Northern Lights
The Northern Light season is just beginning in Alaska. This post is filled with tips and tricks to make sure you get to cross ‘view the Northern Lights’ off your bucket list.
This post is not sponsored in any way. My opinions are my own and freely given.
This picture was taken at the end of March 2022 at Beluga Point. This location offers a somewhat limited view of the sky, but you are guaranteed to get the trees in the foreground.Wear Warm Clothes
This may seem self explanatory, but trust me it needs to be emphasized. I thought that I had the proper gear to go out and take pictures because I have been living in Michigan. Shoveling your Michigan driveway for a short amount of time and sitting out for hours at night in Alaska, in January, taking pictures requires two VERY different sets of winter gear. I upgraded my boots, my snow pants, my gloves, added a gaiter, AND I learned exactly how much I needed to layer in order to keep warm while out in -20 degree weather. Seriously, upgrade your gear. My boots (click here to see which ones I have) are fantastic! They have a boa system, meaning you don’t have to worry about keeping shoe laces tied. You push a button and twist to tighten them. It’s really that easy. No one wants to mess around with laces when the wind is blowing and it’s below freezing outside.
Another piece of gear that helped keep me warm was my gaiter. I didn’t have one before aurora hunting, but after that first night of success, I realized that I was going to spend most of the winter outside at night looking up at the sky. Once those temperatures started dropping, I needed something to keep my face and neck warm. I ended up purchasing a gaiter from Columbia Sportswear. My exact gaiter is no longer available, but you can find one similar by clicking here.
The other piece of outerwear that saved me from going hypothermic was snow pants. They add warmth, but more importantly, they add wind resistance. When that cold wind comes whipping across the open field, it WILL find every single hole and seam in your clothes. A good pair of snow pants makes a huge difference, even if you don’t plan on rolling around in the snow.
You might feel like the Stay-Puffed Marshmallow Man, but your fingers and toes will thank you later.Be Like an Onion and Have LAYERS
Layers are your best friend when you are staying toasty while outside at night. I’m not kidding when I say I wear them. I’ll start with a base layer, usually leggings and a long sleeved shirt, then follow that layer with a thick sweater. Then, I am wearing a winter vest, heavy duty sweat pants, and two pairs of thick socks. Then I put my outerwear on, which consists of my coat, snow pants, hat, gaiter, gloves, and winter boots. Good luck trying to drop your arms or sit in the car comfortably. Once you step out of the vehicle, though….. you’ll be glad you decided to layer up. Pro tip: I also wear foot warmers in between the layers of socks, as well as at the tip of my gloves. Keeping your fingers and toes warm means you are more comfortable outside for longer amounts of time. My favorites are these for my feet and these for my mittens. I use the sole warmers in my mittens because the sticky section helps keep them in place. Remember, the longer you can stay out in the cold, the more likely you are to catch even the briefest glance of the aurora.
This picture was taken north of Palmer, Alaska. The darker the sky and more open the location you are photographing, the better your view.Location, Location, Location
You can see the Northern Lights from the comfort of your rental, but the best place to go is somewhere that doesn’t have a ton of light pollution. This usually means you need to get yourself out of town. While I was able to see the lights from within Anchorage city limits, the better times I saw them was where the sky was darker. My favorite spot was north of Palmer, Alaska. Anyplace with a long distance view, mountains in the background, and minimal air traffic will make for stunning pictures. Even if you aren’t a photographer, looking for a place without light pollution will mean you can witness them with your naked eye more distinctly.
This beautiful picture was taken in Point Woronzof Park. It’s an easy drive since the park is right by the airport, but the downside is that it is right by the airport. This means there is a lot of air traffic. Countless of my amazing aurora pictures have airplane lights in them, which is distracting.If At First You Don’t Succeed…
…Try again. Seriously, I spent many nights out searching for the Northern Lights and not seeing them. To increase your chances of actually spotting the elusive Aurora, download an app that gives you a heads up when you will be most likely to see the lights. Even when all the conditions are exactly right, you may not see them. The more times you are able to go out, the higher your chances of seeing them.
Another thing you need to keep in mind is the phases of the moon. The aurora doesn’t have the same amount of impact when you are out during a full moon with a ground full of snow. Not only will you have a harder time seeing the lights, you’ll also have a harder time trying to get your best pictures. Even if the moon is full, if you are out before it rises or after it sets, you’ll have an easier time seeing those lights. Timing is sometimes just as important as location.
When I took this picture, the sun had already set, but the moon was still out. You can still see the aurora, but the colors look a little bit washed out and not as vibrant as they will be when the moon sets.
This image was taken on the same night as the image above, but because the moon had set, the colors stand out a little bit better.Be Prepared to Wait
Unfortunately, the Northern Lights don’t follow schedule. It would be really handy for the people that have to be somewhere early in the morning if they did. Luckily for me, I worked night shift throughout the winter, so I was able to spend countless hours at night outside waiting for the aurora. On nights I wasn’t working, I was able to stay indoors until I got that notification on my phone that there was a high likelihood they were out. This gave me time to prep my hot chocolate, read a book, or do whatever chore I needed to accomplish that night. I have taken pictures of the lights anywhere from 8 pm until 6 am. Waiting on location could be an all night ordeal, so bring a good book or something to keep yourself occupied.
This spot north of Palmer, Alaska is great because you have sweeping views of the mountains with minimal tree coverage. Finding a spot where you can see a large portion of the sky means you have a better vantage point for pictures.Whether you are planing a trip or moving to Alaska for work, I wouldn’t skip out on hunting for the Northern Lights. It might be a labor of love to get just the right picture, but they are worth it. Honestly, living in Alaska during the winter may have been one of the best things for me to experience. Alaskans don’t shut down when the temperatures drop. They have an appreciation of their environment and make the best of it. Hopefully this post has helped you figure out what you need to be a successful hunter of Northern Lights. I look forward to hunting again at my next destination.
Happy Traveling!
Kat