[SuperNewb]

Those that ridden through the Don, do you consider the hills easy or hard?

 

[Swerny]

compared to what?
I would say the hills are quite easy for the most part.
There are some steep sections I have to walk out by Sunnybrook, but for the most part it's rideable.

I can't think of anything on the Don that resembles the hard climbs at HH, Dagmar, Albion or Kelso.

 

[amtnbikerguy]

There are some steep or 'hard' sections.

 

[Bandido]

I found the Don extremely difficult in certain (very few) areas, and somewhat challenging overall as the fall is usually quite far if you go over the edge.

Compared to Waterdown, it was hard. Waterdown is easy throughout.

Then again, it depends on the rider. I'm sure bigger riders don't see Waterdown more than medium difficulty in the absolute worst case. It's the small riders that seem to rate Waterdown as difficult.

compared to what?
I would say the hills are quite easy for the most part.
There are some steep sections I have to ride out by Sunnybrook, but for the most part it's rideable.

I can't think of anything on the Don that resembles the hard climbs at HH, Dagmar, Albion or Kelso.

 

[prod]

There is one part I usually walk up, but would be pretty hairy going down. Its a fast descent along a narrow ridge with a sharp turn, then ending in a creek crossing. Havent had the nerve to try it yet. Its past the switchbacks, behind a brick yard or something at street level and goes down to the valley floor. Anyone know it?

 

[Swerny]

There is one part I usually walk up, but would be pretty hairy going down. Its a fast descent along a narrow ridge with a sharp turn, then ending in a creek crossing. Havent had the nerve to try it yet. Its past the switchbacks, behind a brick yard or something at street level and goes down to the valley floor. Anyone know it?

Yup, that's the best part of the trail IMHO.
I have managed to climb it once on my hardtail, but all the other times I walk it.
I have ridden down it once and it's a bit hairy.
There are sections in that area I have to walk.

 

[big_olly]

There is one part I usually walk up, but would be pretty hairy going down. Its a fast descent along a narrow ridge with a sharp turn, then ending in a creek crossing. Havent had the nerve to try it yet. Its past the switchbacks, behind a brick yard or something at street level and goes down to the valley floor. Anyone know it?

I think it's been signed lately and dubbed "Sky Pilot". Gotta agree with MS MSP: that section is one of the best features of the trail system at least as far as climbs go. I love it.

Going down it isn't nearly as bad as you might think....just take it nice and slow.

 

[amtnbikerguy]

Its sorta funny how everybody has different names for all the trails in the Don Valley. My buddies and I call that trail the 'pyreenees'

 

[AJ541]

that is a hard hill...

There is one part I usually walk up, but would be pretty hairy going down. Its a fast descent along a narrow ridge with a sharp turn, then ending in a creek crossing. Havent had the nerve to try it yet. Its past the switchbacks, behind a brick yard or something at street level and goes down to the valley floor. Anyone know it?

That is the biggest and hardest hill on the whole trail system, I too have only ridden it once, ever since - I have found that I can't get enough speed to keep my balance - but then again it has been a few months since I've ridden it. Actually there are a few hills after that (if you are riding north) that are even steeper and almost impossible to ride up but they are shorter than the one you're talking about. I've never given it a name, I'd rather give it a name to describe how skilled you are to ride it such as "the expert" - or "mount logan" or "mount doom"?

 

[SuperNewb]

Riding up that section is prob one of the harder hills I ride up in the Don. I dont know who named it "sky pilot" but most ppl were calling it PA or at least I thought that was the start of it... The harder hill to climb is the one that goes behind the paint factory and just before the fence. At least I only made it up once so far as todays attempt was going better then normal but the to dry conditions just made my tire slip too much. I guess I could try being a granny ring user for them...