Aurora Night

The Coleman stove and a pot of beans had been among the first things off the boat, and by the time we finished hauling everything in and setting up camp, dinner was hot and ready. Beans & Icewind go together so well on a cold and chilly night.

A deep red sunset exploded to our far left, directly down the river; the water seemed to flow like blood from the setting sun. The transition to night was quick reminding us that winter is just around the corner and could start to happen any time now. Termination dust (snow) has started falling on the mountaintops around Anchorage again so it won’t be too long before the snow levels fall to the valley floor.

As the darkness grew complete, the row of mountains in front of us became a proscenium to the most incredible night sky. The Big Dipper rose, crashing the darkness and shown bright right up the center of the stage, backed by stardust to infinity. The whole night sky seemed to hold its breath waiting for the moon to rise when, with a whisper and a crackle, there were suddenly Northern Lights dancing all across the sky in front of and above us!

Wavy sheets of crackling blue-green energy, almost alive & flowing, moving and shifting as if blown by the breath of the Great Spirit of the North. It was totally mesmerizing to sit and watch, with the river flowing by at our feet, reflecting everything above with the combination of sounds from the river rushing by and the faint crackle of the Aurora above. We all sat motionless for over an hour, watching the display in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. We were happy to be sharing such an incredible experience but words were unnecessary.

And just as suddenly as it appeared . . . it was gone . . . leaving not a whisper.

Ice