Credit Valley Mississauga + a few Doors Open sites (18 km) (9/27/2014)

Note: I'll move more people from the waiting list as we get more drivers. If you're meeting us directly at Mississauga, please mention that in the notes — I'll move you to the event list.

As part of this hike, we'll explore the Credit River valley in Mississauga. We'll be walking through the woods for most of the time, but take short breaks to visit three Doors Open sites.

We'll meet at the Kipling TTC station parking lot at 9:45 AM, and leave at 9:55 AM.
You can also meet us at the Erindale Park at 10:20 AM.

We'll visit:

• Erindale Park: This 222-acre park is the largest park in Mississauga, and a popular picnic spot. We'll skip the picnic areas and explore the jungle located on its peripheries.
• St. Peter's Anglican Church: This historic church, established in 1825, will be open to public as a Doors Open site. The building on the hilltop is composed of stones drawn from the Credit River, and overlooks the Erindale Park.
• Riverwood: A former private estate, this 150 acre conservation area features on the Canadian Register of Historic Places. It is home to more than 475 species of animals & plants (including 350-year old trees), which makes it the most ecologically diverse community in the Credit Valley watershed. It includes both manually landscaped and naturally vegetated grounds: we'll traverse the latter part.
• Visual Arts Mississauga: We'll take a break here. Once you're done with your lunch, you'll have some time to explore the art exhibits at the Centre and visit the beautiful Riverwood gardens located just outside it.
• Hewick Meadows: Notwithstanding the occasional severed head discovery, this is a very safe and beautiful greenbelt.On the way, we'll also come across the city's favourite mountain bike skills park, which is named after a 13-year old boy.
• Koliba Park: This private park will be open to public as a Doors Open site. It was established by the Slovak- Canadians to establish a place reminiscent of Slovakia, and gained reputation as the mythical midgetville.

Mississauga meeting point
Erindale Park, 1695 Dundas St W: Parking lot, near the washrooms (Google Maps)
(10:20 AM)

Toronto meeting point
Kipling Station Passenger Pick-up and Drop-off (the circular structure outside the TTC station)
9:45 AM (Departure at 9:55 AM)
Note: We're meeting at the Kipling TTC parking lot (Aukland Rd at Subway Crescent, off Dundas St - Google Maps), not at the Kipling GO station parking lot (off Kipling Ave)

Why is this hike classified as D4?

Because …

• There are a number of not-so-gentle ascents and descents, some of which include fallen trees as obstacles. I organized a shorter D3 version of the hike early this year, and some people refused to go down one of the slopes - we had to backtrack to find another way.
  
• The distance is 18 km. We'll be walking at 4.5 km/hr.
Culham trail regulars, please take a note: Only some part of this journey is along the Culham trail. We'll mostly walk on the side trails, which are not flat biking trails.
• Depending on the weather, at points, you might have to walk in mud, through tall grass and on rocky dried-up stream bed. The side trails are unmarked, and in at least one place, there is no trail (we'll be walking through the vegetation). A couple of places are populated by the giant hogweed and the wild parsnip.

Are there washrooms along the way?

Only at the beginning (Erindale Park), and at the lunch spot (Visual Arts Mississauga).

• This hike will go on in case of moderate rain. It'll be canceled only if a severe thunderstorm is forecast.
• Drivers get priority on the waiting list. I'll increase the maximum group size if we've sufficient drivers.
• If there are not enough drivers, some of us may have to take Miway #1: that means 25 extra minutes of traveling. The hike will not be canceled due to lack of drivers.

Photo Credits: Utkarsh