bus dropped me off at Armel Court, I was left to simply wing it and follow wherever the waters of inspiration flowed - which, to begin with, flowed north from Albion, along side the Humber Valley Golf Club:

Just west of the Humber Sheppard Community Centre a small stream cuts away from the river and empties into this large pond:

While the public path sticks close to the pond, the Humber bows down into a largely untouched little area across from the north end of the golf club. So untouched, in fact, that I was able to spot not one, not two, but three deer all in this one tiny spot! And, naturally, I couldn't get a picture of any of them... The first one I spied was an unusually docile doe. Perhaps only 20 meters or so ahead of me, she monitored my approach unphased as I crept up for a closer shot. With a better camera I could have easily just zoomed in for a nice, tight portrait. But, $30 cameras have their hidden costs. As I closed in for the photographic kill something caught my attention from the corner of my eye. It was a fully-antlered buck (the first I've seen out here) darting across the golf course on the other side of the river! Too quick for my camera, but just slow enough to let the doe retreat out of sight by the time I turned back around. No wonder she seemed so calm - they must have been planning it all along! A few moments later, another deer...another buck. This time on my side of the water, and this one bigger than the last, bristling with even more of those pointy, threatening prongs! I felt it wise not to even try getting within camera-range of this one and simpy left the area, tail between my legs, with only a few pedestrian pics of this otherwise fascinating wilderness enclave:

Past the tastefully appointed woodland abode, and I'm back on the trail through Summerlea Park where the Humber forks in two and I have a decision to make...:

 

[EVCco]

West Humber River - triple threat, pt. 2

What the heck? Let's see what the West Branch has to offer:

Back through Albion Road, this time heading west through the West Humber Parkland where I spot, and fail to photograph, yet another deer! This one way off in the distance, foraging through someone's Jason Road backyard:

I follow the thoughtfully provided directions under Islington Ave, and then it's a straight shot through Kipling Heights Park:

RC8 asked in an earlier post about locating freshwater mussels. Well, I found one here in Watercliffe Park. Actually, I found only half of a full-sized shell - no mussel, or pearl for that matter. But there were a few other interesting conchological specimens to be seen before heading on to Kipling Ave, and then...:

 

[EVCco]

Albion Creek - triple threat, pt. 3

Just past Kipling inspiration strikes again, and I decide to double-back (or perhaps, in this case, triple-back) to my third waterway of the day - the Albion Creek. And it couldn't announce itself in a more spectacular fashion! Truly one of the most inspiring scenes in the city, the unassuming Albion meets the west Humber by carving-out this majestic shale rock canyon, by means of an equally majestic cataract, just off the end of Lakeland Drive:

Well, enough lollygagging by the waterfall (though I could surely gag lollys here all day). There's still more creek to be had:

I encounter Albion Road for the third time today, heading under into Beaumonde Heights Park:

Currently, an attempt is being made to make this stretch through the backends of Beaumonde Heights unpassable by way of an extensive tree planting program...so I guess I'd better pass while the passing's good, through Ameron Ave to Taysham Crescent:

A brief bit of creek remains before meeting Kipling, then heading underground at the Albion Centre into deepest, darkest Rexdale. And this too is where I head home, having completed today's inspired trifecta:

 

[GenerationW]

Now that's art......or a great picture......or something.

 

[EVCco]

I felt the pink pumps really pulled the whole scattered leaves ensemble together...

I've said it before - you find the strangest things in the strangest places!

 

[datgtatrailsguy]

Love your latest entries EVCco. You really don't mess around when you decide to head out there.

So I've made it through the first 11 pages of your thread and really enjoyed it. I have to say I'm envious as I only get to explore the trail system and waterways once a month if that as I always go with my girlfriend and our schedules don't jive the best. Every time I'm driving past a trail entrance or a bridge over water I get that wanting to get out there. Just some things from your thread so far.

1. When we walked the Etobicoke Creek trail from Lake Ontario, I didn't think it was walkable past Middle Road Bridge but see from your pics that it does. I look forward to walking that from that point north next time now. Do you know how far north you can continuously walk it? Ideally, I'd like to walk the Humber, Don, and Etobicoke Creek from the Lake as far as the GTA limits if this is possible.

2. View attachment 9663
Do you have any idea what these would have been for? We were stumped as to what these could be.

3. After viewing so many of your hikes, I just find it incredible to think that there is so much wilderness in this city that the majority of people are totally unaware of. The creeks, rivers, trails, wildlife are right there. It's also great that so much effort has taken place to clean the creeks and rivers and that fish and other wildlife are reaping the benefits.

4. Your Downsview Dells and Northwood Park pics brought back some memories as that was my neighborhood growing up and I spent a fair amount of time there as a kid.

Sorry if I'm rambling, just really enjoying this. I look forward to catching up with the rest of your thread!

 

[EVCco]

Thanks agan! I definitely get that same feeling myself.
I seem to be drawn to ravines and woodlots like the mosquitos are drawn to me once I'm in there...

1. Well, I guess that depends on your definition of "walkable." There's no official trail from there to about Burnhamthorpe, and often no trail whatsoever. You'll have to do a bit of bushwhacking through these parts. The area just north of the bridge was particularly trying, as I recall. Fortunatley I did this section in winter. If everything was in full foliage I may not have attempted myself. The Don (both branches) are fairly intermittent, as well, at spots, so be prepared to get a little wet/dirty if you're determined to follow it the whole way!

2. I'm getting an "Invalid Attachment specified" when I click this, so I can't help you there at the moment..

3. Agreed! Nothing to add here.

4. Glad to help stir up some nostalgia for you! As a relative newcomer to the city I have no such memories, so I'm pretty much seeing everything for the first time when I'm out there.

...and no need to apologize for "rambling," that's what this thread is all about!

 

[EVCco]

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[datgtatrailsguy]

Humber River - at long last

So I know some of you by now must be thinking: "EVCco - you've done the Don, the Etobicoke, and the Highland. You've done all these obscure little creeks and ravines, but when the heck are you gonna get to the Humber, gol dern it?!?!" OK! OK! People, please! I have heard your imaginary cries. If it's Humber you want then it's Humber you'll get! For the fact is I have gotten to the Humber, many-a-time before, albeit sporadically. Yesterday, however, I decided to take a good chunk out of it and travelled its banks from Eglinton Avenue down to the lake. So here it is - at least the southern end of it - patched up with some other photos taken over the years; starting with a few in and around the Ukrainian-Canadian Memorial Park, just north of Eglinton, from back in January of 2003 (when even then I was photographing ugly old manholes, storm grates, and what-have-you for no particular reason):

Thanks for answering my questions EVCco. This was the pic I was referring to.

 

[EVCco]

Ah, those things...
Well, aside from my theory of a lost concrete civilization which has left numerous mysterious artifacts across the city, my next best guess would be they were part of the golf course that used to be there (http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails-a-z/south-humber-park-trail) - though, as to exactly what purpose they served (other than decoration?) I'm not sure.

 

[EVCco]

time for another new page..