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It pays to get up with the sun in the Canadian Rockies. Here in the mountains, where nature rules, being a morning person means something a little different.
A ‘morning person:’ Noun. (plural morning people)
Here in the mountains, where nature rules, being a morning person means something a little different.
In the Rockies we take our cues from the wildlife that have called the mountains home for much longer than we have. They rise and roam with complete indifference to the hands of a clock or the heavy connotations of a Monday morning. Unless they are quite literally a night owl, they sleep until the sun rises.
As (destination) residents of the human variety, we can’t get away with sleeping through the winter. But we do follow in the footsteps of wildlife when spring arrives. As bears emerge from their dens to make the most of the long daylight hours of the North, so do we. And the time has come –the local wildlife have well and truly started their summer here. Grizzlies have been sighted crossing through valleys. Elk, bighorn sheep and deer have been seen parading through grassy meadows with their new calves.
Ask any seasoned expeditioner and they’ll tell you that the mood of the mountains in the morning is distinct. The early hours of the day bring light, warmth and an air of potential. Things are more possible, even more realistic, in the morning. Things can be achieved in the morning. Summits are approachable, lakes are calm, and adventure beckons.
It’s easy to understand what captivated the early explorers and founders of Banff National Park years ago. When the morning mists retreat, they reveal a landscape that is both brand new and ancient at the same time. It’s an incredibly magical time of day. The ageless faces of the mountains could tell a thousand stories, but it feels like the only one that matters is the next.
If you find yourself up early in the Rockies, you won’t be alone. You’ll come across locals who are as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as the resident wildlife. They know the chances of having the trails to themselves for a hike or bike, the possibilities of seeing wildlife and the sense of quiet solitude are all greater in the morning.
We’re a special breed, those of drawn to living in the mountains. And the morning people amongst us are the wisest.
We encourage you to get up and get going—see you on the trails!
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