Sun, Oct 19 2008 - Hockley Valley hike and Green House Tour (View Original Event Details)
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The plan was to hike and see the fall colours: red, orange and yellow… and then go see a green house!
Our adventure started out at Downsview station, where we divvied up drivers and passengers, and hit the road on the way to Hockley Valley. The day started off quite cool, it was certainly below zero the night before. Celsius. But it was sunny and we could tell it was sure to warm up as the day went on.
This being my first event, I wasn’t sure, though, how to feel about there being 13 of us. Was this a sign?
But right off the bat, we lucked out and all got parking spots in the lot.
After a quick gear check, we hit the trail. I even took some jabs at it with my poles. Lucky again, it stayed steadfast at our feet.
The first half of our hike was fairly benign. We strolled along and took pictures. We crossed bridges and marvelled at their construction. We climbed hills. We went down the other sides of them. Just when I sensed a mutiny brewing, I called a halt for lunch.
Hockley Valley was a little more yellow, and a little less red and orange than I might have imagined it would be. But it was a lovely setting for lunch nonetheless.
After lunch, we picked up the pace a little in order to make it to the green house tour on time. Getting back to the cars, we were amazed to find the parking lot jam packed, and cars lining both sides of the roads for a distance. Lots of others were out enjoying the beauty of the day, too.
A short jaunt in the car took us to the green house tour. This house was built specifically to be as environmentally friendly, and energy efficient as could be on a “conventional” budget. Huge south facing windows let the heat in during the day, where the thick concrete floors soak it up, and slowly release it during the night. Solar panels and a wind turbine supply their energy needs, and they often sell energy back to the grid! There is no furnace in this house! We saw the straw bale “window” of one whole wall, and heard about how that wall insulates and breathes at the same time. A green roof – roof with grass growing on it! – helps to keep the house cooler in the summer. We heard of lessons learned in the building and design of the house, while being in awe of its beautiful interior.
As the day came to an end, a final head count verified that there were still 12 of us. Oh, right, and Sun makes 13. (She was hiding again, behind someone taller!)
Just four of us headed to Chalkers afterwards for dinner and rather lively conversation.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.