After the Northern Lights Tours by The Aurora Borealis Experience, I wanted to go out and chase the aurora again. I felt that experience was a warm up. Like it was a way for me to get used to the brutal cold and the awe inspiring experience of trying to photograph such an incredible visual masterpiece.
Of the two experiences, this was by far the one I should have booked for the first, clear night.
Especially, after getting my Canada Goose jacket from Weaver and Devore Trading LTD.
Pick up
Pick up was seamless. At 9:35, our tour guide came and picked the group from The Explorer Hotel up. The white mini couch was comfortable and smaller than the large 50 seater I’d been on with the other company. In fact, our group was a nice group of 12. With the smaller coach, it would be MUCH easier to get warmer and have my camera defrost.
I hoped my layers would hold up against the remote Arctic landscape, though I suspected they wouldn’t. I also knew the odds were stacked against us: cloud cover and “warm” weather – around –8°C – made spotting the aurora with the naked eye unlikely.
On the drive to our first stop, our guide delivered a fascinating lesson on the science behind the aurora borealis. Charged particles carried by the solar wind are guided by Earth’s magnetic field toward the poles, where they collide with gases high in the atmosphere and ignite the sky. Oxygen produces the familiar green glow and, at higher altitudes, deep reds, while nitrogen contributes blues, purples, and pinks during more energetic displays. The colors shift with solar activity, particle energy, and atmospheric conditions – and by the time the lesson ended, I was fully captivated.
First Stop
Prelude Lake Territorial Park: Our first stop took us beyond the city limits of Yellowknife to Prelude Lake Territorial Park, a place that felt wonderfully remote. The lake stretched wide and silent, completely frozen and blanketed in snow. I absolutely loved that the focus was getting truly remotely out of the city.
Bundled in layers, I stepped out with my camera and tripod, only to retreat back onto the bus minutes later. Lesson number one came quickly: prep everything inside the warmth of the bus before braving the cold. Caught up in excitement, I’d rushed outside and smack into relentless cold that was sharp, persistent, and demanding endurance despite all my layers.
Getting back out, I focused my lens, shifted positions, and worked the scene. I captured a faint green glow that was invisible to the naked eye. The aurora revealed itself only through my camera, and I learned to negotiate with that fact while trying to get into the rhythm of moving and pressing my shutter to capture the scene.
Second Stop
Madeline Lake Territorial Park Day Use Area: We made our way to our second stop, Madeline Lake. In this vast open space, I absolutely loved how outwardly everything seemed.
I took photos of the hazy ring around the moon and tried to take photos of the landscape as I stood on the frozen lake. When that got too much for my camera and my body, I shuffled back to the motor coach.
Our guide made us coffee and hot chocolate within the bus. As she passed each individual request around, I felt so – taken care of. You don’t know the difference – until you know the different. The hot drink in my hand steamed as I reflected that I wished I’d picked this tour, the first night.
We also received delicious maple cookies filled with cream and Ferrero Focher chocolates.
Third Stop
Prosperous Lake: Here, our guide took some photos of me, which I appreciated. She was friendly and engaging and I appreciated how she switched between flawless english and mandarin for the guests.
Again, I tried to find the lights in the sky – but it was too warm and wet for the full display of lights to illuminate.
Regardless, I loved my time.
Overall
I was so happy to have my earphones and a good audiobook. In this case, Heated Rivalry. Downtime in the Arctic is real, and I appreciated listening to something between stops.
Also, I assumed my Icebreaker 260-weight merino wool base layer topped with thick Lululemon pants would be enough. Yet again, it wasn’t. The extra layers made it impossible to pull on my snow pants. And once out on in the wild, the wind found every gap, and the cold crept in fast.
My newly purchased Canada Goose Shelburne jacket helped make the temperatures manageable. But skipping a neck gaiter in favor of scarves was a mistake I won’t repeat.
The upside: our guide sent over photos – both portraits and aurora shots – almost immediately after the tour. Most importantly, true to their word, I was dropped off right at 1:30 am, tired, cold, and completely satisfied.
Yellowknife Vacations
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
