Canadian Rockies Expedition – Ken Scheepers Photography

November 21st to November 27th 2024: The PhotoPills Expedition led by Rachel Jones Ross, Bryan Peters and Antoni Cladera (PhotoPills Masters), transported us in a 12-seater van across the Canadian Rockies with the intention of photographing the Aurora Borealis, Orion constellation, the thin Milky Way, and Autumn’s Golden Light along with frozen landscapes, turquoise lakes, blooming frost flowers and majestic snow-capped mountains. Our home-base was the town of Canmore, and we explored in and around Canmore and Banff in Alberta, and Golden, in British Columbia.

Day 1: With a heavy snow storm overnight and a chili 11 degree F morning, we all met up in the hotel lobby in Calgary where we discussed safety, logistics and the day’s plan based on time and weather conditions. We then loaded our luggage into the vehicles and headed north to Canmore where we stopped for lunch and a cold beverage, then to the hotel to unpack the luggage and check into our rooms. Once we were all organized, it was time to dress appropriately in the recommended layers and head out to photograph the 3 Sisters from the side of a frozen creek not far from the hotel.. It was a good location for all of us to get acquainted with our cameras and tripods out in the freezing temperatures and conditions. The day ended with a great dinner and cocktails at a local restaurant before heading back to the hotel.

Day 1 view from my room window

Orientation and Safety Meeting

Loading the Luggage into the van

Shooting location

The Three Sisters

Day 2: Down to the van at 5am to load up and drive to Banff, and shoot sunrise at Vermillion Lake. It was still dark out, and the temperature had dropped when we set up our gear and compositions, and as the day broke, we all photographed what we could see of the mountains in the fog and mist. By the end of the session, my toes were cold and numb, meaning the next outing I would use feet warmers. We packed up and headed into town for breakfast and hot coffee! Then it was shopping for warmer clothes for some, hand and feet warmers, and snacks from the grocery store before driving back to the hotel due to lousy weather, and spending the remainder of the day in class learning a lot of tips and suggestions from Rachel, Toni and Brian. To end the day, it was out to a local restaurant for dinner.

Day 3: Wake at 3am for a 4am departure was the plan. I should have checked or WhatsApp chat message that cancelled the morning’s sunrise shoot due to bad road conditions. I waited in the lobby, no one showed up, so I went back to the room and back to bed! Later, worked on a few photos downloaded earlier. We drove to Banff for lunch, then walked town catching some spectacular scenery, followed by a sunset shoot up on a mountain overlooking the beautiful Hotel and completing the twilight hour with spectacular light.

Day 4: Another early morning, and coldest morning yet at 1 degree F. The sunrise on a beautiful, partly cloudy morning at Morant’s Curve, and hopefully catch a freight train heading towards us. Located on the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A) in Banff National Park, Morant’s Curve is a scenic viewpoint of a dramatic bend along the Bow River where trains pass with the Canadian Rockies as a backdrop. It was a magic moment when the sun rose and began hitting the clouds and mountain tops, then about an hour later, we were finally treated to the train coming up the track toward us.

From Morant’s Curve, we drove down to Lake Louise for a late breakfast and coffee. Then it was up to Peyto Lake, a glacier-fed lake in Banff National Park. We hiked up to the viewing platform and were awe struck at the beautiful turquoise colored lake down below, with an outline of a wolf face.

Then we shot sunset at Abraham Lake to wrap up the day before heading to town for a great dinner and a few cocktails.

Day 5: This was a special day and a wonderful opportunity to photograph a Gray Wolf running free near the town of Golden, British Columbia. Flora, born in captivity in the spring of 2012, now a 60 lb. female is the Wolf Ambassador, and home is the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Center. Just having the opportunity to watch and photograph this magnificent carnivore run free out in the woods, without any tether, was this nature lover’s first encounter to see a wolf up close rather that miles away in Yellowstone National Park in 2020.

We would complete this day with a visit to Emerald lake for sunset and Blue Hour, and, potentially photograph the Aurora later that night at Lake Minnewanke after supper in Banff. With Emerald Lake yet to freeze, we were able to capture attractive reflections of the mountains and buildings in the crystal clear water.

Day 6: This spectacular sunrise on our coldest morning yet, with great light was nothing short of spectacular, a truly Canadian winter wonderland at Bow Lake. Our day would end at Lake Minnewanke for sunset, and later, perhaps photograph Orion and the stars, and later yet, the Aurora!!!! Unfortunately, after having dinner, the whole group agreed that that was unlikely so we decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel.

Day 7: Our last day of the exploration, we would shoot sunrise at Vermillion Lake, have breakfast in Banff, then head back to Calgary to say good bye to the group and head home. Although it was a disappointment not to have seen and photographed the Aurora Borealis, Orion constellation, and the thin Milky Way, this was an incredible experience in freezing cold weather, joined by 11 other passionate photographers from all around the world. To the group, I say thank you all for fun, laughter, great food and memorable moments we shared. Thank you all!