Adventure for Wilderness, Cochrane North Field Trip – June 7, 2025

June 11, 2025

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Text by Sara Heerema and Tako Koning, photos by Sara Heerema

Led by Tako Koning and Gerry Bietz

 

Biyearly, in the early summer and fall, Tako Koning (P. Geol., Senior Geologist) leads his famous Ice, Glaciers, Gravel and Oil: Cochrane North tour for Adventures for Wilderness. Joining him is Gerry Bietz, president of the Bighill Creek Preservation Society (BCPS). BCPS has been fighting for years to oppose the development of a gravel mine on the aquifer of the Bighill Creek watershed.

This summer’s adventure landed on a perfect Saturday afternoon, not too hot and not too cold, with 11 participants along for the trip. We started the day alongside a hiking trail that meanders beside Bighill Creek in the valley, which was already bustling with walkers and cyclists from the nearby communities. We scanned the trees above the water to see the staggering presence of multiple heron nests high up in the trees, the parents looking quizzically down on us from their perches. Swallows adorned the birdhouses alongside the trail, and swooped from the cliffs above. Tako described the rock formations we saw above us as part of the 60-million-year-old Paskapoo, and with the help of his handy geology hammer, chipped off a small piece of the rock for us to feel. Gerry noted that these same cliffs were used as buffalo jumps by the First Nations in the area. He then began to describe the ecology of the Bighill region and how important the land is for wildlife and plant species.

As we travelled farther, we made multiple stops alongside where an active gravel mine was operating, as well as in areas yet to be developed. Participants gathered intently around the car as Tako pulled out one of his many maps to show the extent of land that is slated for gravel mining, and the close proximity to Big Hill Springs Provincial Park. Namely, we discussed why these mining projects are a concern, and why maintaining landscape connectivity and preserving intact land to support biodiversity and water systems is essential, especially in close proximity to a protected area. Gravel mines can cause harms such as habitat loss, dust and noise pollution, impacts to water quality and quantity, and changes to the local ecology.

Making our way to the provincial park, which is only a very small segment of the Bighill Creek natural area, we discussed how important it is for more of the region to be protected in order to safeguard the water, species, and recreational value of the region. Everyone was excited to learn that part of the water system here is a thermal spring, which keeps the water in the park +6 degrees C even in the middle of winter, meaning that it flows continuously throughout our seasons. We did a short walk up to the waterfall, padding alongside intricate displays of moss growing along the low ground.

Tako and Gerry both expressed their views that Big Hill Springs Provincial Park is a much beloved and much visited provincial park.  Statistics indicate that approximately 250,000 people per year visit this tiny park which covers only 70 acres.  Both mentioned their wish that the provincial government considers significantly expanding the park since the area surrounding the park is stunningly beautiful and is almost untouched by developments.  Tako mentioned that an expanded Big Hill Spring Provincial Park would be very much appreciated by those living in nearby Cochrane, Calgary, and Airdrie, and also very much appreciated by the adults, children, grandchildren and future generations of Albertans.  Many years ago our forefathers recognized the value of the Banff and Jasper areas and they had the vision to establish Banff and Jasper National Parks which are now much enjoyed and valued by Canadians and visitors to Canada.

The last part of the day focused on Alberta’s ubiquitous oil and gas industry. We visited multiple oil production pads, and Tako described how the industry has evolved over the years, and how fracking transforms the extraction process underground. We deliberated on the environmental impact of these new technologies, as the environmental footprint above ground is much lower than in the past, however fracking also uses very large volumes of water and can cause localized earthquakes. We discussed the present and future of Alberta as we had lunch looking out over natural hoodoos and drove past a meandering oxbow stream. Everyone left with lots of questions for the future, and assurances that they would be back.

Tako will be leading this field trip again in September 2025.