Ever desired to catch a glimpse of the elusive Arctic answer to a rainbow, the northern lights? Good, because there’s never been a greater time than this winter.
Because of a quirk of solar physics, the aurora borealis is primed for a peak parade because the sun’s activity is at max (the feistier it flares in space, the wilder and more impressive the show right here on Earth).
Experts say it’s more likely to be the best probability to spy them in twenty years.
And also you don’t should trek to Norway or Iceland to glimpse them, either: A few of the perfect perches for aurora chasers are right over the border.
“We now have a bonus in North America since the geomagnetic north pole is closer to Canada, and so we are able to see the aurora at lower latitudes than in Europe,” explained Vincent Ledvina, whose obsession with the phenom has earned him the nickname “the Aurora Guy.” “If you happen to’re in the suitable place, and it’s clear and dark, you’ll be able to see it each night.”
But whether is a temporary burst at 3 a.m., or a protracted show around midnight, come able to stay awake late, and sleep in the following day. “You’re going to be working a 5 p.m. to 9 a.m., not a 9 a.m. to five p.m.,” said Ledvina.
“Don’t over-schedule yourself as you never know what time the lights will show. And while you’re checking in at a hotel, be sure they know that seeing the lights is essential in your visit,” advised Scott Dunn travel specialist Angela Malek. “Most properties will offer a Northern Lights wake-up call.”
There are three key spots to see them, Canuck-style. First, there’s Yellowknife, a town within the Northwest Territories only a 2-hour flight north from Calgary. It’s barely 250 miles south of the Arctic Circle with terrain that’s particularly flat and subsequently ideal for wide-ranging views.
Yellowknife is true under the “auroral oval” — the latitude where northern lights are at all times spotted — and removed from the ocean, which mean stable weather. It also offers a probability to experience indigenous culture: Stay at Aurora Village, with 21 traditional tepees. Chipewyan Joe Buffalo Child is the perfect guide there, sharing how the lights were viewed by the earliest Canadians.
You can even go for Canada’s other northernmost province, the Yukon, from the bottom of Whitehorse. “It’s right south of the auroral oval, but you get it just about every night,” Ledvina said.
That is the perfect option in case you’re keen to mix aurora chasing with adventure sports, whether snowmobiling on Lake Laberge or climbing the preserve. Nonetheless, it’s thus far north that there’s midnight sun in summer, making the viewing season here shorter.
Arctic Range Adventure run four-day tours here from around $750 per person, which incorporates a visit to the geothermal Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs. Attempt to win the hair-freezing contest: It runs every winter (the winner of every category, including Best Beard, scores near $1,500 in money).
The neatest all-round base, though, is undoubtedly Churchill in Manitoba’s far north. There’s ample wildlife to identify while you’re waiting for the lights to look, from wolves and arctic foxes to beluga whales (the population of polar bears in the world is near 1,000, nearly guaranteeing a probability to see them).
Brendan McEwen, born and bred within the town, is now a guide for Frontiers North Adventures there. It runs tours starting at around $5,200 per person, packing days with cultural experiences and the nights with aurora chases.
These run in February and March, he explained, when the nights are at their coldest, higher to freeze the water crystals within the air and create the clearest conditions. Smartphone tech has improved a lot that you could depend on that camera to capture what you see, but don’t run out of juice. “The intense cold can drain your batteries,” he warned.
Aurora Guy Ledvina said your phone may be helpful in other ways. Our eyes often struggle to discern the small print of a subtle light storm, so take a snap while you spot what may be the aurora.
“It won’t be a fairly picture, but in case you see some kind of green or red or purple, you’ll be able to tell it’s not a traditional cloud,” he said. One other tip: Use a flashlight and shine it under your chin, “Blair Witch”-style, and it should trick your eyes into switching to daytime mode when they are going to higher detect color details. Just be sure to wrap up warm and convey some gloves — the typical temperature in winter is below 7 degrees.
