Golden Hour – Final Morning in the Rockies

It was dark and rainy as I packed up inside my small basement room in Calgary on the final night of my trip to the Canadian Rockies. As on most days that week, I had returned to the city late and was debating whether to head back into the mountains one last time before my return flight the following day. The previous mornings had been heavily overcast, with the sun only appearing by midday. I was still hoping to see a sunrise and capture the mountains in golden hour light. If the forecast could be trusted, my last morning would finally be clear.

The location I had in mind was about 100 kilometres from Calgary, and with a flight to catch later that morning, there was some risk involved – a delay on the road could mean cutting things uncomfortably close at the airport. An even greater concern, however, was the short trail I’d need to take through the woods in the dark – prime territory for wildlife. Bears had been active in the area, and while that risk existed on other mornings too, it felt especially ominous now, as if the encounter would be more likely hours before heading home. Still, giving up a rare clear forecast on account of superstition seemed illogical. I had come this far, after all. And I needed to return the bear spray I’d rented earlier anyway. That settled it.

After a short but restful sleep, I was back on the road. By 3:30 a.m., I was heading west towards the mountains on the Trans-Canada Highway, exiting an hour later onto Bow Valley Trail in Canmore. I parked in a now-familiar spot, grabbed my camera gear, clipped the bear spray to my belt, and set off – under the bridge and toward the forest trail.

Dawn was still an hour away. The sky had just begun to brighten, the full moon shining above to my left. This time, I knew exactly where I was going. I walked at a brisk pace – down the dry, rocky riverbed and into the forest, looking around and listening intently for any signs of wildlife as I went. It was completely silent, save for the occasional birdsong echoing through the trees.

When I stepped out of the forest and onto the shore of the creek, I was met with clear skies over the Three Sisters, with the water calm as ever. I paused and took another look around. A black bear had reportedly been seen in the area just days earlier, but this morning I seemed to be alone. The scene was serene – still water, soft light, and subtle birdsong all around. I set up my tripod and walked the shoreline, admiring the view as the cool blue tones of dawn began to fade, giving way to warm golden hour light. I took several frames as the mountains lit up, knowing I had made the right choice coming out here one last time.

My favourite coffee shop opened up just as I got back into the town of Canmore, where I sat with an espresso before leaving the Rocky Mountains. It was the perfect way to end the trip.

Years later, this image of the Three Sisters remains one of my personal favourites – one that continues to shape how I see and photograph mountain landscapes. You can explore how my work in the Rockies has evolved since then in my Iconic Canadian Rockies post, or view this photograph as part of my Mountain Prints collection.

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