This will be a beautiful adventure to really welcome in the beginning of Spring (although it will likely still be cold).
The day starts with an easy 8km hike around beautiful Limehouse Conservation Area which includes a particularly intriguing highlight which is the "Hole in the Wall" – a fascinating rock formation that you can climb through using a wooden ladder.
Once we're done, we'll drive over to our friends at Heartwood Farm for a magical afternoon. Heartwood is a small independent farm that practices thoughtful, regenerative farming as well as running a boutique cidery.
Located right beside their home and cidery, their sugarbush and sugar shack are definitely the centre of attention at this time of year! Maple sap marks the first harvest of the year on the small family farm. Val and Brent, farmer-owners of Heartwood Farm & Cidery, have been sharing the magic of maple syrup season with friends and family for decades. Heartwood’s small-scale maple syrup operation combines modern techniques of sap collection and processing with the charm of a small, wood-fired, open-air sugar-shack, and the homespun delights of personal stories shared by the maple syrup team.
In keeping with Heartwoods' unique "up close and personal" approach to sharing their farm experiences, they offer Secrets of the Sugarbush, an intimate, small-group immersion into the art and science of sap collection and maple syrup-making. We can't guarantee that the sap will be running when you visit, but the sugar shack will be in full swing, and we look forward to bringing you behind the scenes to experience all aspects of our operation. Come to Heartwood to revel in the tradition of transforming this gift from the trees into a sweet taste of spring.
Afterwards, if you wish, they have an incredible selection of ciders, maple syrup, and other gifts to get for yourself or loved ones before we return to Toronto.
No dogs please (farm animals find even the cutest ones stressful!)
Includes a short walk through the woods. Come prepared for slush and mud season!
Hike Length: 8km
Terrain: This is an easy trail with just under 50m of elevation. It's mostly in the forest and on sandy soil. I am not sure at this time if there will be snow on the ground but you may want to bring ice spikes just in case
Estimated time to complete: 4 hours with breaks and exploration time.
10:20 - Meet at PetroCanada next to Keele Subway Station.
10:20 - Van leaves. Please note that we'll be leaving dead on time and can't wait for latecomers so please, please be on time!
11:30 - Meet self drivers and begin hike at Limehouse Conservation area. We can't wait for self drivers so please be on time or early.
15:00 - End hike and drive to Heartwood Farm & Cidery
15:30 - 18:30 - Farm visit
20:00- Anticipated return to Toronto
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Winter clothing
The key for winter hiking is to have breathable layers that allow you to adjust your temperature as you start to heat up or cool down. The biggest problem you're likely to encounter is actually getting too hot - the amount of exercise you're doing means you'll warm up quickly and it's important that you vent your clothes before you start sweating because that will only make you colder once you stop.
Pay attention to your fabrics - there's a saying that cotton kills because it keeps moisture and makes you colder. Instead, go for breathable fabrics, like athletic wear or wool. Wool has the advantage of keeping you warm when it's wet but cheap polyester running gear is just fine. We've put together a simple guide to layering on our instagram.
A common mistake is to bring your heavy winter coat that you'd wear in the city - this will become very uncomfortable very quickly. If you'd like advice on what coat is suitable, we'll give you recommendations no matter your budget.
Shoes
You should be switching to proper hiking boots once the snow has started. If the snow is really deep, you can wear a proper winter boot that goes above the ankle but this isn't essential, especially if you have gaiters. These go over your shoe to prevent snow coming in. Trainers and city boots are really not suitable because they won't have sufficient grip.
There's a good chance your feet are going to get wet, either through snow ingress or sweat so you should always pack a spare pair of socks when winter hiking.
Traction
You're going to find that you move more slowly and spend more effort hiking in the snow so we tend to hike shorter distances. From first snowfall you should always bring ice spikes with you. The Kahtoola Exospikes are a great option if you have the budget, otherwise Amazon has plenty of cheaper options. You rarely need snowshoes unless the snow is really deep and powdery and hiking with them usually requires even more energy.
Winter Hiking packing list
Grab breakfast before you go. There's a Tims around the corner from our meet-up point.
Bring a packed lunch, snacks and at least a litre of water for the hike. A hot drink is also a good idea.
there will be hot cider (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic options are available) at the farm
We'll have ice spikes with us for anyone who needs them if the weather requires.
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear, ice spikes and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles. This is a moderate hike so we'll need to go slowly and take care not to fall or roll an ankle
Getting lost - Stay with the group at all times to avoid getting lost. You should also download the map in advance to your phone
Farm animals - Check with the farm before approaching any animals
We like to share some of the indigenous background of the areas we visit because these territories have rich histories that are easy to overlook. Indigenous communities have a connection to and respect for the land that has largely been lost since European settlement. As we strive to form a deeper connection with the land, we have much to learn from these communities. I use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas and find that developing a richer understanding leads to a greater enjoyment of the adventures.
Limehouse and the surrounding area is on the traditional territory of the Missisaugas of the Credit First Nation.
This will be a beautiful adventure to really welcome in the beginning of Spring (although it will likely still be cold).
The day starts with an easy 8km hike around beautiful Limehouse Conservation Area which includes a particularly intriguing highlight which is the "Hole in the Wall" – a fascinating rock formation that you can climb through using a wooden ladder.
Once we're done, we'll drive over to our friends at Heartwood Farm for a magical afternoon. Heartwood is a small independent farm that practices thoughtful, regenerative farming as well as running a boutique cidery.
Located right beside their home and cidery, their sugarbush and sugar shack are definitely the centre of attention at this time of year! Maple sap marks the first harvest of the year on the small family farm. Val and Brent, farmer-owners of Heartwood Farm & Cidery, have been sharing the magic of maple syrup season with friends and family for decades. Heartwood’s small-scale maple syrup operation combines modern techniques of sap collection and processing with the charm of a small, wood-fired, open-air sugar-shack, and the homespun delights of personal stories shared by the maple syrup team.
In keeping with Heartwoods' unique "up close and personal" approach to sharing their farm experiences, they offer Secrets of the Sugarbush, an intimate, small-group immersion into the art and science of sap collection and maple syrup-making. We can't guarantee that the sap will be running when you visit, but the sugar shack will be in full swing, and we look forward to bringing you behind the scenes to experience all aspects of our operation. Come to Heartwood to revel in the tradition of transforming this gift from the trees into a sweet taste of spring.
Afterwards, if you wish, they have an incredible selection of ciders, maple syrup, and other gifts to get for yourself or loved ones before we return to Toronto.
No dogs please (farm animals find even the cutest ones stressful!)
Includes a short walk through the woods. Come prepared for slush and mud season!
Hike Length: 8km
Terrain: This is an easy trail with just under 50m of elevation. It's mostly in the forest and on sandy soil. I am not sure at this time if there will be snow on the ground but you may want to bring ice spikes just in case
Estimated time to complete: 4 hours with breaks and exploration time.
10:20 - Meet at PetroCanada next to Keele Subway Station.
10:20 - Van leaves. Please note that we'll be leaving dead on time and can't wait for latecomers so please, please be on time!
11:30 - Meet self drivers and begin hike at Limehouse Conservation area. We can't wait for self drivers so please be on time or early.
15:00 - End hike and drive to Heartwood Farm & Cidery
15:30 - 18:30 - Farm visit
20:00- Anticipated return to Toronto
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Winter clothing
The key for winter hiking is to have breathable layers that allow you to adjust your temperature as you start to heat up or cool down. The biggest problem you're likely to encounter is actually getting too hot - the amount of exercise you're doing means you'll warm up quickly and it's important that you vent your clothes before you start sweating because that will only make you colder once you stop.
Pay attention to your fabrics - there's a saying that cotton kills because it keeps moisture and makes you colder. Instead, go for breathable fabrics, like athletic wear or wool. Wool has the advantage of keeping you warm when it's wet but cheap polyester running gear is just fine. We've put together a simple guide to layering on our instagram.
A common mistake is to bring your heavy winter coat that you'd wear in the city - this will become very uncomfortable very quickly. If you'd like advice on what coat is suitable, we'll give you recommendations no matter your budget.
Shoes
You should be switching to proper hiking boots once the snow has started. If the snow is really deep, you can wear a proper winter boot that goes above the ankle but this isn't essential, especially if you have gaiters. These go over your shoe to prevent snow coming in. Trainers and city boots are really not suitable because they won't have sufficient grip.
There's a good chance your feet are going to get wet, either through snow ingress or sweat so you should always pack a spare pair of socks when winter hiking.
Traction
You're going to find that you move more slowly and spend more effort hiking in the snow so we tend to hike shorter distances. From first snowfall you should always bring ice spikes with you. The Kahtoola Exospikes are a great option if you have the budget, otherwise Amazon has plenty of cheaper options. You rarely need snowshoes unless the snow is really deep and powdery and hiking with them usually requires even more energy.
Winter Hiking packing list
Grab breakfast before you go. There's a Tims around the corner from our meet-up point.
Bring a packed lunch, snacks and at least a litre of water for the hike. A hot drink is also a good idea.
there will be hot cider (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic options are available) at the farm
We'll have ice spikes with us for anyone who needs them if the weather requires.
Hiking injuries - Wear appropriate footwear, ice spikes and hike within your abilities. If you need extra support, bring hiking poles. This is a moderate hike so we'll need to go slowly and take care not to fall or roll an ankle
Getting lost - Stay with the group at all times to avoid getting lost. You should also download the map in advance to your phone
Farm animals - Check with the farm before approaching any animals
We like to share some of the indigenous background of the areas we visit because these territories have rich histories that are easy to overlook. Indigenous communities have a connection to and respect for the land that has largely been lost since European settlement. As we strive to form a deeper connection with the land, we have much to learn from these communities. I use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas and find that developing a richer understanding leads to a greater enjoyment of the adventures.
Limehouse and the surrounding area is on the traditional territory of the Missisaugas of the Credit First Nation.
