DVD Capture

Contributed photo

[Alternately, take Hwy 1 (Trans-Canada Hwy) to Hwy 21. Go north to Hwy 564 and turn right (east). (Or, go south from Rockyford to Hwy 564 and turn left.) The pavement ends at approximately 57.3 km (Township Road 260, Range Road 182) but Hwy 564 turns left and becomes a gravel road. At the stop sign (6.3 km) turn right onto Hwy 848 North (or follow the sign to Dorothy).

Park and climb the hill on the curve at 8.3 km for an overview of Dorothy and the valley of the Red Deer River. (Beware of cactus growing on the hill!) Continue driving 0.7 km to Earl’s ditch (at 9 km), on the left side of the broken wood fence rails.

Note: Although this is a very direct way to Dorothy, some of these roads are little traveled and farm houses may be several kilometers apart. If your vehicle can't stand it, the highways through Drumheller may be a better choice.]

Remarks:
If you want to trace nine-year-old Ennis’s steps, make a side trip to Alberta’s exotic “Badlands” region. Dorothy is a tiny picturesque hamlet with inspiring, decaying western prairie buildings of every description. Nearby Drumheller (say “drum Heller”) boasts the world’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils at its celebrated Royal Tyrrell Museum (which, quite naturally, is surrounded by the world’s tackiest collection of commercialized dinosaur kitsch). See:

http://www.tyrrellmuseum.com/

After tirelessly searching BBM shooting locations for a week, Canadian philanthropist and Brokeback truck owner Rob Freeman (see: www.thebrokebacktruck.ca for information) noted that Earl’s life ended in “Dorothy,” while Jack met his fate on “Rainbow Road.” Coincidence, Judy?

Important:
Always obtain appropriate permission before entering private property. The road is unpaved, so use caution.

Quotation:
“They took a tire iron to him ...”