Brokeback Mountain - A journey

When Ang Lee chose southern Alberta above Wyoming for the setting for his new movie Brokeback Mountain, he could have had little idea about how this decision would transform the tourism industry of this corner of the world. Distant and unfamiliar to many, these stunning landscapes of mountains, meadows, lakes and forests were laid out before the appreciative Brokeback Mountain audience and became the natural and wholly accepted backdrop to the equally awe inspiring and intimidating love affair between Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar.


It is perhaps fair to say that Brokeback Mountain grabbed at the heart of a large part of its viewing audience, and for many the grip is still strong and true. One side-effect of this has been the onset of Brokeback Mountain journeys, to both the places in Wyoming that originally inspired author Annie Proulx and also to the mountains of south Alberta that brought Annie's vision to life in glorious colour on our theatre screens.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger were not alone in finding a new level of fame through Brokeback Mountain. The scenery itself played an integral, tangible role in the shaping of the love story and its resulting celebrity this week forms the subject of an article in The Vancouver Sun. These sites have become the destination for an unfamiliar type of tourism to this part of Canada - gay tourism - and, as the article informs us, hotel staff are undergoing 'sensitivity training' to avoid the raised eyebrow syndrome. The top hotels in Calgary are now 'officially gay-friendly' as are many bars, restaurants and clubs. However, reading between the lines, one can tell it hasn't all been a bed of roses and same-sex couples are advised to not hold hands at the stampede.

Nevertheless: "It's an absolutely massive potential market," says Paul Newmarch, media marketing co-ordinator for Tourism Calgary. "That whole Brokeback Mountain thing, that really opened the door for us."


A couple of weeks ago, Newsday likewise reported on the 'Brokeback' region of Canada as both a holiday destination and as 'meadows fit for Hollywood'. The writer chose to go horseriding to the west of Calgary in Kananaskis Country and Banff National Park. 'This area, 45 minutes from Calgary, is popular with locals, but maybe they just don't want to travel the extra distance to the park. But now I'm congratulating myself. We wind along the river, then trot up the side of a mountain into a broad, grassy meadow. The trail leader announces "Brokeback Mountain" was filmed here. If you've seen the movie, you know how beautiful and peaceful the landscape is.'


This seems like a good time to revisit an article from December 2006, which presented a tour of Brokeback Mountain's film locations, so soon to be tourist attractions in their own right. We also hear from the location team the reason why this area was selected. 'For Alberta-based location manager, Darryl Solly - who from February to August 2004, clocked 35,000 km (22,000 mi) for this shoot - it was precisely this "accessible wilderness," that made him realize Alberta's enormous potential for remote and rugged backdrops such as we see in Brokeback. In fact, more than 90 per cent of the scenes in Brokeback were shot within 21 m (70 ft.) of a road. Perfect for travellers who want to experience grand wilderness without hoofing over mountain passes. Plus, the authentic towns such as Cowley (featured in the opening scene when Jake and Heath meet outside a rusted-up, derelict trailer) and Fort Macleod (where Heath and his family live in almost squalor, above a laundromat), made it so much more real.'


Lots of details follow about the original, authentic cowboy sites of Calgary and how these were interwoven into Brokeback Mountain - such as the Ranchman's Bar where Jack first danced with Lureen, during the Calgary Stampede. Other sites include the church where Ennis and Alma married, the locations for Thanksgiving, the pass through which the sheep were driven, the drive-in, the store where Jake and Heath's clothes were found, and the hotels where the crew stayed and the restaurants where they ate.

Last but not least, we have a tour of the sites, complete with maps, along with suggested music to heighten the emotion - as if that were needed - of the Brokeback journey.


Pictures from IHJ.