EOSC 328 Field Geology began with a 2-day refresher “Bootcamp” on campus and then the 27 students boarded a bus for the trip to the Oliver region of the Okanagan with stops on the way at the Hope Slide, the talus slopes at Keremeos, and lava flows along Yellow Lake.  The instructional team this year included faculty (Ken Hickey, James Scoates, Matthjis Smit) and students (Dylan Spence, Daysha Pierobon, John Xu, Lindsay Abdale).  Our new structural geologist, Matt Tarling, joined us in the final week on some of the biggest hikes (Helipad Ridge, Death March, East End) and also collected samples of deformed rocks for a new structure lab. 

Over the course of three weeks, the students mapped a range of deformed metamorphic rocks beneath the Okanagan Valley Detachment Fault (Keogan exercise) and then sedimentary and volcanic rocks from above the detachment fault (White Lake/Dominion Observatory exercise).  They climbed hills, crossed streams, rolled under barbed wire fences, evaded cactii, hammered rocks, chased contacts, measured structures, navigated through forests, puzzled over new units, drew innumerable cross sections, and lost a few coloured pencils and binder clips along the way.

The weather was definitely not typical for the Okanagan at this time of year with a few days early in the low 20s, then the rest in the 16-20°C range with one day reaching a “high" of only 13!  But it meant for excellent hiking conditions.  The facilities of the UBC – Teck Geological Field Station, including the Peter and Maggie Bradshaw Experiential Learning Centre and C. Fipke Foundation Dining Hall, were stellar, and Jose’s cooking was a daily highlight!  An unforgettable experience for all.