Sun, Apr 14 2013 - Spring Sunday Stroll in High Park (View Original Event Details)
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The unseasonably icy rain and snow ended one day before our hike so we started with entirely blue skies and nice spring temperatures as we set out to explore High Park and the lakeshore. A great group of both newbies and TOC veterans gathered for this slowpoke “ease into the season” stroll. We met at Keele Subway Station on the park’s northeast corner and started by walking along mostly dirt trails on the park’s east side.
We had an unplanned excursion through the free-range dogs park – but got through without anyone being bit or stepping on anything unfortunate while spotting some puppies frolicking in crazed welcome- the-spring fashion! Then back through the spring woods and fields by the castle playground and zoo before crossing the highways to the lakeshore. We walked west to the rocky lookout just past the bridge over the Humber River and snapped a few pics of the great view toward the CN Tower and downtown core. We also shared a few Maple Leaf cookies in honour of the season and the maple sugar bushes now in high gear. Then we retraced our steps to High Park. We continued the loop west along beautiful Grenadier Pond, pausing a few minutes to watch a 1,000-pound swan gobble bread from an older woman barely taller than the bird when it had its powerful neck outstretched. We continued north along the pond and more formal gardens, then followed the west ravine dirt trails back up to Bloor. We discovered one of the few – or perhaps only! – bathroom that was already open in the park (for future reference, it’s in the red-roofed building north of the snack bar near the main entrance off Bloor) then strode east again until we reached our starting point.
In total, we hiked 8.65 km at a pace of about 3.7 km/hr including short breaks. Total time on the trail, was 2.23 hours..
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