Adventures for Wilderness, Cochrane North Field Trip; Geology, Glaciation, Oil Wells Technology, and the Impact of Gravel Mining on the Environment – September 13, 2025
October 3, 2025
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Text by Pamela Narvaez-Torres and Tako Koning, photos by Pamela Narvaez-Torres
Led by Tako Koning and Vivian Pharis
Last September 13th, six participants joined us on Tako Koning’s (P. Geol., Senior Geologist) Fall edition of the Cochrane North Field Trip – Geology, Glaciation, Oil Wells Technology, and the Impact of Gravel Mining on the Environment.
We started off with a chilly morning at the Historic Cochrane Ranche, where we spent a few minutes getting to know one another. Although our group was small, it was greatly diverse, with participants eager to learn more about Alberta’s landscapes and the challenges they face. We were also joined by Vivian Pharis, AWA Board Member Emeritus and Vice President of the Bighill Creek Preservation Society. This local group of residents formed in response to growing development pressures around Cochrane and the surrounding county, which threaten the health of the watershed. Their mission is “to ensure the natural and historical values of Bighill Creek Watershed are preserved for this and future generations.”
Our first stop took us to Big Hill Springs Valley. Standing on the valley, it was hard to picture that 15,000 years ago the entire area was buried under a massive sheet of ice. As Tako explained, when the ice melted, it happened so quickly that the water had to carve out pathways. One of those meltwater channels is what we were standing in, a valley that runs 25 kilometres long and, in places, has been cut 100 metres deep into the Paskapoo Formation. This rock, around 60 million years old, is made up of sandstones, siltstones, and mudstones. What surprised many of us was learning that today’s Big Hill Creek didn’t actually carve this valley. Instead, it quietly flows through the channel left behind by the glaciers. Accordingly, glacial geologists, also known as glaciologists sometimes call such valleys as “false valleys” or “misfit valleys”.
Vivian added a cultural and ecological lens to our visit. She pointed out how temperatures shifted dramatically from the frosty parking lot where we met to the warmer valley. Vivian pointed out how the south-facing slope of the valley was covered in dry grasses, while the shaded north slope was lush with evergreen forest.
At our second stop, we continued exploring the valley. Tako showed us a geologic map of the area and explained that it is covered in thick layers of high-quality gravel that mining companies are eager to extract. However, mining in the area would come with environmental impacts. One of the main concerns is that mining operations could penetrate the aquifer that feeds the springs, disrupting water flow in ways that could never be undone.
At this point, Vivian and Tako introduced us to Big Hill Springs Provincial Park, located nearby. Vivian explained that although the park is small, at only 70 acres, it has immense geological, ecological, historical and cultural value. Established in 1957, it is one of Alberta’s oldest provincial parks and today attracts about 250,000 visitors a year. Its cold-water spring flows steadily at six degrees year-round, making it the fourth most important mineral spring in Canada. The spring feeds Big Hill Springs Creek, a shallow creek, about a metre deep and a few metres wide, that supports a wide range of biodiversity.
Vivian expanded on the importance of the area. The surrounding valley has been recognized as an Environmentally Significant Area since the 1970s, yet it still lacks strong protection. Wildlife here is diverse: cougars, black bears, moose, elk, two species of deer, and occasionally wolves and grizzlies. The valley also holds cultural significance for Indigenous peoples. Vivian pointed out berries traditionally harvested in the area and showed us the Hutchinson buffalo jump, where communities thousands of years ago could find much of their winter food supply.
As we walked along the valley, we learned more about the threats to the area. One gravel site (Hillstone Aggregates) is already in operation, and another proposed pit by Mountain Ash LLP Ltd would sit just 800 metres from the park boundary. Such developments bring heavy truck traffic, dust, and noise, but most critically, they risk contaminating or disrupting the very water source that sustains the springs and creek. Standing in the valley, it was easy to see why its protection matters not only for wildlife and cultural history, but also for the thousands of people who cherish it for recreation every year.
Our third stop brought us closer to the gravel mines. We drove past the Hillstone mine, and we continued to a location close to the proposed Mountain Ash operation. This mine would sprawl across 131 hectares and be developed in six phases over the next 30 to 40 years. Standing at the site, we discussed different uses the land could have, like tourism or agriculture, but Tako and Vivian explained to us that because the ground is so rich in gravel, the gravel mine companies have bought out the land previously owned by farmers and ranchers. Tourism is not in their plans of the gravel miners.
After exploring the Mountain Ash site, we made our way to Big Hill Springs Provincial Park for lunch. It turned out to be the perfect spot to pause and enjoy the day. The trees offered shade, the sun had warmed the valley, and the park was busy with families, children, and visitors of all ages. The packed parking lot made clear how important this small park is for recreation in the region.
Here, we finally got to see Big Hill Creek up close and learn about tufa, a porous, spongy type of sedimentary rock that formed in the area. We followed the trails and hiked up one of the hills for a broader view of the landscape. From above, we spotted a wetland created by beavers, a reminder of how wildlife constantly reshapes the land and creates new habitat for other species. Here we could again observe the diverse vegetation. On one side of the valley, we saw tall, dense trees; on the other, dry slopes with short vegetation, a great example of how aspect and exposure shape ecosystems. We also came across another buffalo jump, another reminder of the deep cultural history tied to these landscapes.
Tako reflected that an expanded Big Hill Springs Provincial Park would be a gift not only to nearby residents of Cochrane, Calgary, and Airdrie, but also to future generations of Albertans who deserve to enjoy its springs, wildlife, and cultural heritage.
Our fourth stop took us to the Oxley Conservation Area, where we observed the northern extension of the glacial meltwater channel. We observed swans gliding across the water, and under our feet, the ground was covered with the gravel we’ve been talking about all day; this gravel was not hauled in for a road but was naturally deposited.
The final part of our day turned toward Alberta’s oil industry. Visiting different production pads, Tako explained how techniques such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have changed the way oil is extracted. Today, multiple pumpjacks can share the same surface site, extracting from different directions underground. This reduces the visible footprint on the land compared to older methods but comes with its own environmental costs. Fracking uses large volumes of water and has been linked to localized earthquakes. Participants asked thoughtful questions and shared perspectives, sparking one of the most engaging discussions of the day.
Before heading home, we made a few last stops. At one site, we were surprised to see hoodoos “rising out” of the prairie. Driving past agricultural fields, we watched big machinery at work harvesting crops, while overhead, hawks circled and swooped, taking advantage of the disturbed fields to hunt for mice and other small prey.
One of our final stops brought us to a Canadian aviation history memorial. Here, we learned about a tragic crash that took place in November 1941, when a Gipsy Moth training aircraft went down. Both pilot James Robinson and trainee Karl Gravell lost their lives, and the site still stands as a quiet reminder of Alberta’s history.
By the end of the day, our small group felt both enriched and reflective. We had explored geology shaped by ice, creeks that never freeze, and a park beloved by thousands of visitors each year. We had learned about threats posed by gravel mining, and about the wildlife and cultural heritage that make this valley so special. The conversations were lively, the questions thought-provoking, and the group’s enthusiasm contagious. It was a day filled with learning, connection, and the sense that these landscapes matter deeply, not just for us, but for generations to come.
One of the participants in the first half of the field trip was a journalist, Riley Stovka. Three days later, we were pleasantly surprised to see a full-page article in the Cochrane Eagle titled “A Field Trip group sees the sights, and would be dangers, belonging to Big Hill Springs Provincial Park”. This same article was included in the Rocky View Weekly titled “An Insightful field trip to Big Hill Springs Provincial Park”.
Tako leads this field trip twice every year for the Alberta Wilderness Association and the Bighill Creek Preservation Society. He has been leading it for the past five years. The trip is every June and September. The same is planned for next year.
