It seemed like a good idea. February in Fairbanks Alaska.
For quite sometime, a ‘bucket list’ for both of us has been to REALLY see the Northern Lights. Growing up in Minnesota, there were a few times when we could see a faint display in the northern part of the state. We wanted a chance to see the ‘full enchilada’. Fairbanks is a popular spot to see the Aurora and there are direct flights from Seattle. The best chance of seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska is between September and March. We picked a month with lots of snow and cold.
Despite being Minnesotan natives, the potential for -20 temperatures was a bit concerning (although it never got below -5). We found a great solution by renting the outer gear from Mark at Alaska Element. Along with ample amounts of hot chocolate, the gear kept us warm and comfy for the entire week.
Frosty Folktales
Molly’s mother Ev grew up in Edmonton. She eventually worked in the Yukon helping build the Alcan Highway. According to Molly’s dad who she met there, it was “uphill both ways”. Ev ‘claimed’ you could hear the lights. Was this ‘fake news’. We needed to know the truth. Evidently there are similar tales from others. We don’t know any of them. We did not hear the Aurora. When we questioned about it, they asked “Did she drink a lot ?” Never mind. The answer to our question remained as elusive as the Northern Lights themselves. Although, our guide did reference a researcher in Finland that had evidence that the Aurora makes noise. Hmm. That one is just too easy to make fun of. I’ll let that go.
On No … It’s Sluggo
Even at their peak, the Northern Lights can be hard to see with the naked eye. However, the camera can pick up the Aurora quite well. We went out two different nights with two different operators who specialize in photography. Both nights began about 9:00pm. We joined a few other couples in a van and headed out about 1 to 2 hours away from the lights of the huge metropolis of Fairbanks. The best experience by far was with Mr. Bill with Skyfire in Focus. We were challenged with clouds most of the week. However, Mr. Bill was successful in finding some clear patches between the clouds. We stood in the middle of a field someplace in the Alaskan interior in sub-zero temperatures until 3:00am … and paid to do it. Mr. Bills’ photography expertise, knowledge of everything Alaska, and similar taste in humor helped. We enjoyed the experience and laughed in Mother Nature’s face. If it weren’t for the heated van, GPS, hot chocolate, digital photographic equipment, and super ‘techie’ winter clothing, our hearty Minnesotan ancestors would have been proud of us.
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