Yes, it’s time for another BIGDoer.com movie then and now. Man, it’s sure been a while. In this one we visit a location seen in the film Brokeback Mountain, specifically Brokeback Meadows, in the real world a grassy swath on the flanks of Moose Mountain just west of Calgary. This filming site, with a bit of work, can be accessed by hiking a popular trail whose destination is a nearby fire lookout.
In the scenes used here we’re about thirty minutes into the picture. We see the two main players, Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar (Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger respectively) tending to sheep. It’s a bloody mundane and thankless job if there ever was one, even if the setting is gorgeous, bursts of hard work interspersed with looooong periods of utter boredom. It’s here that a relationship hatches between the two men.
Brokeback Mountain then and now – Brokeback Meadows: we visit a location seen in the movie. By Chris Doering and Connie Biggart (BIGDoer.com)
For this then and now, we simply picked some random samples from that chapter to use as fodder. Notice how little has changed since they shot here. Then again, here in the mountains, time tends to move differently. Of course, the producers had to make sure they left nothing behind so it was like they were never even here.
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ Scroll down for photos and to comment ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
The movie premiered in 2005, the filming taking place the year earlier. Moose Mountain was just one location in Southern Alberta used in the production. They filmed all over the region – Calgary, various parts of Kananaskis, Cowley, Fort MacLoed, Beiseker and many others.
The setting in the story is Wyoming, which Alberta does a good job of doubling for. The general topography and even that “cowboy feel”, is pretty similar between the two.
While Moose Mountain is said to be the namesake Brokeback Mountain, in some scenes a different peak, Mount Lougheed, further west, doubles for it. The odd things they do in movies. One looks nothing like the other.
If you wish to visit Brokeback Meadows, hike the Moose Mountain Fire Lookout Trail, accessible off Highway #66 in Kananaskis west of Bragg Creek. It’s a popular route and is easy to find. Refer to any number of hiking guides or better still click this link: Moose Mountain. We’ve been up a couple times. Come for Brokeback, stay for the views. The latter are stupendous and get even better as you climb above Brokeback Meadows.
We’re often asked how we line up out now shots so well (in the old days we weren’t so good). It surprises people to hear that it’s all done in-camera. We’ve developed a grid system, hard to describe really, but one that allows us line things up in a scene with a great deal of accuracy. We review the original on paper, move around until things seem to match up, and we’re done. Click! Usually we need only take three or four now photos to get it right. It’s not done in post production, which would be way easier, but zero fun.
Images from the movie are copyright Focus Features.
Thanks, such a nice setting. All of those spots are on our to-do list. Just got to get down to them at some point. No, didn’t know about that mountain. I wonder if it was in any way inspiration for the movie title?
Last up there a decade ago. Been meaning to do it again for some time but for one reason or another it took till now for that to happen. Nice hike, but best done on a quiet weekday.
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Beer Parlour Fridays: before Pilsner in Saskatchewan, there was Bohemian or simply Boh. For decades, it was the most popular beer in the province. Incidentally, both Pil and Boh were for decades products of Sick's Brewery. This Boh cap was found in the basement of an old hotel in SW Saskatchewan during a visit by the Beer Parlour Project. It celebrates the beer winning a prestigious best in world award in the late 1960s.
Beer Parlour Fridays: here's a standard issue cast-metal round-top Beer Parlour table. These were supplied through the liquor control board (who heavily regulated the business) and therefore could be found at most drinking establishments. They date back to the 1940s-1960s period and surprisingly, we still see them out there in the wild all the time. Often they were covered in terrycloth to help sop up spilled beer. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Beer Parlour Fridays: The Tompkin's SK Hotel/Lucky Loon Saloon, previously Woody's. It was just a drive by visit and not a stop on the recent Beer Parlour Project tour of SW Saskatchewan. Had it been open we would have checked it out, however. Celebrating old school watering holes at https://www.BeerParlourProject.com. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Beer Parlour Fridays: The Wildwood Hotel in Wildwood Alberta, built in the late 1950s to replace one that earlier burned down. Visited in October 2024 by Chris and Rob. Watch for this hotel and others appearing at https://www.BeerParlourProject.com. Celebrating old school watering holes!
Scroll down to the comments for more!👇 _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
A retro, all-metal playground in Burstall Saskatchewan. The rocking horse, aka the tooth chipper or shin buster, was perhaps the most dangerous. Chris says he still has scars from one. But on a summer's day, those slides could get as hot as a baking pan fresh from the oven and gave new meaning to the words toasted buns. If you survived this playground, you were ready to take on the world. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Date: 2024. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Any idea where all the water scenes were filmed? Lakes, rivers, streams?
Yes, we know where most of those locations are. PM us and we’ll share them with you if you like.
This film meant so much to me – and still does – and I’m very grateful to you two for your wonderful photos of various locations.
You are most welcome. We so love visiting all the locations from this movie. It’s a sense of connecting that’s hard to top.
What an awesome day this was.
With you, always!
Beautiful!
We’re blessed to have such an awesome playgound at our doorstep.
That was such an awesome movie!
No argument here. Thanks for commenting.
Chris and Connie being awesome again. They have a fantastic site.
Thank you for that fine praise, we’re humbled.
Just near the bow river west of Calgary is that right?
West of Calgary yes, but closer to the Elbow.
Nice Job.
Thank you muchly.
Thanks for this. I climbed Moose Mountain back in -09 in order to pay my tribute to Jack and Ennis. It was so beautiful and quiet up there.
Monika from Sweden
It’s a nice place to spend an afternoon. Love it up there. I can see why the movie makers picked it. Thanks Monika, have a great day!
Lovely photos and commentary! I’d love to see more of Mount Lougheed and the scene at the bridge with the Basque, also the tent site.
Did you know there’s a mountain in Wyoming named Brokenback? It’s on the west side of the Big Horns.
Thanks, such a nice setting. All of those spots are on our to-do list. Just got to get down to them at some point. No, didn’t know about that mountain. I wonder if it was in any way inspiration for the movie title?
That’s amazing! Never seen the film but have climbed Moose Mountain many times.
I guess you should watch it now. Not a bad movie and the various Alberta settings make it extra nice.
Well done. I must do this hike some day. We hike all around here but have not done Moose Mountain yet.
Last up there a decade ago. Been meaning to do it again for some time but for one reason or another it took till now for that to happen. Nice hike, but best done on a quiet weekday.