The Trail at Bighorn Lookout

Situated west of the city of Calgary in Alberta, Canada is Kananaskis Country. It is a large recreation area in the foothills and mountains of the Canadian Rockies. Kananaskis Country encompasses 10 provincial parks and has four main access points. One of the less-used access points is west of the town of Turner Valley and provides dead-end access to Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park and Sheep River Provincial Park. When driving, the borders of these parks are not obvious but both parks preserve parts of the Sheep River Valley and including the Sheep River Wildlife Sanctuary which provides a permanent habitat for bighorn sheep. It is within this habitat that the Bighorn Sheep Meadow and Bighorn Lookout are located.

On a warm June evening, I drove out to the Bighorn Lookout hoping to capture a wonderful view of the Bighorn Sheep Meadow and the mountains beyond. Upon arrival, I met a couple that had just packed up a late evening picnic. As they walked past me and we exchanged pleasantries, I admired their lovely wicker picnic basket and checkerboard blanket. Although they gave me no indication that such was the case, as I looked out at the view they had just enjoyed in solitude, I could imagine it would have been a perfect time and place to propose. Moments later they were gone, and I had the entire view to myself. Not a soul in sight. Just me, the Sheep River valley to my left, the lush open Bighorn Sheep Meadows front and center, and the Canadian Rockies in the distance. As the sun slowly sank, I set up my specialized equipment to capture the scene in ultra-high resolution. I decided to make the trail along the lookout a key feature of the image allowing the viewer to imagine walking the trail, enjoying the fresh air, and exploring the area for the long hours of evening daylight that always lingers at this time of year.

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