It’s 2:45 a.m. and my alarm is buzzing. I can feel the cold Canadian air from outside my tent creeping into the warmth of my sleeping bag. My body is tired, and I don’t want to get up, but something is calling me. That something is the potential to explore and capture the unknown, to tell an untold story, and to inspire those around me.

Over the last six days, I’ve hiked 100 miles, gaining over 10,000 feet in elevation while carrying my life on my back. I have been chasing something elusive, fall in the northern Rockies. Unlike many other places, fall here is fleeting and fast. Fall colors across most of North America happen when the leaves of deciduous trees change with colder nights. Around my Colorado home, aspens trade their summer greens for golden yellows and oranges. In Western Canada, fall color comes primarily from the American Larches or Tamaracks. Unlike their closest evergreen relatives, larches are a one-of-a-kind conifer that shed their summer coat by dropping their needles. Before that happens, however, larch needles turn a golden yellow creating a spectacle for a lucky few. This phenomenon only lasts a couple of days, so catching it takes planning, good timing and more than a little grit.

My name is Brandt Ryder. I have always been a dreamer and adventurer. I believe that life is meant to be lived, and the best way to do it is through experiences that challenge us mentally and physically. I took up photography in 2018 with the hope that a camera would get me out of a rut, get me outside, and most importantly, get me out of my comfort zone. Throughout my life, I have consistently worked to inspire others to conserve the planet's remaining wild places and protect dark skies. However, I spent much of my early adult life as a scientist, committed to learning about and conserving the natural world. In that role, I used analytical skills to solve complex conservation challenges but rarely leaned on my creativity. At first, photography was strictly appealing because it was technical and formulaic, almost scientific. However, as I got deeper into the craft, I unlocked my creativity and discovered the power of a visual story. 

Since 2018, my adventure with purpose has been driven by sharing the beauty in the world around us through my lens, using photography as a medium to capture wild places and tell visual stories. This storytelling transports viewers to a new perspective or unseen landscape. In the age of social media, capturing something new isn’t always easy, and it takes A LOT of work. It means getting up well before sunrise, staying out after dark, and pushing yourself physically, sometimes beyond what you thought was possible. It also means often being uncomfortable or in unforeseen circumstances. On this Canadian Rockies trip, that included a very close encounter with a female grizzly bear and flare-up of a past Achilles injury.

It’s not always wildlife and injuries that challenge adventurers. Anyone who has spent time in the mountains knows how unpredictable the weather can be. Across the Rockies, it’s not uncommon to see at least three seasons in a single day. Some people use this as a reason to stay home or simply not explore, while others view it as a quintessential part of the journey. If there is one thing I’ve learned in the mountains, it’s the truth underlying the famous adage, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing choices.” In other words, being prepared is a crucial aspect of adventure planning.

I had the opportunity to put some Tellus gear to the test in the Canadian Rockies, and I can say with 100% certainty I was nothing short of impressed. The gear was flawless, but what impressed me most was the attention to detail. It was the little stuff that other brands often overlook, such as extra stash pockets and rubber pull tabs on zippers. No one likes grabbing that cold metal zipper. In a world of ever-shrinking margins, it’s easy to care only about making things cheaper and cutting corners, but Tellus seems to stand alone. Put simply, we need more brands like Tellus committed to responsible stewardship of our Earth’s natural resources. 

I’m back on the trail, nearing mile 17 for the day, and the sun is setting. The clouds are gathering over the mountains. My shoulders ache from the weight of my pack, my feet are sore and that Achilles injury is getting the best of me. All I want to do is sit down and rest, but something is calling me. So, I push on to see those last rays of light kiss the peaks and to create stories that will last a lifetime. I believe that we should never compromise the things we hold dear. In a world where the integrity of these wild and special places areunder attack, we need more brands like Tellus to lead the way.

By day, Brandt is the Chief Conservation Scientist for Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. On nights and weekends, he spends his spare time chasing light and stars throughout the Intermountain West. Brandt lives in Fort Collins, Colo., with his wife, daughter and two German Shepherds.

See Brandt's Work Here: https://brandtryderphotography.com/