What seeing 'nature's true magic' really feels like
Video Journalist
Thursday, February 7, 2019, 6:35 PM - Growing up under the big city lights of Toronto and Vancouver, the Northern Lights were something I had only been able to experience through pictures, but yet had always dreamed of seeing them dance across the sky.
I never thought that dream would become a reality, until I was given the opportunity to go to Whitehorse, Yukon to cover the 36th annual Yukon Quest.
During my seven day stay in the Yukon, one of the activities I would be doing was a Northern Lights sightseeing tour with Arctic Range Adventures.
Every single day leading up to the trip I would check the aurora activity as well as the expected cloud coverage in hopes of catching this beautiful natural wander.
Let me back up a little bit here and explain why I was checking for both. The Aurora Borealis are actually collisions between electrically charged particles from the Sun that enter the Earth’s atmosphere. The lights are seen above the magnetic poles of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. So to be able to catch a glimpse, you need to make sure there is activity and you need to make sure there aren’t a lot of clouds that will cover the activity.
We arrived at the Arctic Range's private camp at around 11:00pm. It was about minus 35oC when we arrived, but my excitement made me forget about how cold it was outside.
At the camp, there were two teepees in front and three yurts in the back for us to stay in and wait. I also saw hundreds of stars sparkling in the sky, and a very faint green line crossing the sky. I knew at that moment my dream was going to come true.
What I didn't know is just how lucky I was going to get. At about 12:30 in the morning, our guide came inside the yurt and told us to get ready for a treat.
When I walked outside I saw a green pattern above my head making twirls in the sky. I spent some time capturing what I like to call nature's true magic, and spent the rest of the time just observing it with my own two eyes. I can honestly admit in that moment I felt a tear run down my face.
The activity calmed down after about 20 minutes, and so we went back to the yurt for some hot chocolate and a chance to discuss what we had just witnessed. However, we didn’t have much of a break because about half an hour later all three guides came inside jumping up and down saying we needed to get outside now!
When I looked overhead, the lights weren’t just a glowing green, but also shades of red and they were truly dancing for us, floating across the sky. Our guides told us this was some of the best activity they have seen all year. It was an unforgettable experience.
Now of course, I had to ask them how weather can impact the auroras. As mentioned clouds play an obvious role, but so does the time of year. It is better to try and view the lights in Whitehorse during the winter months when the sky is actually dark enough to see them.
I also asked if temperatures play any role in the visibility. According to our guide with Arctic Range, whether it is hot or cold doesn’t really make a difference but the colder the temperatures, the less likely for cloud coverage. So while I might not have been feeling my toes when it was -35oC outside, it was actually a good thing for us.
I am so happy that I can share some of the pictures that I took from the night with you, and so that I can remember the day one of my dreams became real.
